Best spot treatments 2026, tried and tested by a beauty writer

The best spot treatments are at our disposal to treat and prevent blemishes. With adult acne among the most common skin issues, there’s one thing we can all agree on – we want to get rid of spots, fast. Inflamed, red, sore and often painful, these breakouts can be more than just a little annoyance.

Whether you experience hormonal acne or spots appear sporadically, there are a host of hardworking products to soothe and clear up unwanted whiteheads, blackheads and cysts. Of course, there’s no such thing as a “quick fix”, but introducing certain ingredients and formulas into your skincare regime can go a long way.

“Salicylic acid is perfect for this task, while retinoids turn over skin cells and help to both reduce inflammation in acne and prevent pores being blocked,” Dr Justine Hextall, consultant dermatologist for La Roche-Posay, tells me. “Niacinamide is an excellent addition as it reduces inflammation, supports the skin barrier and again helps to reduce post-acne skin marks.” She also recommends azelaic acid, which can help reduce acne scarring.

Adhesive spot patches are also a popular choice, as they prevent you from squeezing or poking at inflamed areas (which only ever makes things worse) and some are even made with hydrocolloid to absorb pus and excess oil from whiteheads to help them heal faster. You even get clear ones that you can wear out of the house, or patterned options that add a little bit of fun to your spot healing process.

At the other end of the beauty spectrum, advanced tools such as LED masks are also highly recommended by dermatologists to treat acne. Blue light in particular is an effective way to reduce breakout-causing bacteria.

Most importantly, consistency and patience are key when managing blemish-prone skin. “Quite often one of the issues when managing blemish-prone skin is constant chopping and changing skin products,” Hextall says.

It can all seem quite technical and a little overwhelming. If you’re struggling with which spot-zapping treatment to secure next, I’ve got you (and your breakouts) covered. I’ve been testing some of the best and most popular spot treatments on the market to see which help banish the zit, and the ones that aren’t worth your money.

The best spot treatments for 2026 are:

• Best overall – Dots for Spots acne patches: £11.69, Amazon.co.uk
• Best budget buy – Starface hydro-stars spot stickers kit: £11.99, Boots.com
• Best for overnight – Murad deep relief blemish treatment: £45, Murad.co.uk
• Best mask – Antipodes aura manuka honey mask: £27, Amazon.co.uk
• Best LED mask – FaceGym acne light shot: £60, Cultbeauty.co.uk

How I tested

When looking for a spot treatment, usually only one thing matters: getting rid of spots. However, there are other factors to consider too, such as price, formula, and how well each product can prevent spots from coming back. These are all things I looked at during testing, but you can read more about my process at the bottom of this guide.