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Disrupt your skin’s blemish cycle with this gentle gel

Your favourite viral skin care brand has done it again

By Samantha McMeekin

Editor / May 30 2023

Your favourite viral skin care brand has done it again

The product

Blemish control gels often get a bad rap for drying out the skin. But you no longer have to compromise your skin’s moisture barrier in order to visibly reduce blemishes and prevent future breakouts.

Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe’s Blemish Control Gel is formulated to penetrate pores and exfoliate the skin’s surface for a reduced blemish count^ and smoother skin after 4 weeks^.

It contains a blend of AHA (glycolic acid and lactic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid) that helps to visibly reduce blemishes, while three essential ceramides support the skin’s moisture barrier. Used in the PM after cleansing, it’s gentle enough to be applied in a thin layer all over the face once daily.

The panel

Beauty Crew sent the CeraVe Blemish Control Gel to a panel of women aged 18 to 34. The panel identified with a variety of skin concerns including blemish-prone skin, mild to moderate acne, blackheads, redness and large pores.

The lowdown

Here’s what the Review Crew® loved about the CeraVe Blemish Control Gel.

A visible reduction in blemishes: Our members were stoked to find the gel delivered on its promises, with many reviews reporting a reduction in blemishes. They also found that the blend of AHA and BHA helped to improve overall skin texture and prevent future breakouts.

Zero irritation or stinging: Those who’d used other blemish gels in the past were pleased to find their skin didn’t experience any irritation or stinging with the CeraVe formula. In fact, they found it to have a cooling effect upon application which helped to calm redness.

The budget-friendly price: Given the results they were experiencing, our Review Crew® found the price of the gel to be very affordable for such a reliable product. At $25.99, one member already went out to purchase a top-up.

The verdict

“I love how it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. It's perfect for everyday use and has made a significant improvement in my skin's texture and clarity. I've noticed that my pores are less visible, my skin is less oily, and my breakouts have reduced since I started using this product. It's also fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and affordable, which makes it perfect for anyone on a budget.”

Imogen P

REVIEWCREW® MEMBER

“On application, it does feel a bit sticky for the first 10 - 15 minutes, but then it gets absorbed in the skin very well, and the stickiness is gone. I value the gel's soft yet potent recipe. It has significantly helped minimising blocked pores on my skin and has lessen the appearance of redness without producing any dryness or discomfort. In the morning, my skin feels more fresh and smooth than it was before using this gel.”

Malvika P

REVIEWCREW® MEMBER

“This product is such a great spot treatment for when those pesky breakouts appear. I use this after applying my other skincare on problem areas after using my other skincare. It has helped to dry out and clear blemishes without irritating my skin at all like other blemish/ spot control products that I have used. It’s also much more affordable. A great product for everyone to have on the bathroom shelf for those moment of need.”

Courtney C

REVIEWCREW® MEMBER

Need to know more about this blemish-minimising gel? Read more CeraVe Blemish Control Gel reviews.

^Cosmeto-clinical evaluation: 52 subjects, aged 13-45 with mild to moderate acne and normal to oily skin

The products for this Review Crew® trial have been provided by CeraVe to Are Media and BEAUTYcrew for the purpose of trial and review by Review Crew® members.

*This combined average star rating for CeraVe’s Blemish Control Gel is based on a combined total of 100 reviews submitted and is correct as of 30/05/2023.

Main image credit: Are Media

Samantha McMeekin

Samantha McMeekin was BEAUTYcrew's Editor from January 2020 to June 2023. She has worked as a journalist in the beauty and lifestyle industry for over 10 years. In 2019, she was nominated for Best Digital Writer at the BSME Awards for her work on GLAMOUR UK. If you ever meet her in person, she'll probably try to guess which fragrance you're wearing (she's got a humble 60% strike rate).