Final Up to date on September 23, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads are the skincare equal of a throwback playlist. They’ve been round without end, they scent aggressively medicinal, and so they nonetheless have a loyal following. The enchantment is clear: 90 pre-soaked pads, 2% salicylic acid, an inexpensive price ticket and nil faffing round. Swipe one over your face and name it a day.
However zits skincare has moved on so much since these turned common, and this system remains to be very old-school: salicylic acid, sure… but in addition loads of alcohol, menthol, eucalyptus and perfume. So, are Noxzema Pimples Pads nonetheless price utilizing in 2026? I attempted them to seek out out. They did assist with clogged pores and little breakouts, however there’s undoubtedly a catch.
The Verdict
My score: 3.5/5
Finest for: Oily, acne-prone pores and skin coping with blackheads, clogged pores and small breakouts.
Skip it if: Your pores and skin is dry, delicate or already irritated. This system doesn’t imagine in being mild.
What I like: You get 2% salicylic acid, 90 ridiculously handy pads and, most significantly, they really assist preserve my pores clearer and little breakouts below management.
What I don’t: The alcohol, menthol, eucalyptus and perfume are doing method an excessive amount of. They scent robust, they tingle like mad and so they can dry my pores and skin out if I get overenthusiastic.
Backside line: Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads are old-school as hell, however they work. The two% salicylic acid does an awesome job at holding clogged pores and small breakouts in verify, and the pads couldn’t be simpler to make use of. I simply want Noxzema would ditch a number of the pointless tingly stuff and let the salicylic acid get on with its job.
Components In Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads: What Does Science Say?
Salicylic Acid: The Pimples-Fighter
Salicylic acid is one of the best lively ingredient for blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores. It exfoliates contained in the pores, serving to eliminate the useless pores and skin cells and extra oil which are clogging them up within the first place. Studies on acne pads containing 0.5% and 2% salicylic acid found they helped reduce acne, especially clogged pores. Noxzema makes use of 2% salicylic acid, which is an effective quantity.
There’s also research showing that salicylic acid can help reduce oil production and inflammation, which provides it one other benefit should you’re coping with oily, acne-prone pores and skin. Pimples is an inflammatory illness in spite of everything.
Associated: Salicylic Acid Vs Benzoyl Peroxide: Which Is Better For The Treatment Of Acne?
Alcohol Denat.: Helpul Or Drying?
Then we get to Alcohol Denat., which is the primary inactive ingredient within the system. Now, alcohol isn’t mechanically unhealthy for pores and skin. It helps components dissolve, makes formulation dry rapidly and might make oily pores and skin really feel much less greasy. But it can also be drying, depending on how much is used and what else is in the formula.
That’s why I wouldn’t take a look at alcohol and instantly throw the product within the bin. However I’m additionally not thrilled to see it this excessive up in an zits therapy that already incorporates 2% salicylic acid. In case your pores and skin could be very oily, you could have no drawback with it. If it’s dry, delicate or already irritated from zits therapies, this system could also be an excessive amount of. And should you get a burning sensation, you now know why.
Noxzema additionally incorporates menthol, camphor and eucalyptus oil. These are largely answerable for that cooling, tingling feeling Noxzema is known for. And I get the enchantment. When you will have a breakout, feeling one thing tingle could make you suppose, “Yep, these things is absolutely working.” Besides the tingle isn’t what’s clearing your present pimple breakouts.
Salicylic acid is doing that. Menthol, camphor and eucalyptus don’t make it higher at unclogging your pores. What they will do is irritate pores and skin. Essential oils are notorious for causing contact dermatitis in sensitive skin. That doesn’t imply they’re going to annoy everybody who makes use of these pads. It gained’t. However it should irritate some individuals and I simply don’t see what it brings to an zits therapy aside from making you’re feeling like one thing dramatic is occurring.
My Expertise With Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads
These are about as old-school as zits therapies get. You get 90 pre-soaked pads in a plastic tub, and so they couldn’t be simpler to make use of. Seize one, swipe it over your face and also you’re achieved. The pads are just a little textured and barely tough, however not sufficient to trouble me. The scent, although? Robust. Very medicated, very eucalyptus, very “yep, that is undoubtedly Noxzema”. If you happen to hate closely scented skincare, you’re going to note it instantly.
Additionally they give my pores and skin that cooling, tingly feeling Noxzema is known for. I personally don’t prefer it. It does nothing for my pores and skin and it may trigger irritation for some individuals. What I truly like is how rapidly they eliminate extra oil and the way contemporary my pores and skin feels afterwards. With common use, I observed fewer clogged pores and fewer little breakouts, which is strictly what I need from a 2% salicylic acid therapy.
FYI, salicylic acid is one thing it’s worthwhile to preserve utilizing even after your pores and skin has cleared up. In any other case, hiya future breakouts! The one drawback with this salicylic acid pads? They are often drying if I get too enthusiastic with them. As soon as each different night time is loads for me. Any greater than that and my pores and skin begins letting me know. For a similar motive, I by no means use these on nights I exploit retinoids or different exfoliating acids. That may result in dryness and irritation too.
Do Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads Stay Up To Their Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| For the therapy of zits, Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads assist clear pores, deal with present pimple breakouts, and assist forestall future ones, leaving you with easy, smooth, refreshed pores and skin. | True. |
| Salicylic acid fights blemishes, whereas eucalyptus oil and menthol go away you with the signature Noxzema tingle. | True. However that signature Noxzema tingle isn’t something to rave about. It has no profit for pores and skin and might trigger irritation. |
Worth & Availability
$4.99 at Target
Components
Energetic components
Salicylic Acid(2%).
Inactive components
Alcohol Denat., Water (Aqua), Peg-4 , Ppg-11 Stearyl Ether, Perfume (Parfum), Camphor, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Menthol, Disodium Edta, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads

Noxzema Final Clear Anti-Blemish Pads are the skincare equal of a throwback playlist. They’ve been round without end, they scent aggressively medicinal, and so they nonetheless have a loyal following. The enchantment is clear: 90 pre-soaked pads, 2% salicylic acid, an inexpensive price ticket and nil faffing round. Swipe one over your face and name it a day.
Product Forex:
USD
Product Worth:
4.99
Product In-Inventory:
InStock
