13 Best Acne Spot Treatments to Instantly Minimize Zits

Key ingredients: benzoyl peroxide (5.5%), lipo-hydroxy acid, glycerin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Early-Stage Acne: Peace Out Early-Stage Acne Dots

Why it's worth it: Feeling a blemish brewing deep within your core (or, rather, pores)? Slap on one of Peace Out’s Early-Stage Acne Dots to halt its progression before it breaches the surface. Each hydrocolloid patch draws out excess oil while its salicylic acid-infused micro-darts dissolve dead skin cell buildup and pore-clogging bacteria deeper within skin. Peace Out’s patches also contain niacinamide to neutralize tone (bye, redness) and ensure dark spots don’t form post-pimple.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid (2%), niacinamide, succinic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Daily Treatment: Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Spot Drying Lotion

Why it's worth it: Prone to dry patches? Nicole Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Epoch Dermatology in Garden City, NY, says she prefers sulfur-based treatments like the Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Spot Drying Lotion for their gentler, less drying approach to targeting acne. “Sulfur is soothing for inflamed and swollen pimples, providing effective relief with minimal irritation,” she says. To offset discoloration, this swab-on treatment also contains antioxidant niacinamide.

Key ingredients: sulfur (10%), niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Pimple Patches: Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch The Original

Why it's worth it: When bumps arise, both Dr. Hogan and Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, consider Hero Cosmetics’ Mighty Patch Original the gold standard of pimple patches—it’s no wonder how these transparent acne stickers won a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award. These non-drying patches (which are made with vegan hydrocolloid, which means they're not made with gelatin—as some stickers may still be, by the way) draw out excess oil, sweat, and sebum lingering in your pores and drain your pimple overnight, turning complexion mountains into molehills by the time your alarm goes off. “They’re gentle, non-irritating, prevent you from picking your pimples, and work best on whiteheads rather than deeper or cystic acne,” says Dr. Rambhia

Tester feedback: "Can you tell I'm wearing a pimple patch in this photo? Probably not if I wasn't pointing to it," says Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor. "There's nothing more satisfying than wearing one of these all day or overnight and seeing all the gunk it sucked out from your pimple—when it turns white, you know it's ready to come off. The best part: a flattened zit that's on its way out sooner than you thought."

Key ingredients: vegan hydrocolloid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Treatment Pads: Mediheal Teatree Trouble Facial Toner Pads

unclogs pores with its key ingredient, tea tree oil, according to Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “These treatment pads contain tea tree leaf oil, water, and extract, all of which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, as well as soothing ingredients like allantoin, and hydrating ingredients like glycerin,” she says. You can use each pad two ways: leave it on your problem area until it dries for a concentrated, sheet mask-like effect, or use them as toning pads by simply swiping them on breakouts.

Key ingredients: tea tree oil, tea tree water, tea tree extract, allantoin, glycerin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Fast-Acting Treatment: Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief

Why it's worth it: "Spot treatments deliver a powerful dose of active ingredients—typically salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide—to a pesky pimple," says New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, name-checking Proactiv's 5% benzoyl peroxide formula. This gel works fast by utilizing its key blemish-reducing ingredient, which penetrates deep into your pores to clear them out and absorb excess oil—your breakouts won't even know what hit them. It's probably not the best option for super-sensitive skin, so, as always, do a patch test.

Key ingredients: benzoyl peroxide (5%), allantoin | Fragrance-free: no

Best Overnight Treatment: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Why it's worth it: Mario Badescu's iconic Drying Lotion,which has spurred countless dupes, uses salicylic acid to fight acne-causing bacteria, sulfur to disinfect, and calamine to reduce redness brought on by breakouts that have just surfaced. This lotion may be better suited as an overnight treatment than a quick daytime fix because of its pink hue and pasty texture. “The combination of salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide makes this a go-to for overnight spot treatment, as it targets active blemishes while calming redness and irritation,” says Dr. Collins. Also, don’t forget to stock up on cotton swabs, which you need to reach the paste at the bottom of the bottle.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid (2%), sulfur (10%), zinc oxide | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Retinol-Based Treatment: Differin Acne Treatment Gel

Why it's worth it: You may be familiar with retinoids for their fine line-reducing properties, but Dr. Collins says the group of vitamin A-derived actives, which is featured in Differin’s Acne Treatment Gel, are also phenomenal for treating acne. “Differin is a game-changer for mild to moderate acne—it reduces inflammation, unclogs pores, and prevents future breakouts with its retinoid-based formula,” she says. This multi-Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning treatment is a hit amongst our acne-prone editors for its intensive, blemish-clearing results.

Tester feedback: “After using the gel for about 12 weeks (the recommended amount of time to see true results) as both a spot treatment and all over on two just-popped-up pimples (you know, the ones that manage to surface right before an important event), as well as the ones threatening to come to a head, I've noticed my skin slowly clearing up (mild breakouts became less frequent) and previous scarring started to diminish in appearance,” says associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen.

Key ingredients: retinoid (adapalene) | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Anti-Inflammatory Treatment: Vichy Normaderm S.O.S Sulphur Paste

Why it's worth it: Each tube of Vichy’s Normaderm S.O.S Sulphur Paste features a lightweight cream that uses 10% sulfur to dry out blemishes without irritation. Instead of working alone, the formula is paired with glycolic acid (which has a light exfoliating effect) and niacinamide, to calm inflammation and control excess oil. Thanks to this combo, the S.O.S Sulphur Paste can take down active zits and prevent new ones from popping up. No wonder it was a 2021 Best of Beauty winner.

Key ingredients: sulfur (10%), niacinamide, glycolic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Oily Skin: Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment

Why it's worth it: Dr. Rambhia is a major fan of the Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment, which not only tackles acne-causing bacteria but also mattifies oily skin for a less shiny appearance. “The Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment combines 3% sulfur with a complex of salicylic acid and pine and thyme extracts, creating a multi-targeted approach to blemish treatment,” she says. “The Murad formulation is especially elegant, minimizing the characteristic sulfur smell while maximizing efficacy.” Since this is a very intensive formula, you’ll want to use this on active breakouts and whiteheads rather than deeper-rooted blemishes like cystic acne, she says.

Key ingredients: sulfur (3%), salicylic acid (2%) | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Sensitive Skin: Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10%

Why it's worth it: According to Dr. Rambhia, azelaic acid is one of the few zit-reducing ingredients that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin types and those with rosacea to use. “This multitasking molecule not only has antimicrobial properties that target acne-causing bacteria, but also helps fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and reduce inflammation,” she says. If you’re looking for a proper azelaic acid treatment, Dr. Rambhia says to look no further than the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10%. This serum contains a 10% concentration of the acne-fighting ingredient while a combination of niacinamide and allantoin minimize redness and irritation.

Key ingredients: azelaic acid (10%), niacinamide, allantoin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Dark Spots: SkinFix Acne+ 2% BHA Spot Treatment

Why it's worth it: With the SkinFix Acne+ 2% BHA Spot Treatment, an Allure 2022 Best of Beauty winner, you can target inflamed blemishes while preventing new ones from appearing—thanks to its exfoliating star ingredient, salicylic acid. This pimple-reducing formula also contains azelaic acid, a lesser-known ingredient that has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Niacinamide steps in to help tackle active pimples and help minimize acne scars, which makes this product especially helpful if you're prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (AKA dark spots).

Key ingredients: salicylic acid (2%), azelaic acid (10%), niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Reducing Redness: Face Reality Sulfur Spot Treatment

Why it's worth it: Intended for angry red zits, this spot treatment uses a combination of ingredients to soothe and calm the area, making it less noticeable and easier to conceal. This 6%-sulfur formula decreases inflammation while peptides (specifically, palmitoyl tripeptide-8), allantoin, and bisabolol help to soothe the skin and reduce redness. “This is a great spot treatment for inflamed pimples,” says Dr. King. "It goes on sheer and it contains ingredients that’ll hydrate the skin."

Key ingredients: sulfur (6%), bisabolol, allantoin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Under Makeup: The Inkey List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment

Why it's worth it: Chicago-based dermatologist Kristin Lee told Allure, "Succinic acid has exfoliative properties, in addition to antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects." Lucky for us, The Inkey List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment serves up just that. The creamy, acid-powered formula can be layered under (and over) makeup without flaking, and it unclog pores in the name of preventing future breakouts. If you want to wear it with makeup or other skin care products, let the treatment dry on your skin for five minutes before applying the rest of your routine.

Key ingredients: succinic acid, sulfur powder, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Frequently Asked Questions

There are so many acne treatments on the market, which makes it essential to understand precisely the issue you're looking to tackle and why you reach for the product you do. "A good acne spot treatment should halt the inflammation so it prevents the pimple from getting large and painful, and keep it contained so it goes away quicker," David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City, tells Allure. "This will also help minimize the risk for acne scars." Acne spot treatment shouldn't replace washing your face with a cleanser, but because of its higher potency of ingredients, it's a great option to supplement your existing routine.

If you're adding a new product to your acne-clearing regimen, figuring out when and why to use a spot treatment is extremely helpful. Because the trajectory of a breakout isn't always predictable, Dr. Kim says it's best to use [acne spot treatments] as soon as you see a pimple forming. This way, the spot treatment can work its magic from the very start of a flare-up. "The goal is to keep it small and contained so it doesn't get large and painful," he adds. Still, while acne spot treatments can be hugely helpful, they aren't a one-size-fits-all solution. "When [a breakout is] large and cystic, there is little you can do to make it go away quicker."

When it comes to OTC solutions for cystic acne, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, says the best treatment uses a combination of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. In 2023, Dr. Zeichner told Allure that this two-pronged approach works because of how different the ingredients are from one another. Remember that benzoyl peroxide can be drying, so always prime your skin with a light moisturizer.

• Kristina Collins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, TX
• Sara Hogan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C.
• Nicole Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Epoch Dermatology in Garden City, NY
• Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
• Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Kristin Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago
• David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City
• Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing every product that’s included in every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.