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
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.
The Best cystic acne treatment 5
2022-07-01
I have been using this on and off for ten years, it's the only thing that I've found that actually reduces inflammation/redness/tenderness.. and a lot of times the spot itself will go away without coming to the surface as to not scar. I don't have serious cystic acne anymore, but get small pimples every now and then.. and this works great for those too. I never travel without it.
I make sure my face is clean and dry when applying, no moisturizer. Only apply where you need and let it sit and dry before applying anything on top. This helps it work much faster. Be consistent and gentle, let it heal on its own. Sometimes towards the end, after using this for 7+ days the skin will get flakey and dry.
Obviously if you have stubborn cystic acne you should probably see a dermatologist, don't wait and risk scarring your face. This is great but won't stop whatever is causing it.
Works for me! 5
2022-06-04
This is my go-to product when I start getting under surface bumps. I'd recommend. I've always got this on hand to use when I feel the pain and inflammation start. It seems to dissipate the bump quicker. I keep applying until it's under control.
Nothing Special: Main Ingredient is Isopropyl Alcohol 1
2022-04-22
Okay I love Mario Badescu products but this product hasn't really done anything special. I noticed the main ingredient is isopropyl alcohol so it's essentially like using alcohol on a cotton pad to dry out pimples. People have said this product used to be great but then the ingredients were changed, so that could be why these reviews are so praising. I used it on under the skin pimples and cystic acne and it really didn't do anything :/
Yes 3
2022-04-08
It help a little but I was hoping it would help more than what it did. But my acne had gotten so bad, so that may had been the problem.
Helped get rid of hormonal acne 5
2022-04-03
I struggled with hormonal acne back in 2019, usually was deep cystic acne underneath my skin on the chin/mouth and cheek area. Nothing I did really help, I double cleansed, exfoliated, used toner, serums, moisturizer and sunscreen, granted these helped all my other skin problems but couldnt help bring the cystic acne to the surface. This buffering lotion did just that, although it didn't get rid of the acne exactly, it was the only thing that actually allowed the underneath acne to come to a white/pimple head, and from there I just put on an acne patch to help prevent myself from popping it and scarring my face. It may seem like a lot more acne is coming from this product but like I said, it is bringing all the already forming acne to the surface (should only be a concern if acne is forming in new places you don't usually break out from so for me it would be my nose and forehead but do NOT use this product all over your face), so it helps speed up the acne aging process basically and allows for the skin cells turnover to be rapid basically.
How to use:
I only used this product at night as idk if sun sensitivity is a thing with this. But I personally double cleansed my face by using an oil cleanser and a basic one such as a foam or gel, really depends on skin type. Once that is done, I put nothing else on before this!!! This buffering lotion can be very drying, so please only use a Q-tip to place product on where you have acne and where you get it, don't put it all over your face only where your acne is!!! Then I just either placed the drying lotion this brand sells by using a Q-tip and once again placing it on active again I can see or I just left it at that and did not put anything else on my face. Once the acne comes to a white head you can "pop", put on an acne patch for at least 8 hours and it should get rid of it, if it doesn't just put another one. Hormonal acne can be really hard to get rid of so it may take a couple tries with the acne patch. Then just repeat the process until acne is gone which can take a while. You can use your serums, exfoliators and stuff in the morning, do this buffering lotion at night.
