I don’t break out that frequently, but when I do, it’s one epic gigantic swollen pimple that seems to consume the entirety of my face. Okay that’s dramatic and a lot of it’s in my head but breakouts are just THE WORST.
Today though, I am going to blow your mind with a really cool tip. Or maybe you know it and this is old news, in which case WHY ISN’T ANYONE AND EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT THIS!? I digress: I have an easy and effective spot treatment for pimples… and you probably already have it in your medicine cabinet: Advil liqui-gels!
Advil Spot Treatment for Acne
First of all: another popular pimple remedy is to crush up an aspirin. Make a paste out of it with a few drops of water, and then apply it like a mask. This works because it contains acetylsalicylic acid which is similar to salicylic acid (a known pimple fighter). Advil liqui-gels work because of their ability to reduce inflammation, almost instantly.
How Do Advil Liquid Gels Help Get Rid of Acne?
Advil liquid gels work as a topical treatment to treat acne because the advil (ibuprofen) is an anti inflammatory. Inflammation is what makes the pimple red, itchy, irritated, and painful. According to this article from Refinery 29, “”It’ll reduce swelling and redness.” So when you get one of those painful, swollen red pimples, crack open an Advil liquid gel and watch it go to work!
Note: This trick is best for inflammation-related breakouts (swollen, red pimples vs. blackheads and whiteheads).
How to Use Advil Liquid Gels For Pimples
Wash your face!
Cleanse your skin thoroughly – or at least the surrounding area.
Apply toner to the affected area
To get skin extra clean, go over it with a cotton pad soaked in toner. This mattifying one is a good one for summer/when you are breaking out.
Crack open the liqui-gel.
This might get messy so I would recommend piercing it with a thumb tack or safety pin (sanitized in rubbing alcohol first!) and then squeezing the gel out. You can certainly open it other ways but I find this to be the cleanest way.
Apply the gel.
Using a cotton swab, apply the gel directly to the pimple.
Allow to dry.
…and DO NOT TOUCH YOUR SKIN! You will notice swelling and redness decrease almost immediately.
Advil Pimple Remedy Essentials
PS – my other favorite pimple remedy: oregano oil for acne. And while we are on the topic of inflammation, ice rolling is another way to bring inflammation down.
Had no idea you could treat acne with Advil! The pills look so pretty too! Haha, wish I’d known about this when I was a teenager. I’m lucky I grew out of the acne stage and have clear skin now! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Right? It’s crazy! I love finding these clever little at home remedies.
I had no clue! Sometimes I get very red and inflamed pimples, usually after eating unhealthy for a few days, so I feel like this would work great for those. Unfortunately, in my country we don’t have ibuprofen in gel form, would it work like the aspirin one? If I crush regular pills and add a bit of water and make a paste?
That will work too!!!! Let me know how it goes!
OMG how do I not know this!!! Will give this a go next time around for sure!
Isn’t it crazy!? Let me know how it goes!!!
I don’t know why they don’t sell it in the States but I get ibuprofen gel when I travel to Canada or Britain. I’ve used it on inflamed pimples but it’s great to rub on my neck for my arthritis. I get it at Boots.
Ah that sounds amazing – wish we had it!!!
OMG this is a life saver! Thank you so much!
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com
This looks like such a simple hack! I wish I knew this earlier. I’m going to try it now
https://trishaandtheworld.wordpress.com/2019/05/28/stripes-on-checks-dont-mind-if-i-do/
It’s such a good little trick.
Ah, I wish I had seen this earlier. I picked at a giant my painful pimple all weekend. If I had just done this or left it alone, it would have been gone already. But since I didn’t, I have felt like it consumed my whole face too! Going to try this next time.
I AM SO THANKFUL TO FIND THIS! I woke up with a boil on the inside of my thigh and advil liqui-gels are the only thing we have at my job! WORKED LIKE A CHARM! 10/10! Thank you SO much for making this!
So glad to hear that!!
thanks i will try this but just one thing afer it dries should we wash the face just with water or…?