As a beauty editor and permanent owner of acne-prone combination skin, I'm no stranger to the benefits of a great spot treatment. Though I'll always live for the subtle thrill of wearing a hydrocolloid patch under my face mask in public, when breakouts occur, I usually find myself reaching for a fast-absorbing pimple cream instead.
Most of the treatments I've used in the past are pretty similar: often powered by a single active, like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to shrink zits down to size by targeting bacteria and absorbing excess oil. I've also tried using a handful of retinoids (including a new one my dermatologist recently recommended), which work well to minimize breakouts in the long run, but the Kinship Pimple Potion Retinal + Salicylic Acne Treatment is my latest go-to for any quick zit fix.
Kinship's Pimple Potion is dermatologist tested and takes the traditional salicylic acid spot treatment a step further by combining it with retinal (vitamin A) and bakuchiol (a retinol alternative) to brighten and clear skin. It features a clean, plant-based formula that starts off a surprising lemon color, but eventually dissipates into my skin when I apply it after cleansing. And despite its potent combination of ingredients, the treatment is still deemed gentle enough for those with sensitive skin to use.
Another thing that's different about this spot treatment? It's not just a spot treatment: you can choose to use it on one particular area or all over your face to fight more stubborn breakouts—I've done both. When it comes to calming breakouts fast, this one potion works better (and faster!) than anything else I've tested over the years.
Plus, as an added bonus, the treatment's tube is made from 30 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, which makes me feel like I'm helping the environment in some small way (or at least not actively trashing it).
Ulta and Credo Beauty shoppers agree with me, rating Kinship's Pimple Potion with nearly five stars at each retailer. One customer (not me, I swear) at Credo writes that the product is "the only treatment that has worked for my stubborn hormonal face acne. After using this, it cleared up my active breakouts and started to fade existing acne scars. New acne has really diminished as well. Highly recommend and will continue to buy!" Another says, "I work in the medical field and my 'maskne' is really getting on my nerves, but this product has been working for me so far. I've been using it for about three weeks now, and I do see a difference."
One of the reviewers notes that they wish it came in a larger size. That's probably my only complaint, too. Because the formula is good, you'll be tempted to use it all over your face (assuming you break out like I do) and not just on the occasional zit here and there, so its contents can definitely disappear quickly if you're using it on a regular basis.
Though the potion isn't exactly marketed as an adult acne treatment, my temperamental millennial skin certainly appreciates it, especially since a little goes a long way. And at just less than $20 per tube, it's a small skin care cost that's well worth the investment.
Shop Kinship's Pimple Potion Retinal + Salicylic Acne Treatment below or online at credobeauty.com.
Kinship Pimple Potion Retinal and Salicylic Acne Treatment
Tiffany Dodson is currently the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she specializes in trend forecasting, building relationships with major and emerging brands, and crafting shopping stories—from holiday gift guides to product road tests. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in outlets like SELF, Bustle, and Teen Vogue, and she's been quoted as a commerce and beauty expert in publications and platforms like The Business of Fashion and NPR’s Life Kit podcast.
