We’ve all been there and done that. We spotted a pus-filled zit on our face, popped it (painfully), and then bore a dark acne scar for months after.
But then, we discovered pimple creams, or spot treatments, which hold magical zit-zapping powers with their hero blends of salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur.
Just dot these pimple creams onto a red spot, and the pimple disappears or heals much quicker overnight. Pimple creams are now our must-have when it comes to fighting acne.
Read on, because we’ve rounded up the best pimple creams (we couldn’t help but include other types of spot treatments like pimple patches too), including ones from Korea and Japan!
Best Pimple Creams From Korea
Ciracle Red Spot Pink Powder
Ciracle is a cosmeceutical brand that adheres to a skincare philosophy centred around three key principles — to prevent, protect, and correct the skin. These principles work together to give you the healthiest skin possible. It is also an advanced skincare backed by science.
One of their standout products is the Ciracle Red Spot Pink Powder – your skin’s secret weapon against those pesky blemishes and acne.
This fast-acting treatment targets blemishes and calms inflammation, effectively treating acne with its powerful, patented active ingredients in a two-layer formula.
The yellow liquid layer contains Salicylic Acid (BHA), Glycolic Acid (AHA), Ginger, Thyme (in the form of Thymol). These ingredients work together to exfoliate, remove blackheads, whiteheads, and excess sebum, and combat acne-causing bacteria.
The pink powder layer is formulated to effectively address inflammatory acne, combat acne bacteria, absorb excess oil and impurities, and provide a soothing, calming effect, ideal for relieving skin irritation and redness. Its active ingredients include Anti-Sebum ECO, Calamine, Sulfur, Zinc Oxide, and Volcanic Ash.
The hero ingredient, Anti-Sebum Eco, is Organic certified by COSMOS and has been clinically proven to suppress excessive sebum secretion on the skin and treat inflammatory acne.
For those who love pimple patches, Ciracle recommends using the pink powder together to experience real healing effects on acne.
Chosen and experienced by many in Korea, Ciracle offers a miracle solution. Gently dab the pink powder onto troubled areas. Stop squeezing your pimples and start seeing improvement!
The Ciracle Red Spot Pink Powder retails for S$27.20 on Shopee and Ciracle.
Blanc Nature Acne Scar Cream
We’ve all been there – the dreaded morning when a pimple pops up out of nowhere, putting a damper on our day. What if there was a solution to feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin with a reliable solution at your fingertips.
Introducing Blanc Nature Acne Scar Cream – your new secret weapon in the fight against acne. This daily moisturising cream is specially designed to be gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, yet powerful enough to prevent breakouts and aid in the healing of scars.
You might be surprised to learn that one of the key ingredients in this skincare cream is snail mucin. Yes, you read that right! Snail mucin has hydrating, anti-aging, and wound-healing effects on the skin.
But that’s not all – this cream also contains Centella Asiatica. Although Centella Asiatica may not be the most obvious choice for combating acne, it has effective properties for calming irritated acne-prone skin.
With daily use, you’ll start to see a noticeable improvement in the appearance of your acne scars and an overall boost in your complexion.
Blanc Nature Acne Scar Cream retails for $39.88 instead of S$80 on Shopee.
COSRX Centella Blemish Cream
Centella asiatica might not be the first ingredient that comes to mind for treating acne, but when it comes to soothing irritated acne skin? Check. This centella-infused cream reduces redness and calms the skin, making your skin look clearer and brighter than before.
This pimple cream comes in a glass jar, unlike most others that come in a tube. If you’re tempted to slather it all over your face – don’t. Instead, apply the thick cream to the areas of concern. It’ll leave a white cast, just like most pimple creams would.
COSRX Centella Blemish Cream retails for S$25.24 on iHerb.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Cream
Pyunkang Yul Acne Cream is more of a moisturiser than a pimple cream or spot treatment, but it’s one that fades blemishes if you’re committed to keeping it in your routine.
White willow bark extract also regulates sebum production, Centella calms the skin, and peptides strengthen the skin barrier for a healthier glow.
According to reviewers, this hypoallergenic moisturiser is ultra-lightweight and comfy on the skin. Since it absorbs into the skin quickly to soothe and hydrate, you can wear it around even during the day without white patches of pimple cream showing!
Pyunkang Yul Acne Cream retails for S$15.46 on iHerb.
Aprilskin Carrotene IPMP™Clearing Solution
Clear your pimples without drying out your skin with the Aprilskin Carrotene IPMP™Clearing Solution, a spot treatment made with carrots (in the form of beta-carotene) and thyme (in the form of thymol) – two ingredients you’ll find in your kitchen.
The brand’s signature blend of carrot and thyme has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it’s so effective at soothing “angry” breakouts.
The pimple cream also has other hero ingredients like exfoliating salicylic acid, Centella, and blemish-fading niacinamide. It’ll work to calm your pimples by morning as well as reduce redness and blemishes too.
Aprilskin Carrotene IPMP™Clearing Solution retails for S$22 instead of S$30 on Aprilskin’s official Shopee store.
Innisfree Bija Cica Balm
By now, you should already know that Centella Astica is a popular ingredient in Korean skincare when it comes to soothing irritated skin. Well, cica, short for Centella Astica, is the very ingredient that stars in Innisfree Bija Cica Balm!
The pimple cream is formulated with not one but four forms of Centella Asiatica – madecassoside, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid – to calm irritation on the skin. There’s also bija seed oil, which nourishes the complexion.
A gel moisturiser that doubles up as a pimple cream, the Bija Cica Balm can be applied all over your face or concentrated on your acne spots to heal them overnight!
Innisfree Bija Cica Balm retails for S$37 at Innisfree online.
Benton Goodbye Redness Centella Spot Cream
If you’ve got red spots popping up all over your face, the Benton Goodbye Redness Centella Spot Cream is the pimple cream to help you banish your breakouts overnight.
Made with an ultra-calming blend of centella asiatica extract, tea tree, and calamine, the pimple cream feels fresh and quickly soothes irritated skin.
Reviewers count on this pimple cream to flatten their red spots fast, with some even saying that, after they apply the cream, their pimples are gone in as quickly as an hour.
Since the pimple cream has a pink tint, you’ll want to wear it at night before you go to bed. Wake up the next morning to skin that’s clearer and calmer!
Benton Goodbye Redness Centella Spot Cream retails for S$18.70 on Yesstyle.
Medicube Red Cream
The Medicube Red Cream is a skin-saver for those whose acne comes hand in hand with oily skin.
This thick moisturiser is laced with 20 botanical extracts including tea tree oil, which work together to regulate sebum production and calm inflamed skin in the process.
Use this soothing cream over time, and you’ll notice fewer pimples popping up on your acne-prone skin!
Medicube Red Cream retails for S$35.70 instead of S$51 on Medicube.
TIA’M AC Fighting Spot RX Cream
Use the TIA’M AC Fighting Spot RX Cream, and you’ll see your pimples vanish with no trace of dark scars. This pimple cream is useful not only for drying out your acne spots but also for fading the blemishes that are often left behind.
Besides a powerful zit-zapping blend of niacinamide, zinc, Centella, and tea tree, the formula contains spicules.
Think of spicules as little “darts” that carry active ingredients and penetrate deeper into the skin. They effectively target acne even before it reaches the skin’s surface!
TIA’M AC Fighting Spot RX Cream retails for S$11.88 instead of S$16.97 on Yesstyle.
Some by Mi Super Miracle Spot All Kill Cream
The Some by Mi Super Miracle Spot All Kill Cream contains AHA, BHA, and PHA to shed dead skin cells, remove gunk from deep within your pores, and even skin tone.
Formulated with this trio of hydroxy acids, this pimple cream effectively calms angry spots, as well as fades blemishes within as quickly as two weeks.
So many reviewers have submitted before and after photos, and, we have to say, they’re proof that Some by Mi’s Super Miracle Spot All Kill Cream is, indeed, miraculous.
Some by Mi Super Miracle Spot All Kill Cream retails for S$19.43 instead of S$27.76 on Yesstyle.
Best Pimple Creams From Japan
Lion Pair Acne Cream
A Japanese pimple cream, the Lion Pair Acne Cream contains anti-inflammatory ibuprofen piconol (IPPN) and anti-bacterial isopropyl methyl phenol (IPMP) to treat acne at the root.
Impressively healing acne spots without drying out the skin, this pimple cream also helps to prevent pesky whiteheads from forming. Apply a thin layer of this pimple cream and it won’t leave a white cast, so you can easily dab it onto your acne spots during the day.
Lion Pair Acne Cream retails for S$14.35 instead of S$15.94 on Yesstyle.
Orbis Clear Body Smooth Lotion
This precious find is for those who have annoying acne popping up, not on their visage but, on their chest and back. A spray-on lotion (not cream), Japanese brand Orbis’ Clear Body Smooth Lotion is formulated to combat breakouts on the body!
Besides regulating sebum production, infused botanical extracts help to calm inflammation and boost skin’s clarity, so you wake up to smoother skin in no time.
If you enjoy a cool, minty sensation, you’ll love that the formula contains menthol to relieve uncomfortable acne.
Orbis Clear Body Smooth Lotion retails for S$23 on Orbis.
Rohto Mentholatum Calendula Acnes Anti-Bacteria Spot Dressing Day & Night
This one might not be a pimple cream, but it definitely deserves a spot on our list.
Japanese brand Rohto Mentholatum Calendula Acnes Anti-Bacteria Spot Dressing Day & Night pimple patches are so thin, they sit extra comfortably and appear almost invisible on the skin.
Just that much slimmer, these are a good alternative for those looking to swap out their COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch for something new!
The patches are infused with calendula, which has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to help banish your zits. One pack comes with 52 pieces, which means you’ll get to use them for a long time.
Rohto Mentholatum Calendula Acnes Anti-Bacteria Spot Dressing Day & Night retails for S$14.05 instead of S$15.62 on Yesstyle.
Best Pimple Creams
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo
Trust dermatologist-recommended brand La Roche-Posay to create a pimple cream fit for acne-prone skin: the Effaclar Duo.
This moisturiser doesn’t just improve your skin only after application, it also improves your skin’s health in the long run. The ingredients Aqua Posae Filiformis (APF) and Mannose are responsible for strengthening the skin’s barrier and restoring skin balance over time.
Translation? Even when you stop using the Effaclar Duo, you should still see your skin continue to reap the results and flaunt a blemish-free radiance for about a month after.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo retails for S$48.35 on Watsons, and S$43.52 on Shopee.
Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel
The Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel contains 10% benzoyl peroxide, which is an ingredient known for killing acne-causing bacteria and treating inflammatory acne.
Apply Neutrogena “maximum strength” pimple cream on your angry red spots to reduce swelling fast. Take note, however, that if it’s your first time using benzoyl peroxide, it’s best to start slowly to allow your skin to get used to this new ingredient.
Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel retails for S$19.43 on iHerb.
De La Cruz Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Ointment with 10% Sulfur
Sulfur is another ingredient that dermatologists rely on when it comes to treating acne.
How sulfur works is that it softens the outermost layer of the skin to prevent pores from getting clogged, destroys acne-causing bacteria, and absorbs excess oil. It’s an ideal ingredient to use on oily and acne-prone skin.
The caveat, however, is that sulfur has an unpleasant smell (think: rotten eggs). Even though other skincare products might mask the smell of sulfur with other chemicals, De La Cruz Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Ointment doesn’t.
Despite its woozy egg smell, this drugstore pimple cream is still a fan-favourite for its low price point and, simply, because it works. Just avoid putting on this pimple cream before you go out for a date, and you (and your acne-prone skin) will be just fine!
De La Cruz Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Ointment with 10% Sulfur retails for S$11.29 on iHerb.
Pacifica Dry It Out Acne Gel Spot Treatment Maximum Strength
Dry out your blemishes with Pacifica Dry It Out Acne Gel Spot Treatment Maximum Strength, which uses salicylic acid, niacinamide, and witch hazel to soak up your pimples fast.
Word of warning: Even though effective at clearing acne, some reviewers say that this pimple cream causes a slight tingling or burning sensation on the skin.
Pacifica Dry It Out Acne Gel Spot Treatment Maximum Strength retails for S$13.92 on iHerb.
Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment
With the power to make spots disappear even before they form, the Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment is a must-have pimple cream to have in your acne-fighting arsenal.
The formula dissolves oil to allow pore-clearing salicylic acid to penetrate the skin as well as witch hazel to soothe skin and reduce swelling.
Whenever you feel a pimple emerging, swipe this clear formula onto your area of concern; you might not even have to bear with an angry red boil on your face before it’s already cleared!
Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment retails for S$37.40 on Amazon.
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm
Don’t make the mistake of popping your pimples, says every dermatologist ever. But, if you do, count on the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm to, well, come to the rescue.
With its replenishing blend of peptides and antioxidants, this post-blemish pimple cream works to reduce redness, moisturise, and even skin. Your skin will be sent into repair mode quickly, so you’ll see your blemishes heal fast!
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm retails for S$14.41 on iHerb.
Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel With Salicylic Acid
Origins Super Spot Remover might be tiny, but it works mightily to zap away your zits overnight. Just a little bit of this clear gel on your areas of concern should help to reduce the size of your pimples and even prevent them from forming again.
How does it do that? Salicylic acid penetrates pores, degunks them, and sloughs away dead skin cells, leaving your skin clearer and fresher by morning. You’ll feel a slight tingle, but think of it as sensory proof that the pimple cream is working its magic.
Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel With Salicylic Acid retails for S$37 at Sephora.
Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Breakout Clearing Gel
A little bit of Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Breakout Clearing Gel goes a long way to calm your angry acne spots and reduce redness on your skin!
When you feel a zit forming, dab this pimple cream on to speed up the healing process. Salicylic acid purges the pores and overturns dead skin cells; monk’s pepper puts a stop to excess sebum production, preventing new acne spots from emerging.
Reviewers say that this fast-acting formula really works, but be careful not to overdo it because it might start drying your skin out.
Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Breakout Clearing Gel retails for S$69 on Sephora.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion has got two hero acne-fighting ingredients in its blend: salicylic, which degunks pores, and sulfur, which absorbs oil and destroys acne-causing bacteria.
The potent duo effectively shrinks zits in a flash – all you have to do is swipe the formula onto your pimple and leave it to dry. This pimple cream leaves a pink cast, so we’d only use it to treat our spots before we go to bed.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion retails for S$36 on Sephora.
Featured image credit: herocosmetics/Instagram, shopamaofficial/TikTok
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