Instead of using Sudocrem as a spot treatment, there are plenty of other great (and affordable treatments) that are as easy to get your hands on. Dr. Laftah recommends using leave-on spot treatments containing a high concentration of benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid, both of which are effective at reducing acute inflammation in acne, she explained. Alternatively, you can also use pimple patches to dry out spots (please never use toothpaste to dry out your spots!) Spot patches are essentially "hydrocolloid dressings that draw out pus from lesions and assist with healing," Dr. Laftah explained. WHY IS THERE A SMELL?This is due to the nature of ingredients in the formulation, and these do not affect the efficacy of the Succinic Acid treatment. The smell will disappear upon application.

Clear acne blemishes fast, reduce inflammation and prevent clogged pores with our non-drying, gentle, and targeted treatment. With a cream formula, it is easily layered under makeup without drying or flaking. SHOULD I USE THIS BEFORE OR AFTER MY OTHER SKINCARE PRODUCTS?You can apply Succinic Acid directly to areas of concern up to 3x a day both over and under make-up. Allow 5 minutes to dry before following with the rest of your routine/make up. If you have dry, oily, combination or sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts and blemishes, you would not regret getting The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment. I feel like it works even faster than pimple patches in my opinion. Like the rest of the products, it is alcohol, essential oil, fragrance and cruelty-free. Texture & Consistency This treatment from skincare superstar Paula Begoun manages to blur and clear pores at the same time. The light, hydrating gel-like formula has the instant softening effects of a pore-minimising serum, but behind the scenes, its combination of azelaic and salicylic acid exfoliates both the top and deeper layers of your skin, clearing out the gunk that causes spots.IS THIS JUST FOR SPOT TREATING OR CAN I USE ON MY ENTIRE FACE?As this is a targeted treatment, it is best for use on specific areas only. Unlike retinol, AHAs vitamin C, this gentle ingredient doesn't have any skincare foes. But that doesn't mean you can liberally apply every ingredient under the sun. 'Whilst it is a gentle treatment, it is still advisable not to combine it alongside other strong actives in the same routine but rather to use it alongside ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin’s barrier,' Dr Fab urges. The “very high concentration of free acids” does sound scary, but it works to battle breakouts. Most people shouldn’t suffer any ill effects, but as with all acne treatments, it’s worth testing the product on a small area of your skin before you get carried away. In addition, be absolutely sure to wear sunscreen for a week after your peel, because AHAs make your skin much more susceptible to sunburn.

Clear blemishes fast, reduce inflammation, and prevent clogged pores with our non-drying, gentle, and targeted treatment. With a cream formula, it is easily layered under makeup without drying or flaking. Succinic acid helps to boost your cellular renewal, which means it’s helping to boost how well your skin cells are functioning,' says Dr Shotter. 'It’s also a powerful antioxidant, helping to counteract oxidative stress in the skin.' The former promotes skin rejuvenation leaving your complexion looking firm, and the latter protects the skin and keeps it looking bright. It helps acne-prone skin WHY IS IT GREEN?The colour is obtained from a natural chlorophyll derived plant pigment. Due to the different weather conditions and seasons the plant is exposed to, the shade of the product formula you use may vary in brightness so it will change from production run to production run In the buying guide that follows, we take advice from a pharmacist regarding the best OTC treatments for acne, depending on skin type. Then, further down, you’ll find our recommendations of the best acne treatments available. When buying a spot treatment, take note of your skin type. If you have an oily complexion, then you may want a higher concentration of acne-fighting ingredients, while those with sensitive skin might want to opt for a lower dose with the addition of hydrating actives such as hyaluronic acid.

Another benefit of succinic acid is that it can act as an antimicrobial agent, meaning it can help to control bacteria on the skin that can lead to acne and breakouts. What skincare conditions does it treat? Despite having dry acne-prone skin, I’ve never really been a fan of spot treatments. I just thought they were a waste of time especially since I always have a Salicylic Acid product at hand. Having one extra product isn’t going to prevent my acne anyway. If I’m gonna break out, there’s no stopping it. It doesn’t help that I’m currently using the Geek & Gorgeous Retinal and 20% Azelaic Acid and I’ve been purging quite a bit. TheInkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment is a targetedtreatment which can be applied both morning and night, with a non-drying formula thanks to hyaluronic acid.

Key specs – Size: 30ml; Format: Liquid; Active ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, hyaluronic acid It’s best to speak to a pharmacist before buying acne treatment,” says Hussain Abdeh. “Your skincare regimen can be built around your treatment, too. For instance, if your acne treatment tends to dry out your skin, apply a gentle moisturiser after the acne medicine has absorbed into the skin. This will give your medication enough time to get to work, without compromising the quality of your skin.” CAN THIS BE USED LONG TERM?The product is designed to be used if and when needed to target breakouts and can be used long term.

What are the skincare benefits?

If you would like to use other skincare or makeup on top, leave the formula to dry for 5 minutes before applying. The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment has a gel-cream formula, which is green in colour. The colour did surprise me, especially as you do see a green tint where you’ve just applied the cream. It is a very subtle green tint, but alas, it’s still there. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are the two alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that often appear in OTC acne treatments. Better known as anti-ageing ingredients, they’re also effective for treating acne because they stimulate cell turnover in the top layers of your skin. “These acids can help treat acne by reducing inflammation and clearing away dead skin cells,” says Hussain Abdeh. “Furthermore, they promote new skin growth. This helps to create fresh, smooth skin to improve its overall appearance, also reducing any acne scarring.” It's worth also knowing that, unlike some other acids, succinic acid is pretty gentle and less likely to lead to irritation, so perfect for those who have spot-prone skin that's quite sensitive.

Succinic acid is naturally present in a lot of food and is often attributed with a slightly sour flavour. Some food sources include broccoli, rhubarb, sugar beets and sauerkraut. If you think succinic acid sounds like the last thing you’d like to slather on your cheeks, we don’t blame you. Phonetics aside, though, there’s a lot this multi-tasking wonder can do for your skin – from minimising fine lines, boosting hydration, providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and so much more. Below, we take a deep dive into the why, what and how of the new name to know in skincare. First up: what is succinic acid? Our tried and tested spot treatments typically contain a powerful combination of the above to target blemishes at the source (often, before they have the chance to surface). There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and Dr Perry warns that most skincare products require time and patience to be effective. The green coloured formula (obtained from natural chlorophyll derived from plant pigment) acts as a colour corrector to neutralise the red colour from blemishes.Niacinamide, aka nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3. Applied to the skin in an acne treatment, it does a great job of balancing oil production and calming breakouts. In some people it has a brightening effect, too, helping to even out a patchy skin tone. For an overnight treatment, try our C-50 Blemish Night Treatment that targets breakouts, unclogs pores and reduces the appearance of redness by morning. Though succinic acid is best known for its ability to control sebum (oil) production, it's also an excellent hydrator. That's because its structure is similar to that of our skin's own lipids (or fats). It's gentle on the skin