Customer Reviews

Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, Vanishing Formula, 0.75 Ounce

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I am in my mid 40's, so my acne is a spot here and there. I've tried other products, but Neutrogena's On-the-Spot Acne Treatment, Vanishing Formula, has worked the best for me. It didn't dry out my skin and since it was a vanishing cream, no one knew I was using an acne product. I would recommend this product, since it worked for me!

A note about my skin-type: I am a 30s very pale-skinned female with extremely oily skin. The pale-skin reference is important, because this is a white cream, and when it dries it does provide a thin matte white layer of coverage. For me, for whom even the lightest shade of ivory makeup is normally too dark, this is a blessing. It doesn't make my face look dirty like tinted creams tend to do, and it tones down redness.

This is one tried-and-true product I feel I can't live without. Primarily I use it on my nose all day, every day, to control oil and shine. It provides a long-lasting matte finish that no other product has been able to achieve. The oil around my nose area is greatly reduced without any ill effect, no peeling unless I become over zealous and apply this more than a couple of times a day. It also seems to prevent acne, because it has been a very long time since I've had any acne in that area; I'll get a few clogged pores every once in a long while, but zero acne. I am still amazed I can say that (added during 2011 update).

However, this product is a little too strong for frequent applications on any other part of my face. While it doesn't irritate other areas upon application, it can cause rough dry patches with peeling a few hours following application. This normally only happens after applying to those areas several days in a row. I never get any such irritation at any time in my oiliest areas.

I do have to make sure the cream is thoroughly absorbed before applying makeup, else my makeup doesn't apply smoothly.

As other reviewers have mentioned, if you apply this before bed, be sure to use a white pillowcase in the very least; use white bed sheets as well if applied to neck, chest, or back. Do not apply to chest/back before wearing a favorite dark t-shirt! This product does cause colored fabrics to fade.

This review was last updated in August 2011.

I purchased this product after in was recommend as a disinfectant in the book Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. I had been becoming extremely frustrated with my oily skin and frequent breakouts, so I was ready to try something new. For the past 1 1/2 months, I have been religiously using this product in the morning and Clear Pore Nighttime Clarifying Gel (a BHA product) prior to bed. While I haven't seen miraculous results, I have had a reduction in breakouts, and my skin texture seems to be slowly improving. In addition, I am no longer getting the dry, flaky patches which I was getting with other products. However, my skin is still oily, and I do still experience the occasional breakout. While this product certainly might provide you with some benefits over time, keep in mind that you will not see immediate results: despite the claims, there is NO product available which can get rid of existing blemishes.

I found this acne product to be as described. Unfortunately for me, I had a blemish to try it on, and my teen-age daughter did too. The cream went on smooth and clear, which was important to us. It didn't dry out the area, and seemed to clear up the problem in a day or two. Well worth paying full price for.

I've tried many over the counter and prescription acne products, and this one is definitely most effective for me. It is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide solution which is actually more effective than the 10% solutions and is far less irritating. It's name is "On-the-Spot," but my dermatologist instructed me to use is all over as a preventative measure, as it is relatively gentle compared to some other treatments. Just use a moisturizer with sunscreen after applying it. As with ALL benzoyl peroxide treatments, there is a risk of bleaching to clothing. I've noticed that it really only bleaches lighter colors, such as pastels and some grays, but I've never had it bleach anything with bold colors such as black, navy, gold, etc.

First off, I use Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 every once in a while for really demanding blemishes; it seems to dry them out - REALLY dry them out - much quicker. And I guess this is really the reason I don't use it on a regular basis. It's just too drying, and I have oily skin. (I can only imagine what it would do to dry skin.) Anyway, it does work. Don't get me wrong. But you'll probably end up peeling and just really, really dry; so, be prepared.

What I love about THIS particular product (Neutrogena) is that it essentially packs the punch of Persa-Gel 10 without drying your face out. And I guess the way it does this is that because it has a lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide, its effectiveness is spread out over a longer period of time; the results are not as immediate. Persa-Gel on the other hand, is so strong that yes it works faster, but the downside is that it'll dry you out. And recovering from that will take days.

On another note, what really sold me on Neutrogena's product was that it was in fact made by Neutrogena. Why is this important you ask? Well. Neutorgena also manufactures Retin-A Micro (Tretinoin Gel), which is a godsend for acne sufferers. It is available by prescription only. (Imagine that... a Neutrogena product you'd need a prescription for.) Anyway, if Neutrogena's good enough for my dermatologist to prescribe me Retin-A Micro, which she has done; then, it's good enough for me to trust an over-the-counter, on-the-spot benzoyl peroxide treatment.

Then again, it's Johnson & Johnson that owns BOTH Neutrogena and Clean & Clear (the manufacturers of Persa-Gel).

Nevertheless, both products are great, and they work. Just know that one is going to dry you out more than the other; so, if you're looking for a long-term regimen, definitely invest in Neutrogena's On-the-Spot Treatment.

Read about RETIN-A MICRO at:

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I've been using this product for awhile now since I got them but I haven't noticed any significant change on my skin. It didn't make my breakouts worse but it didn't make it better either.

Usually Neutrogena products do miracles on my face. I have severe acne and I have to have a facial regimen in order to keep my breakouts tamed. Once I ran out of Neutrogens's Stress Gel I started to use this product. The first day was okay, but the next couple of days my skin got worse. As of today 1/31/2011, my skin has broken out in other spots where I didnt have acne. The areas also turned red and my face itches and burns. I have since stopped using the product. Im just hoping the itching and redness will stop soon. This problem has never occured with any other acne products. If you have sensitive skin or other skin problems..beware of this product.

blasted the spots off but...my skin peeled and felt raw and I wasn't putting on loads of the stuff. maybe it's because I have overly sensitive skin...?

for emergency uses

I was impressed with this product! I have extremely sensitive skin, and many products make my skin worse and irritated. This product was easy to use, and cleared up in less than two days severe blemishes that I've had for months! Plus, my skin didn't dry out or break out with this product!