Product Reviews Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
516 Reviews
Most Helpful Positive Review This is a lifesaver!! I almost never review products because usually the results I get are just okay. This product, however, has been a true life saver...or should I say, face saver. I'm 40 and have been dealing with hormonal acne ranging from mild to severe, since my early thirties. A year and a half ago, when my acne got super severe, I found a great dermatologist who really helped me out. Despite that, I still have some frustrating breakouts here and there and have pretty much tried everything under the sun to try and prevent them. Then I found this product. It's been my best friend since day one.
You can use it as a spot treatment which I do, but I also like to use this product the week before I get my period which is when I'm especially prone to breakouts. I'll cleanse and tone my face and then apply this product to my acne prone areas, namely my chin and cheeks. I let it absorb for about ten minutes and then I apply any serums or moisturizers on top. If I have any hint of a pimple emerging there is usually no trace by the morning.
Even the most non-comedogenic of foundations can make me break out so another trick I employ is to put it on before my foundation. I usually do my eye make up first and my foundation last so I'll gently tap and press a fine layer of this onto my chin and cheeks and let it sit while I do my eye make up. It has worked wonders to stop breakouts from my make up.
I know not every product works well for everyone but coming from someone who has tried everything, it's worth a shot. I hope this works as well for everyone as it did for me. xoxo
Most Helpful Critical Review Original Formula Has Been Changed This formulation has changed. I used the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion for years with great success, but the company recently changed the ingredients unknowingly to me at the time and the new ingredients caused my sensitive skin to become dry, red and irritated. This once great product contained wonderful benefits to the overall texture and tone of my skin not just on acne. The new ingredients are now probably only suited for a spot treatment only. Be sure to check the dates of all all the glowing reviews...I did a comparison of the "original" ingredients vs the new and they are indeed quite different. So just be aware of the change. I was not aware they had reformulated a once tried and true product and it caused a very adverse reaction on my skin. I think it's very irresponsible for a company to change their formulation without letting the consumer know.
Reviewed by 516 customers Long term acne sufferer.. buy it! 5
Meva from Va
This stuff is amazing. I'm 40 and have had acne as long as I can remember, plus cystic acne. I've been applying this at night after cleansing and in the morning under make up before moisturizer only in my bad spots. Tricky for use under makeup but it's doable. This has seriously calmed the deeper spots without drying me out or making my skin worse. I used almost a full bottle before reviewing. This has made a significant difference for me. Acne is not 100% gone but it's much better than it was before I started using it and seems to have calmed some of my excess oil as well.
Highly recommend and plan to buy bigger bottle works great. 5
Rohnda from California
Works great!
Amazing for big blemishes 5
Kelsey from New Jersey
This product is AMAZING for those big, under the skin blemishes that are impossible to get rid of. I put it on at night and when I wake up in the morning the swelling goes tremendously down. I have repurchased this product 3 times it's so good!!!
For Bumps & PIMPLES 5
Ruth from Houston
I started getting acne late last year and it is working WONDERS on my under the surface bumps and pimples. My pimple and bumps are GONE after a few days or putting this on.
I also use the drying lotion for pimple scarring (black spots) when I pimple is dying down or you try to pop it.
Must have! 5
Sophiathe1st from Texas
I've been using this product for over 10 years and I recommend it to anyone who is experiencing cystic acne. I use it as soon as I feel an under the surface breakout and it really helps keep my skin calm and under control.
Absolutely amazing 5
Falling Waters West Virginia from West Virginia
I used it on that stubborn acne that returns every so often under the skin that's super sore and never comes to a head and it was almost gone in the morning!
10/10 5
Alex from Watsonville, CA
After having COVID my face broke out so bad! I have never battled with bad skin. I'd been trying out different products, but by far this is my favorite! I use at night after I shower, a little goes a long ways. It's only been a few days, but I see a big difference! I have oily/dry skin, pretty sensitive skin! Recommend this product and ordering another😊
Ladies it's your best friend! 5
Monie from Texas
This stuff cleared up both the deep bumps and more Ingrown type bumps on my private area... in days!! I also use a glycolic wash in the shower but ladies use this, it doesn't stain panties or sheets, doesn't burn, and simply works... it a THING!!
smells like something you would sterilize an OR with! 5
Helen from Minnesota
works really well, wish I had discovered this sooner
Dries out breakouts 3
Christie from Jacksonville Fl
For some reason, this same formula in the bottle seems to work better. I don't know why this one doesn't seem to work as well.
I really had high hopes for this one 2
JulieM1041 from Chicago IL
I've been using it for my guys and I've seen ZERO improvement! Will return.
Works as promised! 5
Ash from Louisiana
I applied this to some deep blemishes which is what it says the product is for. It worked well they were gone after a few nights of use. Usually those type of blemishes stay for a couple weeks!
Nope. 2
CML from Missouri
I didn't see that the first ingredient in this was isopropyl alcohol, or I wouldn't have purchased it. It was incredibly drying and I don't know how it would work on under the skin cysts - all it did was dry the top layer of my skin out. Even after 1 use, the next day my skin was flaking and looked terrible under my makeup. Maybe this would work better for someone with extremely oily skin, I have combination skin and this didn't do anything positive for me.
Works insanely fast with pimples and redness 5
Jessica from Connecticut
I have the worst skin and constantly get acne Between cystic acne and normal pimples. I also have a terrible habit of picking when stressed. My skin is very dry and sensitive, I searched all over the place to find something that doesn't completely dry my skin out and make me break out more, and something that works extremely fast. This is the only product line I will ever use to help minimize and fight my acne. I love this product so much I've been using it for a while now. I will use it every other night or every two nights before bed after washing and toning as soon as I apply this onto my red and acne areas, it's almost as if it completely illuminates majority of my redness, and works so fast overnight within one day at least 80% of my acne was gone. It does burn a little if placed on a pimple or scratch but then it goes away fairly quick. This is a great product if you need fast results. It does dry white a little so be sure to wash your face the next morning. If you also have dry skin like me, do not use during the day, and use every other day or every two days. And be sure to moisturize it is very strong hence why it acts so fast, if overused your face can dry out which will cause more breakouts. This is probably one of the first products I ever bought from him and after so many more purchases of his products this is probably my most favorite.
Life changing 5
Clambo from Maryland
I don't often review products unless they leave a huge impact for me. I bought this on a whim when I had a massive cystic pimple on my chin. I typically get them 1-2 times a month from hormones. This has changed my life. Within just a few hours of applying it I felt the size reduce significantly. Now for the past few months As soon as I feel one start to form I apply and they never get as massive as usual and go away within 1-2 days. I no longer have to live with cystic acne on my chin and can no longer live without this product
Love 5
Amanda from Illinois
Love this product first surfaced acne and use salicylic for under the skin bumps. I will say if you have dry skin definitely definitely use a moisturizer or rose hip oil alongside it as this is meant to dry a little bit (acne treatment usually does). It's not advertised as a moisturizer though. One of my top three products from Mario Badescu. Love it and the niacinamide does help with acne scarring which is a plus.
Love this for sensitive skin! 4
Tiff from Cleveland, OH
I rarely ever get major breakouts and it's hard to use any facial product of an kind on my skin because of how sensitive it can be. I tried this stuff on one of my breakouts on my upper lip and overnight I noticed it already went down! I didn't have any burning or irritation at all. The only con I can give really is how liquidy it is, so it was harder to apply on just one pimple.
BUY THIS! 5
Kimbre from Syracuse
Ok . I've Dealt with acne my whole life! It was bad as a teen awful during one of my pregnancies!!! I'm 34 , I STILL get it , I'm assuming it's hormonal I break out bad during ovulation and menstrual. Most of it I can feel coming it hurts and it is under my skin, takes days to surface and days to heal, by then I have five more popping up, it's crazy!!!
Yes they hurt bad bad bad ! My face hurts. Ok , I've seen bad reviews for this and I don't know why. This has STOPPED about 90 percent of my acne under the skin. Cystic hormonal acne, this is the first thing I've found helpful!!
Get this. Use it the minute you feel a pimple starting and put it on ALOT! I clean my face, I exfoliate and use sea salt. My acne is almost gone, if i get three starting one might make it through because I missed it when it first started but all the others start to dry up inside and go away. Good luck this is working and worth it I lost one bottle and bought another just to have and found the other bottle that's how much this works!!!
Made my forehead worse! 2
Elsie w. from USA
I really wanted to like this product. The first time I used it, it worked. But after a while cystic acne started to appear and many more small forehead bumps. After I stopped using it, I still have some mild acne on my forehead but it's NOT nearly as bad as when I was using this product. Mario badesco is just not cutting it these days :(
The best 5
V from Chicago
I love this product, I always haves this for back up when I get big cyst on my face , when I use it for 2 days the swollen of the cyst lowers down and it is disappearing by less than 7 days . It is very liquidity so I will try my best not to spill a lot out so I will use fingers to apply , don't use the the qtip it will just absorb it and not go on your skin well .
Works great for cystic acne 5
Emaisgr8 from GA
This works great for under the skin acne. I shake it up and pour a small amount on a q-tip to apply on my face. It drastically decreases the size of the bump over night.
Literally a miracle worker! 5
Jordan from California
It works overnight!!!! I have combination skin, so maybe this won't be a miracle worker for those with large cystic acne, but I found it works right away on medium to smaller red bumps. The only con I have is that it gets less and less effective overtime using the same amount, so try and only use a little bit at first because even a little goes a long way. I find the best way to use it is to drip some on my finger, tilt my finger at an angle so the liquid forms into a singular droplet on the tip of my finger and dab it onto the spot, leaving an obvious patch there of the formula. Rubbing it in doesn't do much after a while. Additionally, q-tips are ineffective for application because the formula gets filtered when it passes through the q-tip, so there is less of the powder when you apply it to your face. Otherwise, it works extremely well, and it is a huge life saver when I need it to present myself well in school or in other formal spaces for the next day.
No drastic results 3
Julia from Alabama
The only thing this does is SLIGHTY reduce the size of my hormonal acne. And its not fast acting. I've been using it on a spot for 2 weeks now and it's still pretty noticeable.
Wish I tried this sooner! 5
NEPA mom from Wilkes-Barre, PA
I typically get the occasional hormonal breakout. Some are surface blemishes while others are those deep cystic type. My face also has a tendency to break out when the seasons change, especially summer to fall and winter to spring. I have been using the Unblemish regime from another popular MLM company. It was not clearing my skin at all, in fact, I think it was making it worse! Along with blemishes, my face was breaking out in little bumps. I am not sure if some of it was due to warring a mask and the stress of the pandemic, but I never had my face break out to this extreme. After a few nights of applying the buffering lotion, most of the bumps have gone down and my acne is clearing significantly. I am pleased at not only how quickly this product worked, but also how affordable it is.
Needs to be in rollerball form 4
Natalie from Denver
This is a great product but the packaging is horrible. It just drips all over where you want to put it and makes a mess. This really needs to be in a rollerball bottle.
