Breakouts are a pain in the butt no matter when they occur, but nothing’s worse than when a pimple decides to pay a visit before a big event.
That’s where spot treatments come in. Ahead, we highlight five of the best acne fighting ingredients when you want overnight results.
Salicylic acid
Use salicylic acid to dry out your acne overnight. Dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman recommends using Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel, which contains two percent salicylic acid. “This is very good for acne spot treatment, as it unclogs pores and can help prevent breakouts,” she says. “It also has glycerin, which can help skin dryness.”
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide helps kill the bacteria that causes acne, and it can be applied as a cream. Dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah loves the Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Control Kit. “I like this because it has a wash, treatment, and moisturizer,” says Shah. “The treatment cream contains two percent benzoyl peroxide. It’s formulated so that it’s as active as higher concentrations, but not as drying.”
Sulfur
Sulfur has antibacterial properties and it also works to fight inflammation. Shah suggests using Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. “This spot treatment contains sulfur and salicylic acid,” she says. “I like it because the active ingredients are good spot treatments, and it contains a limited number of other inactive ingredients so it’s less likely to have other potentially irritating ingredients.”
Retinol
Using retinol can help exfoliate your skin overnight. Jaliman likes Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion in particular. “It contains retinol, which helps with exfoliation as well as hyaluronic acid, which is very moisturizing,” she says.
AHA
Using a glycolic acid gel can help dry the skin out. Use a product like Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment. The highly potent formula immediately exfoliates clogged pores, revealing smoother, fresher skin.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
