15 Acne Spot Treatments That Actually Work

These acne spot treatments are going to be a lifesaver for you when those annoying pimples start to pop up where you want them least!

It’s no secret that unwanted spots can ruin any day, but sometimes they’ll continue to pop up no matter how great your diet or skincare routine is. If all you want is to zap those zits pronto, it’s best to opt for a spot treatment that will target the area without stripping your skin. Here are 15 of the best acne spot treatments that actually work!

1. Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch

Hydrocolloid patches are super popular in the world of Korean skincare because they really work! Simply pop this onto a zit at night (it helps if it already has a whitehead), and by morning it will have practically disappeared. The great part about this is that if you often pick and scratch spots, the patch will help prevent any bacteria from getting into your zit. This is one of the best acne spot treatments.

2. Origins Super Spot Remover

This clear gel targets spots with a blend of salicylic acid, red algae and saw palmetto to speed up the healing process as well as diminish any redness in the area. This spot treatment also helps to exfoliate the skin around your zit so you won’t be left with a dark mark or hyperpigmentation, which is sometimes the worst part of a breakout.

3. Dermalogica Breakout Control

Dermalogica’s MediBac range is perfect for anyone who is struggling with adult acne. This gentle yet effective treatment contains natural antibacterial ingredients such as Lactobacillus Ferment, tea tree oil, zinc and colloidal silver. You also don’t have to use this on targeted spots, you can actually apply it to large areas on your face where you often break out. This is one of our favourite acne spot treatments.

4. Murad Rapid Relief Spot Treatment

If you need a spot treatment that will work fast, definitely turn to Murad. This is perfect for before events because it reduces the size and redness of spots in just four hours. Plus, it’s clear and won’t leave your skin all flaky so you’re safe to apply makeup over it.

5. Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment

There are lot of goopy, pink, sulphur-based acne treatments out there, but Kate Somerville’s is by far the best in the market. This stuff is formulated with the highest amount of sulphur allowed in skincare (10%) and will help banish breakouts before they even show themselves. If you feel a spot about to erupt under your skin, use this to prevent it from coming out altogether.

6. Mario Badescu Drying Cream

This is a great treatment for those with cystic acne who may have to deal with larger areas of spots. For a lot of acne, prevention is better than cure, and with this treatment, you can dry out cystic spots before they even surface, leaving your skin clear, calm and smooth.

7. LUSH Grease Lightning

If you’re after an all natural, gentle solution to acne, LUSH’s grease lightning spot treatment, full of tea tree, lavender and witch hazel is the one for you. This clear gel is perfect for reducing irritation on spots and it will also help cleanse and soothe the surrounding area to prevent future breakouts. This is yet another treatment you can use on acne-prone areas to zap zits before they show themselves.

8. Indie Lee Blemish Stick

This clear gel is one that you can pop in your handbag and apply throughout the day to tackle any unsightly spots. The 100% natural formula is super gentle yet effective — it’s filled with witch hazel and camphor plus a trio of zinc, glycolic and salicylic acids so you can say goodbye to your spot fast.

9. Eve Lom Dynaspot

Eve Lom’s pink, creamy spot treatment is perfect for skin that gets easily irritated by typical spot treatments. This formula not only kills bacteria deep within the skin but also helps soothe and smoothen out your skin so there’s no sign that a spot has ever been there. Although it has a slight pink tint, a thin layer of this stuff is undetectable under makeup.

10. Skyn Blemish Dots

If you’re not a fan of treatments you have to wash or wipe off, then opt for your salicylic acid treatment in blemish dot form! Simply stick it over any spots to reduce redness and inflammation. Unlike other pimple patch treatments, these can actually be applied as soon as you feel a spot erupting, making it one of the best acne spot treatments.

11. COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

COSRX has a cult following in Korea for being one of the best brands for fighting acne. In fact, they were the first brand to come up with hydrocolloid patches for acne! These come in different sizes so you can perfectly target your spots and get rid of them overnight. The best part is that these also have a more discreet variation (look out for the black packaging) that you can wear out during the day!

12. The Body Shop Tea Tree Targeted Gel

Tea tree oil has long been hailed as an acne-fighting ingredient, and The Body Shop was actually one of the first brands to release a pure tea tree oil spot treatment. Since then, they’ve reformulated the product into something a little more gentle yet still as effective. Use this tea tree targeted gel on large spots or acne-prone areas and watch your skin clear up!

13. Kiehl’s Breakout Control Targeted Spot Treatment

This fast-drying treatment minimises the appearance of spots while also soothing any sensitive, irritated areas. While a lot of spot treatments are formulated for teenage acne, this product understands the needs of adults, and is gentle enough to be used twice a day to tackle tough spots, so it’s one of the greatest acne spot treatments.

14. La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I.

La Roche-Posay is a brand that definitely knows how to deal with sensitive skin, so if you’ve got sensitive, reactive skin but still want something to fight unsightly breakouts, this is the spot treatment for you. This cream fights against existing zits but also helps prevent future breakouts and residual marks. It’s the perfect all-around treatment.

15. Renee Rouleau Anti Cyst Treatment

Unfortunately, some people have to deal with huge breakouts of cystic and hormonal acne that can take weeks to go away. If you’re someone that frequently deals with giant zits, it’d be worth investing in Renee Rouleau’s anti cyst treatment, which can be used as a preventative treatment, or to quickly heal large, cystic pimples that can ruin any day.