The 12 Best Acne Spot Treatments to Keep Breakouts at Bay

The onset of a breakout can be painful, frustrating, and downright depressing, especially if all your efforts prove futile. This acne spot treatment is your sigh of relief. Formulated with benzoyl peroxide to kill acne on the spot, and glycerin for an extra hydration cushion, this treatment freezes breakouts and flattens them in just a few days—sometimes even overnight.

Key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, glycerin

Size: 1.35 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “My skin has been going haywire recently, and as a beauty editor with numerous skin care formulas in her arsenal, none of my go-to products seemed to be calming my skin down. Then, I started spot-treating all my new breakouts with this acne cream and woke up to find most of them flattened. I wasn’t so easily convinced, so I gave it another go, and I have no notes! This cream is a game changer for my acne-prone girlies.”—Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor

A powerhouse trio makes up this hyperpigmentation-fighting serum, which doesn’t necessarily kill acne breakouts, but lightens the evidence they leave behind. You can use it as a spot treatment for stubborn dark marks, or slather it on your face to even out your skin tone.

Key ingredients: Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, azealic acid

Size: 1.7 fl oz

Sephora rating: 3.7/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “After using this product for one year I can honestly say it works! After one night’s usage, my dark acne spots already began to lighten. The consistency of this product is a bit gel-like, and very lightweight. It has a bit of a smell, but most acne products do. Also, a little goes a long way, as I am just now having to repurchase a new tube!”

Per the label, think of this serum as a liquid pimple patch—it has all the benefits of your favorite hydrocolloid patches, and there is no need to replace it throughout the day. The lightweight, almost water-like consistency absorbs into the skin to calm and eradicate new acne bumps.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “This serum truly works like a charm to quell any active breakouts without causing any further irritation. After waiting for it to dry, it doesn’t leave a sticky film and plays well with subsequent serums in my routine. I noticed how much calmer and smoother my skin was after using the serum for a few days. Now, it’s one of the top soldiers I employ in my acne battle.”—Nerisha Penrose

When a breakout emerges, wearing makeup is usually the last thing on our minds, as certain formulas can clog the skin and make breakouts even worse. This Fenty Skin spot treatment is basically a band-aid for your impurities and uses salicylic acid to dry out breakouts; the gel, matte formula dries clear so that you can wear makeup worry-free.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, willow bark extract

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Sephora rating: 3.4 fl oz

An ELLE editor said: “ I don’t break out regularly, but when I do, this is my go-to. The formula works well by itself. Often, I’ll put it on at night, and by the morning, any redness is gone. This works well under makeup, too! If I have a breakout and it’s also a day I need to wear makeup, I’ll spot treat, let it dry, and then apply my makeup over it. Even though I’m heavy-handed, the product doesn’t move or rub off.”—Danielle James, digital beauty director

Almost everyone’s introduction to acne spot treatments was this cult-favorite Mario Badescu formula. Unlike most treatments that typically come in serum form, this “lotion” is actually a liquid solution that activates with a simple tool: Q-tip. Dip the Q-tip (don’t shake) into the liquid and apply it to the areas of concern. As it dries, you can feel a tingling sensation on the breakout that dries up any bumps fast.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, sulfur

Size: 1 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “This has been the best spot treatment I’ve ever used. It’s calming and drying at the same time. When using this, I’ve noticed a significant difference in my skin’s healing time. I will continue to repurchase!”

Talk about a potent formula! This spot treatment combines an AHA (salicylic acid) and BHAs (glycolic and lactic) to kill acne and clear out pores to prevent new ones from forming.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid

Size: 1.35 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “Used this because I was getting alot of breakouts out of nowhere that were leaving scars behind. This kept things under control and helped with fading the scaring.”

Instead of slathering a mask on your entire face, this Sunday Riley mask works directly on your most stubborn acne spots to ensure breakouts fade away and don’t return. The star of this show is sulfur, an antibacterial agent commonly used in acne-fighting formulas. Sulfur kills acne-causing bacteria, while niacinamide helps to soothe skin and improve its overall appearance.

Key ingredients: Sulfur, niacinamide, tea tree oil

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Nordstrom rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is the only thing I’ve found that makes my cystic pimples go away faster. Usually, they’re painful and swollen for at least a week, and then the redness may stay for months. If I use this when I first notice one popping up, they’re only painful for two days, and they don’t swell as much or get as red. It also helps my whiteheads go away a lot faster. I always leave it on overnight.”

Murad’s Rapid Relief treatment quickly clears painful cystic acne breakouts. Salicylic acid makes skin appear smoother and clearer, while pine and thyme extracts protect the barrier.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, pine and thyme extracts

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Dermstore rating: 4.8/5 stars

A Dermstore reviewer said: “I just bought this product about a week ago, and I love it. It drastically reduces the size of my pimples overnight and, in just a couple of days, has cleared any pimples that I had in my face. Love this and will continue to repurchase.”

Starface’s OG pimple patches are a nice treat for acne and an aesthetically pleasing accessory you can do anywhere. The hydrocolloid-packed patches sop up all the gunk from your breakout (you can even see the evidence once the patch swells). Dr. Mona Gohara is a fan, mainly because “they bring positivity to the process of dealing with pimples, and the colloid dressing helps to heal the inflamed skin.”

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid

Size: 32 ct

Starface rating: 4.5/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I think I have just about every color of the Starface patches in my arsenal—that’s just how good they are. At the onset of a breakout, I apply a patch or two and let it work its magic. These patches suck the life out of my breakouts and prime them for my targeted serums.”—Nerisha Penrose

As salicylic acid dissolves stubborn breakouts, glycolic and azelaic acid smooth and refine the skin. Yes, a blend of AHAs and BHAs sounds intimidating, but green tea, bisabolol, mushroom extract, and centella restore balance and prevent irritation.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid

Size: 1 fl oz

Sephora rating: 4.8/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “As someone who constantly experiences breakouts, this product is a game changer. I have really sensitive skin, and it did not cause any irritation. It also helped me reduce the dark spots on my face. I have been using the product for about two weeks and can see significant results. I feel as if my skin will be radiating just in time for summer! I definitely recommend this to anyone who experiences bad breakouts.”

This potent and effective formula, found in the aisle of your favorite drugstore, kills acne, sloughs away dead skin, and refines pores.

Key ingredients: Adapalene

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.5 fl oz

An Amazon reviewer said: “Just want to share my experience about Differin gel. I’ve seen results after using it consistently for months. For the first few weeks, I only used it every other night until my skin was used to it. Then, I increased it to every night; now, it is part of my nightly skin care routine. It improves my skin texture and lightens up the dark spots too, overall brighter complexion.”

It’s all in the name—stubborn acne doesn’t stand a chance against this acne-fighting gel. With a heavy dose of benzoyl peroxide—10 percent, to be specific—acne is cleared, and the skin appears brighter and smoother. Since it has a high percentage of benzoyl peroxide, SPF is non-negotiable!

Key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide

Size: 1 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

Our expert says: “It is simple but very, very effective at decreasing irritated lesions that are obvious. They target acne-producing bacteria.”—Dr. Mona Gohara