Sometimes, as hard as you may try to avoid them, breakouts are inevitable. Whether it be the change of seasons, a stressful situation, or a rush of hormones thanks to a certain time of the month, when a breakout hits, the name of the game is to get rid of it — and fast. And while there are countless breakout treatment options available at varying price points with all kinds of ingredients claiming to clear skin, sometimes it's best to stick to the basics. So the next time you're in need of a super quick skin fix, snag one or two of the best drugstore acne treatments at CVS to see just how effective these affordable spot treatments can be.
You know those days when you wake up and head over to the bathroom mirror, only to discover that your face has erupted in a breakout? While you may not be able to pull off a a last-minute visit to your dermatologist for treatment, don't lose hope. As it happens, there are plenty of equally effective acne clearing treatments available at your local CVS that'll have your face looking and feeling back to normal in record time.
Take it directly from those who've used them before and seen amazing results — drugstore acne products can be powerful and effective. Among the dozens of top reviews on Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Spot Treatment Cream, several have called this $13.29 spot treater a miracle worker that makes a difference overnight. Plus, fans of the product like that the formula is 99.5 percent natural, so there are no harsh ingredients that would cause additional inflammation or flaky skin.
If you're looking for an acne treatment that's packed with dermatologist-grade ingredients, snag the $14 Differin Gel. Formerly a prescription-only product, this powerful spot-treating gel is now available at the drugstore — so you can get a pro-level acne fighter without the doctor's office visit. Differin uses adapalene, which is a retinoid topical treatment that promises to quickly clear your blemish and restore your skin's tone and texture.
According to reviewers, it works best when applied consistently the moment you feel a blemish surfacing — swipe a layer of the treatment over clean skin and let it go to work, then repeat daily to make sure the breakout completely subsides. And don't forget to apply sunscreen, as users noted your skin will be a bit more sensitive to UV rays during use.
For those who feel like gels and creams never get the desired results, try an acne-clearing patch to target your angry red blemishes. Clearasil's Ultra Overnight Spot Patches are just $12.49 for a box of 18 patches, and have a five-star rating on CVS' site. The overnight patches have earned a top rating thanks to their ability to dramatically reduce redness overnight, as well as helping to keep more bacteria from further inflaming a blemish site so it can heal faster. It's a newer but clearly worthwhile approach to acne treatment that doesn't rely on overly-harsh chemicals to get the job done.
Since blemishes are a reality of life, it's best to be prepared for the day one chooses to surface. And instead of shelling out for costly dermatologist visits, trust that there are some affordable drugstore options out there that actually work. Browse a selection of the top-rated blemish fighters from CVS below, and be sure to pick one up the next time you stop by your local drugstore.
