Mario Badescu • Buffering Lotion • Treatments

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xomissaudrey on 2/19/2009 6:41:00 PM more reviews by xomissaudrey

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

i LOVE buffering lotion.
so the drying cream works okay, and the drying lotion works good.
the buffering lotion works GREAT.
it's perfect for those deep blemishes+&acne cysts as well, though i don't get any.
works fast, doesn't make my skin dry or flake, but you do *have to continue use with it or it will come back.
that's my experience.
oh, and it says every other night...but i don't have sensitive OR dry skin, so i use it morning+&night until my blemish is gone.
heals quickly, too.
less marks.

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Sarz_1981 on 2/18/2009 4:55:00 AM more reviews by Sarz_1981

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

Ok, so I really, really, really wanted this to work. I've had mixed results though and am not sure whether I like this or not.

I've had some really bad cystic and blind pimples on my forehead this summer, like nothing I've ever had before. I have acne prone skin but these days only seem to get hormonal pimples rather than constant acne - except this summer.

I generally use Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5 or 5% to treat my pimples which usually works but nothing had been working on the suckers on my forehead and I'd read about the Buffering Lotion and thought I had nothing to lose.

When I use this it definitely gets rid of the pain of the pimple but the pimples on my forehead would not budge. Supposedly this is supposed to make the pimples come to a head or they disappear. On my forehead this made my pimples worse and they just wouldn't budge. However, when I use this on blind pimples coming up on my cheeks or my chin the pimples literally disappear overnight, therein lies the confusion. lol. So I'll definitely use this again on blind pimples coming up on cheeks and chin but not ever again on my forehead.

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*TOP REVIEWER* hags101 on 2/5/2009 2:24:00 AM more reviews by hags101

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

This is the only thing that I have found to help heal my existing cystic pimples! My skin reacts really well to sulfur. The Buffering Lotion has a water soluble form of sulfur so it sinks into your skin fast (super fast! You need to apply it quickly or it will sink into your hand) and easy.
Whenever I would get a cystic acne they would stay around for at least 3 weeks. They would be huge (almost the size of a dime) and painful! I would also be left with a purple bruised scar (for months and months after - up to a year) even though I would not touch it.
When I apply this lotion to the forming pimple it starts to heal immediately. This lotion takes away the throbbing and itchiness of the pimple. It also makes it go away to barely nothing by 3 days tops. If I catch the pimple forming early enough (sore spot under the skin) I can put this acne treatment on over my makeup and the pimple goes away. It is weird because this stuff changes the inside of the pimple. The pimple gets really hard and than goes away. I apply it day and night over the pimple and 1x during the day if it starts to throb again.
Unfortunately this stuff does not prevent the pimples at all, but the Special Cleansing Lotion "c" and the Special Cucumber Lotion (both toners) contain the water soluble sulfur and cucumber so they help to keep my skin calmer and I have less cystics with their use. I also use the drying lotion over this at night to take down the swelling. The only downfall of this product is it can cause tiny whiteheads on my acne prone chin (like when I apply it to a cystic pimple on my chin and the product spreads out). I am not complaining though because I just add a little drying lotion to it and the whitehead is gone in a day. I would rather have a tiny whitehead than a scarring cystic pimple any day!

I will never be without this ever! I even pack it in my purse when I am on day trips!

NEWEST UPDATE: still my HG cystic pimple treatment after 2 1/2 yrs! I would like to clarify that I squirt a small amount into my hand and douse the pimple with a wet finger.... so the pimple is really wet with this stuff. Doing this 2x a day makes the pimple disappear and no more pain. My skin is finally rid of the purple-red post acne marks because I am able to treat these before they are full blown! I must ad that I loved the Enzyme cleanser for making my skin tone even out.... but now I use a homemade oil cleanser to balance out my super oily skin and clean out my mega clogged pores (none of those problems since using an oil cleanser with an emulsifier)

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

SL103 on 2/2/2009 3:24:00 PM more reviews by SL103

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I am oriential yellow skin toned and my skin is quite thin though it is tough, my biggest problem is getting 3-4 BIGish (3-6mm in diameter) Cystic acne per month usually comes before my period. Anybody who knows that cystic acne is panful, it comes as a lump under my skin and that area goes red, if I don't squeeze them out (i mean squeeze by force, bursting it with a needle and sqeezing what I can out) it just stays in my skin for months, I think the longeset I have ever left a pimple was for 4 months and it never went down in size until I could not help but force it out, every pimple leaves a scar on my face (usually the cheeks). I really wanted this product to work, however it did absolutely nothing for me. I have been using this product on my pimples for 3 weeks now, even when I get new pimples I apply it to the area and it doesn't even help with the pain from it.

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MaMaMarisa on 1/30/2009 1:00:00 PM more reviews by MaMaMarisa

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This product did nothing for me. I heard such good things about it, but my mild acne didn't budge at all with this product. It's a funny liquid substance that is hard to apply without making a mess. In my opinion, there are other sulfur based products for much less cost that work better. Try prosacea first.

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angielynne on 1/22/2009 12:17:00 AM more reviews by angielynne

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Other    

Well, I really thought I would never like this product and would have no real use for it, as I really don't get true cystic acne but I am so glad I tried it!


I use this twice a day, before I use the acne serum and oil free moisturizer spf 17.


Like I said, I am not remarkably prone to cystic acne, but I am prone to getting blackheads (I really dislike that term but there it is). Using this product with the serum and also the enzyme cleanser over the last couple months has totally turned around my skin.

I don't use it as a spot treatment often but I do use it with the drying mask as they suggest, and together I used that as a spot treatment. At this point I don't need a spot treatment anymore! I will continue to use this to prevent breakouts!

If you are going to use mario badescu products, I really feel that you must just try using all mario products(by that I mean all products that you use being MB, not using every single thing they sell ;) ), I think you will be disappointed with using just one product,especially since one of what is part of your current regime could be part of the problem-- but together, once you get the mixture of products you need, it is a symphony, or it can be and has been for me.

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eflower on 1/6/2009 2:37:00 AM more reviews by eflower

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I've suffered from cystic acne since high school and I've never found anything that could treat it quickly and effectively until this product. I've been using MB Buffering Lotion mostly as a SPOT treatment for a couple months now, fyi.


For one, I found this doesn't prevent oiliness or cystic breakouts for me. Like I said, I use Buffering Lotion mostly as a spot treatment but every now and then, I would spread it over parts where I'm oiliest (forehead T-zone and by my nose) and seen no effect as far as prevention.


Two, you must apply Buffering Lotion as *soon* as you feel a deep cyst coming on. After applying BL asap and consistently (day AND night), the breakouts will be treated very effectively: reduced in size and prevents the cystic pimple from becoming a full-blown pimple. The cysts may still feel painful during this treatment phase, but keep applying the BL and it will work!! The earlier you catch the cystic pimple, the more effective the BL will be.


Third, BL dried out my skin & made it peel a little when I applied it liberally as a spot treatment so it's a trade-off.. even so, I was so thankful that the cystic pimple was at least more under control with BL use.


Lastly, the BL reduced the life cycle of my cystic breakouts significantly! Instead of waiting 1.5++ wk for these breakouts to grow/develop/etc., I was able to get things under control in sometimes a few days or up to one wk. This meant preventing the cystic pimple from growing to its full size! As a result, less pain and less embarrassment.


While BL doesn't seem to work for everyone, it has really been helping me out! If you have really sensitive skin, you might want to be careful. My skin is not overly sensitive, and it is oily in the t-zone and on my chin (where my cystic breakouts consistently occur). The bottle makes application difficult & wastes the product, but I use my fingers to apply the treatment (dabbing it on the cystic pimple). I felt the price was a bit high at first, but seeing the results makes me feel the money was worth it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

davefan77 on 12/28/2008 8:07:00 PM more reviews by davefan77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

This is another disappointing MB product for me. I had such high hopes and really wanted it to work, but it didn't do anything. What a waste of money!

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marah1115 on 12/17/2008 10:24:00 PM more reviews by marah1115

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

First let me say I LOVE the Mario Badescu line but this product was NOT for me for some reason
the second or third evening my face was badly irritated sore the bumps which had begun small got larger/more swelled and I had to return it because I knew it was NOT helping and making it worse
So for me this is a NO GOOD sorry mario

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JasonMakeupartist on 12/15/2008 11:27:00 PM more reviews by JasonMakeupartist

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

This is awesome. I had a bad experience at the actual skin care center in NY a few years ago, so I have been wary of MB .Recently I put down the benzoyl peroxide for fear of cancer (causes tumors in mice!) and I needed something to take its place. With much hesitance I decided to try the MB line ( I never tried the products. After my terrible facial, I just left and swore to never look at the company again.) Now, after just a day of using the buffering lotion, drying cream and drying lotion I'm pretty gosh darn impressed. My skin is clearing and is CALM. I don't know how the products can contain alcohol and sulfur and still be gentle but they really take the red out. I put the buffering lotion over a little razzor burn on my neck this morning and wham! Five minutes latter the little bumps were gone. Gone! And my real zits are almost completely resolved after one night and one morning of use. Honestly, after years of struggling with acne I've never seen such impressive results so quickly. Anywho, it's only been a day but it looks like this stuff is gonna take good care of my tempermental mug. I like the 1970's packaging too.

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nephine on 12/9/2008 1:17:00 AM more reviews by nephine

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I'm surprised this hasn't got a higher rating, I've found so many ways to use this! When I apply this liquid on a hormonal bump under the skin (cystic acne), or on a sore, persistent spot, it's usually gone in a few days with minimum damage to the skin. I often use it liberally around my nose and chin to blast blackheads overnight and shrink pore size, and after bikini waxing, it's amazing at preventing ingrown hairs and follicle spots. Yes, it might sting like hell, but it does calm the effected area. Even when my skins not so bad, it's good to spread a thin layer over spot-prone areas as a preventative barrier; it seems to inhibit oil secretions for a few days after use too.
One lippie's deducted only because, with excessive use on one area, it can be drying and flake skin. But then again, that's what this product's suppose to do - dry out spots. If you're a new user I'd suggest going easy with this at first to see how your skin reacts. It has a strange fluid, oily texture which can be difficult to control on the skin, but don't be tempted to dab this on with a cotton bud or finger as you'll absorb away all the active properties - I've found you get best results when you apply straight from the nozzle. Just apply a little at a time, spreading as you go, and build it up on the skin. You have to shake before use to mix in the white medicated sediment at the bottom (this is the 'drying' fluid), which means you can only use this at night as it leaves an obvious powdery white finish when absorbed - you may look silly but at least you can tell where you've applied it! Sometimes I just apply the clear fluid without the white sediment mixed in, and find results less drying (but the formula's not as strong).
Since I bought this a few years ago, I've made sure I've always had a bottle around. The bottle size isn't fantastic but it does last for ages, and the price is easier to deal with when you see results. Another tip - dab the Special Healing Powder over oily areas and blemishes over the top of this Buffering Lotion at night, and just watch your skin transform! This helps to heal and calm skin twice as fast.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

THEPookiemeister on 12/8/2008 2:41:00 AM more reviews by THEPookiemeister

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Rating it a 2 just because it controlled oil really well and took away redness..other than that i tried it...didn't do much of anything...kept going back off and on trying it out of desperation and I've come to the conclusion that this takes out redness, oil...which is great but does nothing for my cystic acne, in fact I think this makes it worse and more inflamed....think I am sensitive to zinc oxide because I experience the same reaction with other products that have zinc oxide. Wanted this to work out for me, but just doesn't...oh well :(

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annayjo on 12/6/2008 9:19:00 AM more reviews by annayjo

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I honestly don't know if this product works. I put it on my cystic acne and the next day it's still the same. I tried it before and after the drying mask and the next day and the day after.... it's the same.. I don't think it's working .. I have ALL the mario badescu products and I don't know if I like any of them.. sigh..

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gennyb73 on 11/12/2008 11:25:00 PM more reviews by gennyb73

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I find that this product works wonders on my cystic acne. I get bumps on my neck and jaw line and it works!!! The sales person suggested that after I cleanse my face, dab it on the spot(s) a few times before bed (letting it dry each time). I noticed a difference in the redness, size of bump and even pain relief by the very next morning! Please note however, for me it did not work on regular pimples! I would recommend this product to ANYONE who suffers from cystic acne!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

teago on 11/5/2008 5:56:00 PM more reviews by teago

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff really works.
Ive tried every other spot treatment but this is the best ive tried. I applied it to a cystic, under the skin pimple at night, woke up in the morning and the bump feeling was gone. It does dry the skin so I just dabbed healing cream over it for the day.
What really lets this product down is the packaging, its wrong for the consistency and Im struggling to apply it without a lot of waste.

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cheekylauren on 10/22/2008 2:32:00 PM more reviews by cheekylauren

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

So I just bought this product due to a nasty cystic acne outbreak on my chin. I was VERY disappointed with it because it really wasn't doing anything, it would reduce the swelling but it would swell right back up throughout the day. Then I read that it should be used before or after the drying mask. I had a sample of the drying mask so I tried using it both before and after the drying mask, I have done this for one night and my acne has literally nearly disappeared. This is one of those rare incidents where both products I thought were ho hum turned out to be great together. It does cause drying for me though.

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MBFan on 10/8/2008 4:42:00 PM more reviews by MBFan

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

FollowThatPackage.com is offering a 15% discount on products purchased online. Figured I would share with eveyone. No minimum and ends Oct. 31st, 2008

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SherrieC on 10/8/2008 3:03:00 AM more reviews by SherrieC

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

It seems that recent reviewers either hate or love this product-- I happen to love it. Yes, the consistency is a runny, but I have not had any problems with the packing or traveling with it. Kind of pricey, but it lasts a long time and I think it's worth it.

The buffering lotion helps get rid of my deep, cystic pimples in a matter of days rather than several weeks. I apply generously in the evening before going to bed, and the swelling and redness is reduced substantially by the morning. I repeat for the next few days until it's gone. The lotion probably is not a very good preventative treatment, but I think it performs exactly as it claims it does, so I am very happy :)

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miego20 on 10/3/2008 1:13:00 PM more reviews by miego20

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this product with very high hopes. I was told that Mario Badescu was one of the best out there. Well don't wast your money!!! This does absolutly NOTHING! I have more results using Acnomel adult creme (available in drug stores) that this product.

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blahblahblalskdjf on 9/20/2008 4:34:00 PM more reviews by blahblahblalskdjf

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This product did absolutely NOTHING for me at all. It was even less successful than the drying lotion which was already pretty bad.

I suffered from really huge cystic acne (and I mean that. They could get up to the size of a quarter or even a half dollar), and once I heard that this was intended for cysts, I jumped on it. After using up one entire bottle, desperately wanting for it to work, I finally gave up. It was runny and watery and would dribble down from my spots so I don't even know how it could work given the consistency, plus it makes you waste a lot of product. It didn't seem to help the size or the healing process of any acne I had. The only plus to this product was that it didn't further irritate my skin (which was already very irritated thanks to the drying lotion). I would never purchase this product ever again nor would I recommend it to my friends.

I'm a bit surprised though, looking at the rest of the reviews, at how well it seems to have worked for some other people. Over the counter acne treatments have never worked for me though, so possibly my case was too severe for this product as it seems to have been for every other over the counter acne product.

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