Editor’s Note: We reviewed this article on September 24, 2023. As per our editorial policy, we are constantly updating our content, to make sure it reflects the best of the best when it comes to beauty, wellness, and fashion. We want to assure our readers that we still stand by our recommendations, which we do. Also, the sheer size of the brand’s corporate empire inherently works against any thoroughgoing effort to make its manufacturing 100% clean and ethical. So on that basis, this Mario Badescu review has got to put the two brands on a par with each other in this regard.

For example, one review says, “Has been ineffective for any pimples. Only dries them out and they still don’t go away. Very disappointed.”

Mario Badescufirstdiscoveredhis namesake brand in 1967 out of a two-room apartment on Manhattan’s East Side.Working as a cosmetic chemist and aesthetician, the founder opened a salon renowned for its signature facials and custom skin caresaviours– that became a trustedtreatments fora loyal clientele of actors, models, and New York City locals. From his success, Mario Badescu decided tomakehis solutionsaccessible toall, so he bottled them up and thus the eponymous label was born. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed. The family-run brand is on its third generation withMorise Cabasso at the helm. In case you weren’t aware, salicylic acid (a beta-hydroxy acid) is one of the best acne-fighting ingredients, and we’re happy that it’s included in Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. Even if I haven't found the perfect cadence to prevent over-exfoliation, I know that following up my heavy-handed practices with drying masks or cleansers just makes matters worse. But, the lingering whiteheads bug me. For this reason, I am on the hunt for a spot treatment I can use only on the active pimples that stubbornly stay for up to two weeks. Since this product is a spot treatment, we think the alcohol in the formula is okay if you need to get rid of a zit ASAP. But it’s not something you want to be using on a regular basis.

Tip number two is to use Drying Lotion on spots that pop up on the surface of the skin. Since the ingredients in this product work to absorb and lift away impurities from the skin, it is best suited for this type of blemish.' 3. Use A Good Quality Cotton Bud Range of treatments that target all manner of skincare concerts, including acne, aging, dullness, oiliness, dryness, sensitivity, etc.use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity. The active ingredient in calamine lotion is a combination of zinc oxide and 0.5% iron (ferric) oxide. The iron oxide gives it its identifying pink color. Salicylic acid works by exfoliating the pore lining, which loosens clogged dirt and oil. It also has the ability to dissolve keratin, the protein that acts as a “glue” to keep dead skin cells together in the stratum corneum. This is effective because dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your skin, leaving it looking dull and also possibly clogging pores.

The drying lotion contains salicylic acid which helps dry up acne and sulfur and zinc which are both anti-inflammatory and take the redness out," says Rabach. "However, if used on a big surface area of the face, it can lead to flaking and increased sensitivity." The Value: It's worth it According to Healthline, using calamine lotion as spot treatment can help because calamine has drying properties and it can help dry out pimples caused by excess oil faster. As you can see, this brand has come a long way from its origins as a household business—but has it held up to its high-quality standards after half a century? This Mario Badescu review will give you the skinny on that below, beginning with some of the top-line highlights of the brand. HighlightsThe next ingredient is one that you might keep in your medicine cabinet for bug bites and poison ivy, and that’s calamine. The highest concentration ingredient in the Drying Lotion is isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol. This ingredient will definitely dry out a blemish, but it can also dry out the surrounding skin! But let’s move on to value-for-money matters now, because at the end of the day, company policies and practices are probably secondary to price and quality for the average shopper. Looking at comparable products from the two brands, this Mario Badescu review found that our spotlighted brand tends to come out ahead.

While this sounds great in theory, you may be wondering: does Mario Badescu Drying Lotion work for everyone? To answer that question, we’ll evaluate the formulation details, including the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ingredients and the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skincare. For any content that you submit, you grant Space NK a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Think of it this way: The pink dot you make on your face works like a teeny overnight mask that gives targeted attention to your blemish. You want the product to be clay-like when it’s applied so that it goes on opaque and pink, completely covering the bump. When you shake, that sediment becomes diluted. Another way salicylic acid helps to fight acne is through its antibacterial activity. Salicylic acid has the ability to inhibit the production of various aspects necessary for binary fission (bacterial reproduction), such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, and alpha-hemolysis. Therefore, salicylic acid can neutralize the bacteria P. Acnes that are present in acne papules.

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While that would seem to make this company more forward-looking than our spotlighted brand, this Mario Badescu review does need to note that all this progressive-type talk from Shiseido may be a bit of a case of greenwashing. For instance, as the brand sells products in China, this automatically means that these products must be tested on animals, as per Chinese law. While calamine has been used for centuries to treat itching and minor irritations, there’s actually not much research supporting the use of calamine for acne. Before bed (after cleansing and toning), dip a cotton swab into the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Dab directly on the surface blemish; do not rub in. Let dry and rinse off in the morning. Do NOT use it on broken skin. Where to Buy Mario Badescu Drying Lotion? that is, or may reasonably be considered to be submitted in extreme volumes and as such be deemed as ‘spam’; Others who tried Mario Badescu Drying Lotion didn’t notice any change whatsoever. For example, one review says, “I used this product after I wash my face and use my toner before going to bed, sadly it did not make any changes for me, I tried using it for a week.” Our Verdict