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The 6 Best Acne Treatments in NZ

Maddie Felton (she/her)
by Maddie Felton (she/her)
Updated:
15 Apr 2025
I've been in the beauty industry for 4+ years now, although my background is originally in fine arts. In between researching and publishing our guides, I’m usually snacking and making spontaneous (and somewhat chaotic) choices about what to do with my hair.
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Troubled skin can arise from nowhere and leave a lasting impression.
If you don’t treat a pimple appropriately, you could end up with lingering scars and uneven skin.
A good pimple treatment will help ease your skincare woes and clear up your acne-prone skin without too much effort.
From serums to night creams, we’ve done some research and picked out our favourites so you can get to work and beat the blemishes.
Keep on scrolling for all of our best acne spot treatments Australia wide...

The 6 Best Acne Treatments NZ

Annoying pimples come in all shapes and sizes. From spots under the skin to those annoying little whiteheads that are crying out for you to squeeze them, it’s hard to know how to treat a blemish best. Iconic Payot Pate Grise has been helping clear up skin for almost 70 years. Gaining cult status and an army of fans, this miraculous overnight cream works wonders on acne and blemish-prone skin. Working to achieve impressive, dramatic, and fast results, the cream targets both small pimples and under-the-skin spots. The cream accelerates the spot’s lifespan, so you don’t have to live with it any longer than you need to.
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Payot Pate Grise is an overnight formula that dramatically diminishes the appearance of blemishes that pop up on the skin’s surface. Enriched with Shale Extracts and Sweet Almond, this Zinc Oxide-based face moisturiser is a beloved anti-pimple hero. It’s suitable for all skin types, even dry skin, and gets to work overnight to reveal a brighter, clearer complexion. Pate Grise also helps reduce the frequency of breakouts over time. Zinc Oxide is a potent ingredient that brings the size of the spot down, reduces redness, and dries the blemish out to accelerate its healing. The naturally derived ingredients in the formula keep the skin nourished and help prevent any dryness or tightness.

A carefully selected blend of natural ingredients Wild Oregano, Eucalyptus, and Tea Tree helps reduce the severity of your spots. Salicylic Acid gently exfoliates the skin and helps clear away debris from congested pores. Alpha-H Clear Skin Blemish Control Gel also features a powerful blend of Liquorice, Zinc, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin E, which work together to reduce inflammation on the skin and prevent further breakouts. Perfect for problematic skin, this fast and effective treatment can be applied twice a day. You can also apply the formula over the top of makeup throughout the day if your pimple calls for it. If you’re suffering from acne scarring, this treatment works to accelerate the skin’s healing process.

While it’s tempting to cover your skin in a potent astringent when a spot crops up, one of the best approaches is to treat your skin kindly with organic ingredients. Cruelty-free, vegan, Australian-made, and certified organic, Mukti Organics Blemish Control soothes flare-ups and helps remove excess oil from the skin. Working to minimise the appearance of blackheads and breakouts, this pimple treatment calms irritated skin and helps you look like you again. Perfect for oily, congested, and acne-prone skin, this formula features a special selection of skin-loving ingredients that help ease the appearance of blemishes.
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Mukti Organics Blemish Control 15ml has been formulated with Witch Hazel, which helps tone the skin and refine pores. Kunzea Oil controls excess sebum that can appear on the skin and reduces any irritation that arises around a blemish. Mountain Pepper Berry and Native Pomegranate help provide antioxidant protection and minimise the appearance of breakouts and blemishes. Mukti Organics is a sustainable and organic brand that features blends of indigenous superfoods in its skin-loving products. A great large pimple treatment, Blemish Control is perfect for anyone who’s struggling with their skin. After you’ve cleaned the skin, apply the treatment only to the affected area. Don’t smooth it all over your face like a moisturiser. Re-apply the treatment regularly to start seeing results.

Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 150ml is a foaming, medicated cleanser that helps clear troubled skin. The Frankincense in the solution works to reduce sebum production and decongest pores. Ideal for oily and combination skin, this blue cleanser will leave skin feeling fresher and looking cleaner as it works to improve the skin's texture. Wet the skin and work the cleanser into a lather. Massage it all around the face, avoiding the eyes, and rinse thoroughly for best results. Use twice a day and follow up the routine with your favourite toner and moisturiser. This formula was inspired by Kiehl’s iconic Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion, formulated in 1964.

Rapid Pimple Treatment
When your skin breaks out, it’s tempting to apply astringent ingredients that dry the area out quickly. With Medik8 Blemish SOS Rapid Action Target Gel, you don’t need to resort to harsh measures. In just 24 hours, this targeted gel helps calm inflammation and soothe any irritation on the skin. Crafted with maximum-strength Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid to help clear congested pores, this powerful spot treatment goes on clear and quickly dries. A magic potion for pesky pimples, this solution acts as a small pimples on forehead treatment as well as a large whitehead treatment. The cruelty-free and vegan formula gets to work quickly but gently.
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Medik8 Blemish SOS Rapid Action Target Gel 15ml works fast and effectively to reduce breakouts and clear up troublesome spots. Working to reduce pimples in just 24 hours, this formula can be worn over or under makeup. The clear, easy-to-use, fast-drying gel helps calm any redness on the skin and reduce the size of your imperfections. After cleansing in the morning and evening, apply this solution to your skin with a clean, dry finger. You need just a single drop of this anti-acne gel to see effective results. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you experience a tingling sensation after you apply it. This is a sign that the product is working!

Effective Acne Spot Treatment
When you’re suffering from a breakout, it’s good to target the area immediately. Aspect Stop Spot has been formulated to minimise and treat individual breakouts without any harsh ingredients. Designed without parabens or artificial fragrances, this cruelty-free formula dries pimples out without irritating the skin. A great targeted treatment for blemishes, this solution combines ingredients that exfoliate, soothe, and mattify the skin. You can use Aspect Stop Spot as often as your skin needs throughout the day. Ethanol in the formula works to dry out the breakout without damaging the skin. Niacinamide and Beracare AAA work with Lemon Tea Tree Oil to provide antioxidant protection for the skin.
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What Is the Most Effective Pimple Treatment?

Although expecting a spot to completely disappear overnight is a long-shot, you can do things to get it on its way!
Before you even think about popping it (so tempting but so scarring), a good pimple spot treatment will help target even the most stubborn under-the-skin blemish.
When you want to nix the issue fast, you need to work proactively to make that happen. If you don’t touch the blemish at all, depending on its size, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to completely disappear.
If you want to take matters into your own hands and get rid of that pimple yourself, the best pimple spot treatment will help you deal with it quickly.
The most effective pimple treatment will hit an angry blemish where it hurts and help reduce its size quickly.
Usually made with Salicylic Acid, Sulphur, or Benzoyl Peroxide, a spot treatment will help remove oil from the clogged pores and in turn reduce any inflammation affecting the area.
Depending on what type of treatment you use, you might simply apply the solution directly to the affected area and let it do its healing thing.

How Do You Quickly Get Rid of a Pimple?

If you want to get rid of your acne quickly, you should find a treatment for pimples and masks for acne too.
A lot of the formulas we’ve listed above are affordable and get to work quickly, so you don’t have to suffer your spots for too long.
A bad pimple treatment contains a slew of alcohol-laden ingredients, which are unnecessary. Always check the ingredients, and if a product hurts, don’t continue using it.

How Do I Get Rid of Pimples Overnight?

While it’s certainly possible to reduce the size and redness of your pimple overnight, getting rid of it completely while you sleep might prove to be a bit tricky.
A good, healthy diet works to keep your skin functioning well. And an excellent pimple treatment will restore a sense of calm to your complexion.

What Is the Best Treatment for Pimples?

A good pimple treatment usually contains a blend of nourishing, natural ingredients such as Zinc and Niacinamide. Salicylic Acid should be listed as an active ingredient.
If you’re using a formula for the first time, it’s a good idea to test it out on a small part of your skin overnight. A dermatologist pimple treatment will keep your skin safe and help rid you of your spots.



Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.


Serums & Treatments

<p dir="ltr">Although <a href="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/skin-care/cleansers.html?adore_beauty_product_type=8912" target="_blank">cleansers</a> and <a href="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/skin-care/moisturisers.html?adore_beauty_product_type=8912" target="_blank">moisturisers</a> form the foundation of your skincare routine, serums and treatments are the products that will really amplify results. With serums and treatments, you can absolutely tailor your skincare routine to target your specific skin concerns.<br /><br /></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Do you wish to reverse hyperpigmentation? Have you recently noticed fine lines or sagging skin? Are you looking for effective blemish control? Cleansers and moisturisers can tackle skin concerns, but only in a generalised way. By introducing serums and treatments into your routine, you&rsquo;re able to target those concerns and work to banish them. </span></p> <p><span><span><br /></span></span></p> <h2 dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: small;">Why do I need to use a serum or treatment?<br /><br /></span></h2> <p dir="ltr"><span>The right serum or treatment has the ability to completely transform your skin. </span><span>Where you once had fine lines, smooth skin now resides. Where you once experienced hyperpigmentation from adult acne, a radiant, bright skin tone now beams. Where you once saw age spots, a flawless complexion has now reappeared. This may sound like just a dream, but with the right serum or treatment from our varied range of luxe and professional products, these incredible results are possible. </span><span>From brightening, refining vitamin C treatments to moisture-boosting, fine-line-fighting hyaluronic acid boosters to revolutionary wrinkle-reversing vitamin A serums, Adore Beauty has something to suit everybody's needs. </span></p> <p><span><span><br /></span></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Once you start to be a regular user of a triple action Cleanser, <a href="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/skin-care/serums-treatments.html?adore_beauty_product_type=8912" target="_blank">Serum/Treatment</a>, Moisturiser combo, your skin will love you for it. &nbsp;So don&rsquo;t give up on your skin goals, achieve the complexion you've always wanted by adding some of these specially selected products to your skincare routine.</p> <p><span><span><br /></span></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Buy now and pay later with AfterPay. </span></p> <div><span><br /></span></div>

Maddie Felton (she/her)

Adore Beauty Acknowledges the Woiwurrung language group of the Eastern Kulin Nations as the Traditional Owners of the land our Customer Fulfillment Center and Head Office conduct our business operations on. We would like to extend that Acknowledgement and Respect to all First Nations People and Elders across Australia as our parcels travel across their land, air and water. We recognise First Nations Peoples continuous relationship and connection to Country and at Adore Beauty we commit to treading lightly on the land our parcels travel. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.

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