Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel Review

What caught my attention about this product is the label that promises to "visibly reduce breakouts in 8 hours."  Who wouldn't want to apply a gel and wake up with once less blemish? 

My skin is still very oily even in middle age, so I have to be diligent about skin care.  That means using oil-free wash and toner every night and morning.  Still, there is always that occasional stubborn pimple that insists on popping out no matter how closely I stick to my routine.  A whole-face mask can be too drying, but a spot application like Neutrogena lets me target the places on my face that tend to be breakout zones.

When I first pulled the tube out of the package I was stunned by how tiny it is.  There is only a half an ounce of gel in the tube, so I knew it was something I was going to have to use sparingly.  I don't think it's cost-effective for treating your entire face--there may be better products on those drugstore shelves for that purpose. Nevertheless, for my limited needs, it seemed worth trying.

The first opportunity I had to use the gel was when a blemish erupted on my cheek.  After my cleansing and toning routine, I dabbed on the teensiest bit of gel on the spot.  A little did go a long way; it absorbed well.  Even though it dries clear, I could still feel that it was on my skin.  It didn't rub off at all.

When I awoke (about 8 hours later) I touched my cheek to see if it felt any different.  The blemish wasn't completely gone, but it had gotten noticeably smaller.  There was still a little redness around the area from the pimple itself, but no stinging, soreness, flaking or other side effects.

Overall, I highly recommend Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel for targeted treatment of blemishes while you sleep.