4 Best Acne Treatment Products in the Philippines

With all the misleading marketing and urban myths out there, it’s hard to find a proven effective anti-acne product that’s worth your money. So I mined the threads of r/beautytalkph and The Project Vanity Community to find out Filipino beauty enthusiasts’ most highly recommended acne spot treatment products to help you zap those zits asap.

Here are their Top 4 in no particular order!

 

DISCLAIMERS

The products listed here treat mild to moderate acne only. For severe breakouts, kindly seek the help of a dermatologist.

An acne treatment product should be supported by a solid skincare routine, proper diet, hygiene, and a healthy lifestyle.

The currency is Philippine peso. All prices are as of March 2018.

⚠️ Your experience may vary. ⚠️ It has worked for me but it might not work for you.

 

1. BENZAC SPOTS TREATMENT GEL

Php 346 for 5% Concentration 15g; Php 822 for 5% Concentration 60g; Php 847 for 10% Concentration 60g

Available at Watsons, Mercury Drug, South Star Drug, Rose Pharmacy St, Joseph Drug Store

Contains benzoyl peroxide that kills the acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation.

Side Effects

• dryness
• redness
• peeling
• increased sun sensitivity

Warnings

• Can’t be used by pregnant women.
• <2% of people are allergic to benzoyl peroxide. (Patch-test first!)
• If it’s your first time using benzoyl peroxide, use the lowest concentration (5%).
• Can’t be used together with some other active ingredients.
• CAN bleach colored fabric.

Personal Review

In 2010, I used Benzac (formerly ‘Benzac AC’) at 5% concentration as prescribed by my dermatologist. I don’t have a clear memory anymore of its exact effects, but it did help me on managing my acne.

PRO TIP: Save more when you shop online using Shopback. Get up to 60% cashback on Lazada, Shopee, Watsons, Uniqlo, Zalora, and more. Sign up with my referral link to get a FREE Php 100 welcome gift.

 

2. HUMAN NATURE ACNE DEFENSE SOLUTION GEL

Php 200 for 20g

Available at Human Nature stores and dealers, Human Nature website, Human Nature official Lazada store, Human Nature official Shopee store, Watsons, Beauty Bar, Sesou, Robinson’s Supermarket, Robinson’s Department Store,  Rustan’s, Shopwise, Waltermart Department Store, Waltermart Supermarket

Contains tea tree oil, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Can be as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but gentler and safer for most people.

Side Effects

• dryness
• redness
• stinging
• increased sun sensitivity

Personal Review

Finished a couple of bottles of this before switching out. Really effective at calming down and treating mild acne, especially fluid-filled ones, but it could take >1 week for a pimple to flatten out. But then again, it’s a gentler option compared to others.

 

3. COSRX BHA BLACKHEAD POWER LIQUID

Php 963 for 100ml (as of May 2018)

Available at selected Watsons stores (as of January 2019)

Available at BeautyMNL, The Skincare Curator, Kbeauty Cafe, Go Bloom and Glow, Dara Beauty Market, Althea, BeautiPOP Shop (Shopee)

Contains betaine salicylate, a gentler kind of salicylic acid which exfoliates the skin and unclogs the pores (acne).

Side effects

• purging
• dryness
• redness
• peeling

Warnings

• Can’t be used by pregnant women.
• Can’t be used together with some other active ingredients.

Personal Review

HOLY GRAIL!!! It can dry out my incoming and cystic acne in less than 7 days! If it’s fluid-filled, in 3 days! Also works by loosening whiteheads and blackheads from my pores so they’re easier to slough off. And most importantly, unlike the 3 other products in this list that only cure acne, COSRX BHA also prevents acne when applied on trouble areas. But first, you have to weather out the ugly purging* period that can last for 4-8 weeks.

*Purging is a “breakout” caused by an active ingredient speeding up your skin turnover. Your microcomedones, which form when the pores get clogged, are brought out to the surface of your skin at a faster rate and sometimes turn into pimples. Through this process, your microcomedones are expelled from the skin, declogging your pores.

 

4. COSRX ACNE PIMPLE MASTER PATCH

Php 180 for 24 patches (as of May 2018)

Available at selected Watsons stores (as of January 2019)

Available at BeautyMNL, The Skincare Curator, Kbeauty Cafe, Go Bloom and Glow, Dara Beauty Market, Althea, BeautiPOP Shop (Shopee)

Hydrocolloid absorbs fluid from a pimple and aids in faster healing.

Warnings

• Can only be used on pimples that have pus or contain fluid.
• Ineffective against acne clusters and severe breakouts.
• Maybe noticeable.

Alternatives

• COSRX Clear Fit Master Patch (thinner and more undetectable)
• MiaCare Acne Patch, several variants (available at Watsons)
• Luxe Organix Hydrocolloid Acne Patch, several variants (available at Watsons)

Personal Review

(As of January 2019.) It’s my go-to for fluid-filled pimples. They dry them out fast without leaving a stubborn dark blemish. And because it covers my zit from plain sight, I don’t get so conscious about it. Plus, it also prevents me from compulsively touching my pimple.

PRO TIP: Save more when you shop online using Shopback. Get up to 60% cashback on Lazada, Shopee, Watsons, Uniqlo, Zalora, and more. Sign up with my referral link to get a FREE Php 100 welcome gift.

 

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