7 Best Acne Spot Treatments to Keep Your Face Away from Breakouts

Bye-bye breakouts. Hello clear, acne-free skin.
African American woman smiles gently while applying an acne spot treatment cream to her cheek
African American woman smiles gently while applying an acne spot treatment cream to her cheek
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Our Top Picks

  • La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment

    Best Acne Spot Treatment Overall

    La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment

  • Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment

    Best Fast-Acting Acne Spot Treatment

    Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment

  • Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment

    Best Budget Acne Spot Treatment

    Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment

Acne is pretty natural and somewhat of a norm; who doesn't experience it once in their own lifetime, right? If you do not experience it while you're young, then probably in your adult years is pretty high. So, the quick answer would be to find the best treatments that spot and treat the issue safely as soon as it appears on the face.

Usually, acne spot treatments are used to quickly address breakouts with their fast-acting formulas. But, not all acne treatments are equally effective—using harsh or inappropriate treatments can worsen acne. If you want to use spot stickers or blemish pads, these treatments only treat a pimple or two at a time, not if you have a full face of acne. If you're thinking about acne creams, we'll talk about that later.

With that in mind, it’s really crucial to pick the right treatments suited to your specific type of acne. We at InfoMasta have tested numerous acne spot treatments to create a curated list of the best options for you.

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The 7 Best Acne Spot Treatments of 2024

Pros
  • Effective on a variety of acne types
  • Fast-absorbing and oil-free
  • Effective on hormonal acne with regular application
Cons
  • May require the use of sunscreen for some users

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment is a benzoyl peroxide acne treatment really great if you want to treat hormonal breakouts. It works well on clogged pores too and can improve your skin texture also.

You would find that the product has this gentle feeling like a 2.5% product but works as effectively as a 10% product. If you want to avoid irritation (it can when it gets into the eyes or on the eyelids), we suggest applying a very thin layer of it on the face. You can mix it with moisturizer for daytime use if you want.

If you have naturally dry skin, the Effaclar Duo might not be suitable for you as some users experienced dryness, flakiness, or irritation on their already dry skin face.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

A helpful Amazon reviewer said: “I am that person who reacts to everything. I can use this and don’t seem to react. It’s worth a try for other people like me."—Sara B

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Pros
  • Works very quickly to prevent pimples from fully forming
  • Effective in treating acne spots and clearing up the skin
Cons
  • May clump up if makeup is applied over it

Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment can clear up lumps and bumps on mature skin, reduce brown spots on sun-damaged skin and prevent new pimples. If you’re a regular stress acne kind of person, this product does tackle the issue. As you can see, The Murad Rapid Relief is effective on various types of acne and blemishes.

Applying it a little does go a long way, but it can also be used 2-3 times a day. If more than that, you’ll start noticing the peeling effect on the skin. With proper use, it is fast-acting and makes acne less noticeable and less itchy. Besides, you can expect blemishes to dry out also.

It is especially suitable for mature skin but has the potential benefit for youthful skin as well. There is no drying effect on the skin and no smell.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

A helpful Amazon reviewer said: “This product got rid of my stress acne and stopped incoming pimples; it works super fast, a little goes a long way, price is high but it's worth it. I put it on in the morning at the end of my skincare routine and let it sit (be careful though because if you apply makeup over it, it gets clumped up), when I get back home at the end of the day, and before bed (recommends to use 2-3x a day). I'd bet my next meal on this product it's so good."—MJ

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Pros
  • Suitable for adults and teens
  • Clear and invisible once applied
  • Can be used under makeup
  • Doesn't ruin washcloths
Cons
  • May be too drying for clearing old acne spots or marks
  • Not advised to use with retinol products

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment is another fast-acting acne spot treatment (but on the budget side) with results as quick as sometimes within a day or overnight. Combination or African American skin? We found it highly effective. It does however produce strong scent and may cause dryness, so we recommend to pair it with a moisturizer to combat the drying effects.

It is best used as part of your skincare routine and most effective when combined with other products like face masks or moisturizers. After perusing testimonies across the web, we find that this treatment is high on reliability and effectiveness, as most of its users have repeatedly used the product for years.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

A helpful Amazon reviewer said: “I use it at night for spot treatment, by morning usually clears up. I'm not sure what the directions say but just put a decent amount on the blemish, its clear and will absorb in, never rubbed it in. Used it for years and nothing works better for spot treatments."—spaceman

Another Amazon reviewer said: “My face topical zit treatment, never fails to reduce a bump it blemish after 1 overnight use. Tried the expensive stuff and always come back to this goodie."—A. Ella

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Pros
  • Long-lasting protection
  • Won't dry out skin
  • No burning
Cons
  • Not for very sensitive skin or sensitive to benzoyl peroxide

Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Spot Treatment is the drugstore superstar potent at stopping pimples from fully developing when applied early. It is light and non-greasy on the skin. Works for both teenagers and adults. Recently, we noticed that the product is not as effective as before or has the same results as previously reviewed, but it is still currently the MVP (most valuable product) on the drugstore aisle.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

A helpful Amazon reviewer said: “Nothing works as well as this cream! I put it on just when I feel a pimple under my skin starting to come out, and it prevents it from surfacing. Just rub it on a couple times a day and before bed. I have been using this for years and years!"—Veronica N. Lochli

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Pros
  • All-premium acne spot treatment product
Cons
  • Pricey

Valmont Primary Solution Targeted Blemish Treatment is a luxury acne spot treatment serum that aids in skin emergencies. The product targets pimples, flakes and small lesions from unbalanced skin with its key ingredients. What are they, you might ask? Pre- and probiotics (for healthy skin ecosystem) and borage oil (for inflammation, lightweight and fast-absorbing). For the usage, it is gentle enough for morning and evening applications.

Saks Fifth Avenue rating: 4/5 stars

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Pros
  • Gentle and non-irritating for sensitive skin
Cons
  • Can dry out skin if not applied carefully

If you're new and don't know what acne spot treatment you should have, then try this. Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Solution is a beginner-friendly spot treatment great at reducing acne, facial redness and breakouts, decreasing pore size on nose and helping clear skin overnight. When applied, it stays in place and doesn't produce scent. The product's glass dropper feels high-quality and you can apply the treatment with it before bed.

You may find that it remains sticky and tacky and also doesn't dry into a patch as you expected. To that effect, it's difficult to apply makeup over due to tackiness. To combat this, we recommend applying only to blemishes to avoid drying larger areas.

Amazon rating: 4/5 stars

A helpful Amazon reviewer said: “I love this, the redness on my face has subsided and I have less breakouts. I use this every evening before bed. I put it in all my trouble areas and wake up to clearer skin. The pores on my nose are noticeably smaller. I think it is a little miracle in a jar."—Stumpjumper

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Pros
  • Reduces swelling and pain associated with pimples
Cons
  • Not completely sheer/invisible on skin

ZitSticka Killa Kit is an amazing pimple patch kit boasting a significant reduction in swelling, redness, and healing time for cystic acne. It is most effective when applied early in the pimple's development. The patches contain microdarts that deliver medication directly into the affected area. It can be worn overnight or during the day but may take some practice to apply correctly. If you want the best results, we recommend 3-4 daily applications or 2-3 nights.

These particular patches reportedly can reduce healing time from 4 weeks to 1-2 weeks for some users and seem to work well for hormonal and cystic acne. It is fairly suitable for sensitive skin and also able to prevent "road rash" like patches during healing.

Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars

A highly-helpful Amazon reviewer said: “I’m a 29-year-old female who has had 1-2 bad cystic breakouts every month since my teens. Left untreated, and even when I don’t pick, the swelling stretches out my skin and leaves these red road rash-like patches on my chin as I heal. And ppl ask me if I fell, etc., and I tell them, “No, I just have awful acne”. These patches are the ONLY thing that puts a dent in them. I get immediate relief and a reduction in swelling when I apply. As others say here, it does take like 4+ daily applications of patches to get it completely flattened. It reduces my healing cycle from 4 weeks to 1-2. And I don’t get that road rash irritation on my skin. The patches are a little tricky to apply and to line up the “darts” just right - but you get used to it. I’m looking forward to trying the new extra-strength ones. A little pricy, but WORTH IT. Highly recommend."—idon'tknowiasknotguess

RELATED: The 6 Best Pimple Patches in 2024

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