Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment
- Contains benzoyl peroxide
- Effective at clearing blemishes
- Fast results
- Drying
- Doesn't pair well with makeup
Bottom Line
Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment is a powerful spot treatment that dries out blemishes, but it can also make surrounding skin dry. Reviewers say that an all-over treatment, like La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (*Est. $40 for 1.35 oz.) , is a better option for those who suffer from regular acne breakouts.
Performance
Effective, but very drying spot treatment. Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment contains 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide, which experts say is an effective but fairly gentle concentration compared to stronger formulas. Paula Begoun, skin-care expert and author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," gives the formula a mediocre rating because it has a clay and wax base. She explains, "the clay can exacerbate the drying effect of benzoyl peroxide, while the wax may make blemishes worse." Still, she says it's an OK option for spot treatment but isn't recommended for those with regular breakouts.
Users at Acne.org and MakeupAlley.com have mixed opinions about On-the-Spot Acne Treatment. Most say the formula is very drying, but many say it produces fast results and the dryness is easily counteracted with a good moisturizer.
Feel and Smell
Odor-free. Angela Palmer, About.com's acne guide, describes Neutrogena On-the-Spot as a white cream that dries clear. She warns, however, that "makeup doesn't go on smoothly over the treated spot, so you'll probably want to put this one on before bed." Users, for the most part, say the formula has little to no smell.
| Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment, Vanishing Formula, 0.75 Ounce | |
(79 reviews) In Stock. |
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Our Sources
1. PaulasChoice.com
Review Credibility: Excellent Paula Begoun gives Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment an average rating. She found the formula's mixture of clay and wax to be confusing. The clay can increase the drying effect of benzoyl peroxide, and the wax can make blemishes worse. She says it's merely an OK option for spot-treating blemishes, but she doesn't recommend it for people who have regular breakouts.
Review: On-the-Spot Acne Treatment, Paula Begoun, Jan. 22, 2013
2. About.com
Review Credibility: Good Angela Palmer, About.com's acne guide, is a licensed esthetician and skin-care educator. In this article she recommends several acne spot treatments, including Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment. She says it contains a gentle but effective amount of benzoyl peroxide but warns that it doesn't pair well with makeup. She recommends applying this formula at night before bed.
Review: Bargain Acne Spot Treatments, Angela Palmer, Dec. 20, 2011
3. Acne.org
Review Credibility: Good More than 630 reviewers at Acne.org give Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment an above average overall rating of 3.54 out of 5 stars. Reviewers have mixed opinions -- while most say the formula is effective, several say that it dries out skin and eventually makes acne worse. Seventy percent of site visitors recommend this product.
Review: Neutrogena - On-the-Spot Acne Treatment, Contributors to Acne.org, As of April 2013
4. MakeupAlley.com
Review Credibility: Good More than 400 users at MakeupAlley.com give Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars. Most say the formula produces fast results, but many say that it's very drying.
Review: Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment Vanishing Formula, Contributors to MakeupAlley.com, As of April 2013
5. Women's Health magazine
Review Credibility: Fair Women's Health magazine discusses various over-the-counter acne-fighting ingredients including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, sulfur, retinol and tea tree oil. Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment is recommended because it contains benzoyl peroxide, but nothing else is said about the product, and it doesn't appear to have been tested.
Review: Get Clear Skin: OTC Acne-Fighting Ingredients, Lauren A. Greene, March 16, 2012
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