This $7 drugstore spot treatment is my acne-clearing secret weapon

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There’s nothing worse than feeling a new zit coming on or waking up to a fresh blemish. And since picking at your skin isn’t a good option (seriously, don’t touch it!), having a reliable spot treatment in your skin care arsenal is essential.

For years, I’ve been reaching for Clean & Clear’s Advantage Acne Spot Treatment Gel Cream a few times a week to keep my skin acne-free. I have super sensitive, reactive skin, but this spot treatment is magic. It makes my acne disappear within days, if not a few hours, and it doesn’t dry out my skin.

While I have access to an absurd amount of skin care products as a shopping editor, this is one drugstore find that I will buy again and again.

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment Gel Cream, $6.47 (Orig. $7.45)

Credit: Amazon

The heavy hitter in this acne-fighting topical is the 2% salicylic acid. My skin never reacted well to benzoyl peroxide (another common ingredient in acne products), but this amount of salicylic acid seems to be the sweet spot. This formula also contains witch hazel, which works to soothe stressed-out skin.

According to the brand, this product “rapidly dissolves oil on skin and works to quickly reduce the size, redness and swelling of pimples” and “has been clinically proven to show clearer skin in 100% of testers in just one day.” It truly is the real deal.

While Clean & Clear says you can apply the gel cream up to three times a day on cleansed skin, I only use it once a day during my evening skin care routine. I have used it more than once on particularly stubborn breakouts, but I’ve found that if I use it too frequently, it can dry out my skin — however, it’s typically not a problem.

I use a minimal amount on active breakouts and other areas if I see anything forming, but a pea-sized amount usually covers all my concerns. I apply the spot treatment after I wash my face but before any serums or moisturizers. And since a little goes a long way, this tiny tube lasts longer than you’d think.

But I’m not the only fan of this wallet-friendly product — it has more than 8,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. Snag a tube now while it’s less than $7, and see what all the hype’s about for yourself!

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