Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, 1 Fl oz

I’ve been using the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion on and off for a couple years now, and honestly, it’s one of the few skincare products that consistently works for me. Anytime I feel a pimple forming or see one starting to surface, I dab a little on before bed, and more often than not, it’s either gone or significantly reduced by morning.It’s not some miracle overnight fix for every kind of breakout, but it works best on whiteheads or those little surface-level pimples. You definitely have to follow the instructions don’t shake the bottle! Just dip a cotton swab straight into the pink sediment at the bottom and dab it on. It dries quickly and smells a bit like rubbing alcohol, but I don’t mind it.I will say it can be drying if you use it too often or on the same spot repeatedly, so I usually pair it with a good moisturizer the next day. Overall, it’s just a great spot treatment to have on hand. Would definitely repurchase.Value for money:Last a long time, although it does seem smallWhy did you pick this product vs others?:It had more positive reviews, and had proof of it working online.Lightweight:feels like nothing on your skin once it dries, but works like magic!Effectiveness:awesome, my pimples deflate over night!

I definitely got influenced—I've seen this product all over TikTok for the past two years, and I finally gave it a try a few months ago. I’m so glad I did! I’m almost on my second bottle now because it works that well.I never used to have skin issues until starting college five years ago, when stress and anxiety caused more breakouts. This drying lotion clears up pimples and red bumps quickly, and it dries fast on the skin. It is a bit pricey and does tend to crack so residue does go all over, but honestly, it's worth it.I do wish the bottle had more of the pink lotion than the clear liquid, and a larger size would be great. But I love that the formula uses more natural ingredients. The scent is strong—some might not like it—but I grew up with natural products, so I actually enjoy it.If you’ve been on the fence like I was, give it a try. It’s now a staple in my skincare routine!

Powerfully Effective for Whitehead BreakoutsIf you’re dealing with a stubborn whitehead or blemish, Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion is a well-known go-to. The overnight formula—infused with salicylic acid, sulfur, calamine, camphor, and zinc oxide—helps dry out pimples rapidly, reducing redness and size by morning

Started working, then wouldn’t work as well the more I kept using it

Has always been my go to. It has sediment in the bottom, and clear fluid above that. You are to dip a clean cotton swab down into the sediment (the true product), and apply to trouble area, without further touching or rubbing it in.This must be stored upright, never on its side, never carried around in a bag, so that the product itself is kept intact. I love the drying effect and continue to repurchase this as a staple to my clear skin regime!!

Absolutely love this. Definitely helps straight out any acne you may have. Love the ingredients as it doesn’t irritate my skin. Super effective. You get a good amount for the price.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is a go‑to quick remedy for surface blemishes—it visibly reduces size and redness in one night. Stylized, affordable, and editor-approved, it’s a reliable emergency treatment when used properly. Just patch-test first, apply only the sediment, and reserve it for whiteheads—not deeper acne.

I'm on the fence about this. It does help dry problem spots, but it's not very user friendly. You have to dip a Qtip down into the pink layer at the bottom of the bottle, but if you dip it too much, it's clumpy and thick; if you don't dip it enough, it's watery and runs off. It is also VERY drying to a degree that can be damaging. It takes a few applications for the pimple or blemish to dry up, and after that my skin gets dry and tends to peel.I wouldn't get this again. It's just too clunky to mess with and the results are mixed.