Review of Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel

There are a lot of Acne gels that claim to be potent enough to work in reducing breakouts after they come. Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel not only claims that it visibly reduces breakouts, but that it will do so in 8 hours. I decided to try it out and see how effective it is.

Pros

For those of you that don't have severe acne, this product will work wonders. The occasional zit or even more than occasional breakout can be kept under control with this product. I applied it to acne that was just starting to get red and it stopped it before it developed and went away within a few days.

The product is designed to be used for 'spot' reduction. The gel is in a very small tube because little is needed for each spot of infection. You should not rub it all over your face when you don't have acne because it contains a potent acid called salicylic acid; this acid works at stopping acne causing bacteria from progressing into acne and helps medicate acne in the infected stage. For full blow acne you can apply this gel directly to the spot of concern and amidst stinging you will find it reduced within the said amount of time. Because it is clear and not white like most acne treatments, it is not visible other than a shiny spot where it was placed. Thin layers can be applied a few times a day if necessary to the spot of concern.

Cons

Most of the cons to this product are really just side effects of using salicylic acid. If you put too much on, or your skin is very sensitive, you will experience peeling around the area you applied the gel. This is why it isn't wise to just rub it all over your face, as your whole face will start to peel. The gel does sting for a little while after it is applied. Another turn off to the product is the smell. If you get queasy very easily from smells on your face, than you won't be able to tolerate this gel. The medicated smell will wear off as the day progresses, however. You can also experience excessive drying by just normal use, and it is recommended in these instances to use it every other day only. Of course there is the chance you could develop a rash as with any of these types of products; in which case, you should discontinue use immediately.

As for the overall value of this product, I found that it works and is slightly cheaper than other less effective gels on the shelves (e.g. $5-6.00 rather than $8-10.00). I wouldn't recommend it for those that have severe problems, but it works great for those with mild breakouts.