If you've ever dabbed a drop of Mario Badecscu Dry Lotion on your skin and prayed to the acne gods that it would shrink your pimples overnight, you're in luck. This beloved acne treatment has been around for a long time, becoming popular long before social media or even the internet, and it's been used by millions of people around the world ever since.
This best-selling drying lotion hasn't changed much since it was first formulated in the 1960s by chemist and pharmacist Mario Badescu, who came to New York City via Vienna, Austria. In the decades since, his acne-fighting concoctions have appeared in magazines and been praised as the go-to acne treatment by celebrities like Bella Hadid and Jennifer Aniston. Today, Gen Z continues to keep the product's fame alive: On TikTok, the hashtag #mariobadescudryinglotion has been viewed more than 107 million times, and there are countless videos of people sharing success stories while zooming in on their visibly clearer skin.
In addition to drying lotion, Mario Badescu's entire range of skincare essentials has a special appeal - mainly because of their simplicity. As you browse the collection of colored cleansing gels and facial mists, as well as minimally packaged moisturizers, you'll find that each bottle clearly states the key ingredients in the formula. The brand did this before The Ordinary.
This famous bubblegum pink drying lotion contains just six ingredients: calamine, camphor, sulfur, zinc oxide, talc, and salicylic acid. Each of these helps improve the effectiveness of the product. “The reason it’s so popular is that it’s an effective option that delivers fast results that are very satisfying,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD explain. Here's everything you need to know about this near-miraculous potion and how it's become the holy grail of spot treatments.
What is Mario Badescu Drying Lotion?
Drying lotion is a topical treatment designed to dry out breakouts and blemishes on the skin's surface, Garsik says. But unlike most other acne treatments on the market, Mario Badescu's product is a biphasic solution in a glass bottle with its ingredients naturally separated. The top is water and alcohol, the bottom is zinc oxide and talc. There's a reason for this separation - so no matter how tempting it is, you shouldn't shake the bottle.
According to Dr. Leah Ansell, board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology, the reason this mixture works so well is because it addresses acne in two ways. "It contains active ingredients specifically for acne—sulfur and salicylic acid—but also topical remedies for drying acne, like isopropyl alcohol, zinc oxide, and talc," she tells Bustle.
result? Ansell says it's a research-backed blend of active ingredients and desiccants that work together in two stages. "This combination is great because certain ingredients can be very irritating to the skin, so this combination helps combat unwanted side effects," she explains.
While the drying agents are doing their job, acne-fighting salicylic acid and sulfur are busy getting to the root of your breakouts. "They work together to reduce oil and unclog pores," says Garchik. Finally, soothing ingredients like camphor and calamine help keep skin calm. It's done, it's done.
How to use drying lotion
Drying lotion is a good choice if you have whiteheads or other superficial blemishes rather than cystic acne or pimples that haven't fully formed yet. Ansel recommends applying the solution only to the pimple, rather than all over your face, as drying agents can cause irritation. "It's absolutely fine to use [this lotion] regularly," she says.
The best way to apply it is to dip a cotton swab into the mixture until it hits the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Once the swab has the solution on it, gently dab it onto the pimple. According to the brand, you can think of the drying lotion as a "pink little mask" for acne. Wear it overnight and you should see fewer breakouts by morning.
bottom line
“There’s a reason this product is so well-received,” Gashik said. "This can be a good option as a topical treatment to help clear up breakouts quickly." It's best used in a pinch, like when a giant pimple pops up the day before a meeting or event.
Of course, for best results, Garshick recommends establishing a skin care routine designed to prevent new breakouts from forming in the first place. But Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is designed to target those pesky pimples that creep in, and it actually works.
If you need to restock or want to try a superstar acne treatment for the first time, shop our favorite products below.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion Ulta
Research references:
Fox, L. (2016). Acne treatment modalities. Molecules , 21 (8). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21081063
Gupta, M. (2013). Zinc therapy in dermatology: a review. Dermatology Research and Practice , 2014 . https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/709152
Meng, C. (2022). Effectiveness of calamine lotion adjunct to mometasone furoate ointment in the treatment of infantile eczema: a retrospective study. Medicine , 101 (35). https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000030237
Yes, BE. (2020). Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc in acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatotherapy. doi:10.1111/dth.14252.
expert:
Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist
Dr. Leah Ansell, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology
