This calamine lotion for acne literally changed my life.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is the most common skin condition in America, impacting up to 50 million Americans annually—myself included. While acne is most common between the ages of 12 and 24, breakouts can occur at any age. They call it adult acne.
That being said, it’s fair to say that most people who battle breakouts would be willing to spend a pretty penny on an amazing product that actually works. In my several decade-long quest to find the perfect acne-fighting solution I have not only spent a lot of money, but have taken breakouts from bad to worse by using super irritating and ineffective products. But all that changed when I discovered Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion.
I first discovered the product when I was an entertainment journalist, interviewing Hollywood celebrities about their beauty must-haves. On several occasions, many flawlessly faced stars touted the effectiveness of Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion, so I decided to try it myself. I'm glad I did because I've been hooked ever since. And guess what? It is just $17 on Amazon.
Formulated with salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide, this magic potion comes in a little glass bottle, with a milky, pink calamine solution on the bottom. While it is temping to shake the bottle and mix up the solution, you don't have to do this. All you need to do is insert a Q-tip into the bottle, dab it onto any whiteheads or bumps on your face, and wait for the magic to happen. You can actually feel the tingle immediately, and by morning, you should notice the little suckers drying up.
The biggest drawback about the product is that—depending on how many zits you are trying to zap—you might resemble a chicken pox patient after applying the product. This is why most people use the product at night.
The drying lotion cleared up my acne within a few days, but I noticed the difference immediately overnight. In case you don’t trust me, feel free to talk to Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Gwyneth Paltrow or one of the many beauty editors or bloggers who have publicly endorsed the product. People are literally obsessed with it. Obviously it doesn't work for everyone, but a product doesn't achieve this sort of cult-like status unless it is effective for most.
There are also a bunch of other awesome Mario Badescu products available on Amazon, and the best part is all of them are reasonably priced. You can also order the Drying Lotion as part of Mario Badescu's Acne Repair Kit, which includes the Buffering Lotion and the Drying Cream for just $46, or their expanded Acne Control Kit for $77.