In case you didn’t already know, I struggle seriously with acne. I’ve written about my battles with it on my blog before, always looking for new ways to manage it. Even though I have a routine down (thinking of maybe sharing it?), the acne I have is hormonal, which is incredibly tricky to tackle. I often joke that it’s my “acne beard” because it appears along my jawline and neck. These pimples never surface, so they’re tough to eliminate.
Every now and then, usually a couple of weeks before my period, I get a massive cystic zit. It’s extremely painful and itchy, almost bug bite-like, and is just a huge under-the-skin issue. I’ve got one right now—it’s a real monster that appeared two days ago.
You can’t squeeze it since it’s not that kind of zit and it’s too painful anyway. Covering it up doesn’t work because it’s so big. So, when I heard people were using the liquid gel from Advil for spot treatment with great results, I decided to give it a try.
I love discovering good hacks, so when this monster showed up on my face, I headed to CVS for some Advil. People online were raving about this trick working overnight, and I needed help fast. So, I got my hands on some Advil liquid gels, took some photos for the blog, and tried it out.
Before diving into my results and thoughts, let me explain why this skincare trick might work.
Why does Advil help clear pimples? The idea is that Advil is an ibuprofen, which reduces swelling and redness, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Acne, whether it’s hormonal, stress-related, or bacterial, triggers an inflammatory response in the skin, causing redness, irritation, itching, and pain. Ibuprofen helps stop these reactions, reducing the swelling and pain.
Now, here’s how to use Advil liquid gels for pimple spot treatment:
1. **Wash Your Face:** Not just a quick wash; you have to really get it clean. I’ve gotten particular about getting every trace of dirt and makeup off. I use either the Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic cleanser or the Eminence Stone Crop gel serum. After cleansing, I apply either the Botnia toner or BYBI Mega Mist Hyaluronic Acid toner, using a cotton ball until it comes out clean. Then, I apply the Eminence 8 Greens Youth serum and moisturizer to leave my face clean, nourished, and ready for treatment. Once a week, I might use an acid treatment for extra cleaning.
2. **Extract Your Advil Gel:** You’ll need an Advil gel capsule, rubbing alcohol, and a safety pin. Clean the pin with alcohol, then poke a hole in the gel capsule. You can apply it directly to your pimple or dab it on with your finger. I used about half for the zit and spread the rest on my jawline. Don’t waste it!
3. **In the Morning:** After waking up, wash and tone your face as usual. I also use Drunk Elephant’s vitamin C serum to brighten my skin. After cleansing, I do a quick ice facial—a tip from Kate Moss—which refreshes, reduces swelling, tightens skin, and adds a glow. Just wrap some ice cubes in a towel and rub them over your face in a massage motion, or dunk your face in icy water or milk.
So, did it work? After following this routine last night, I woke up to find my huge pimple about 75% smaller! It was impressive, although later in the day, swelling increased a bit, but I’m hopeful another treatment will fix it. Even though it didn’t vanish completely, it shrunk enough to be covered by makeup, which I consider a success. The pain and itchiness are completely gone too!
Overall, I’m convinced this hack is legit and recommend trying it for stubborn zits. I plan on trying the aspirin face mask for any widespread flare-ups. If you know of any other good hacks, especially for tackling acne, let me know! I’m always eager to learn more and share them on my blog.