Best Acne Spot Treatments for Combination Skin

Ranked by 5 mentions across Reddit · Updated October 2026

Top picks· 4

Reddit’s top pick

Daily Care Acne Pads With Salicylic Acid, Maximum Strength

Stridex2 mentions

The why

Once-weekly pad use targets an oily nose and acne-prone chin, while excess use can leave forehead flaking.

“my nose is particularly oily and I am somewhat acne prone on my chin and forehead (which I manage with some spot treatment cream as needed and a Stridex salicylic acid pad once a week).”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction

One minus

Can peel, burn, and over-dry skin

Good forOily Skin, Combination Skin, Sensitive Skin

from $8

Azelaic Advanced
Regimen Lab1 mention
Absorbs easily without leaving a tacky film that gets in the way of the rest of your skincare.
“it is literally the only that actuslly absorbs easily and doesn't leave a tacky filmy preventing the rest of my skincare.”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
10% Azelaic Acid Treatment
Good Molecules1 mention
Rosacea redness leads the conversation, with a combo-sensitive commenter reporting luck from an azelaic acid cleanser.
“I have great luck with Good Molecules Azelaic Acid Soothing Cleanser”
— Reddit, r/Rosacea
from $11
Effaclar Duo (+)
La Roche-Posay1 mention
Cheeks and chin get the acne-focused step, while Cicaplast goes on the dry, irritated T-zone.
“for a while i’d also use the Effacler Duo as a spot treatment, with some effectiveness but only on my very ‘acne-ish’ acne on my cheeks.”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction
Where to buy

Community take

For combination skin, Redditors mention salicylic-acid pads most, alongside azelaic-acid treatments and Effaclar Duo. Reports credit BHA with clearing breakouts, but note that frequent pad use flaked the forehead and Effaclar helped only select cheek acne.