Well, I finally get why there’s a comic book superheroine on boxes of Benefit Boo Boo Zap ($20). I just started using the stuff a few days ago, and already the best word I can use to describe it is 
This cult classic executes vicious beat downs on blemishes.
If you’re new to Boo Boo Zap, it’s a liquid zit zapper with pimple-fighting ingredients like witch hazel, camphor and salicylic acid (it doesn’t indicate what percentage). Designed for spot treatments with a bottle built for travel, you apply it directly to skin or on top of makeup.
Fast acting
TMI ALERT! Last Saturday a gnarly red PMS pimple appeared at the edge of my hairline. It was one of those painful ones, and I was cruising Sephora when it hit me… No, not the pimple. 🙂 It hit me that I’d never tried Boo Boo Zap before, so I brought a bottle home with me to try.
I applied Boo Boo Zap the following morning, throughout the day on top of my makeup, and again at night before bed.
After the first day, the pimple — let’s call him Juan — was considerably smaller and less swollen. By the second day (yesterday) it wasn’t even red anymore and no longer hurt to touch.
Today, day three, Juan’s little more than a memory. He’s not completely gone yet, but we’re planning to stop seeing each other before the weekend…
As far as kicking pimples to the curb, Boo Boo Zap works fast — faster than the long list of benzoyl peroxide products I’ve tried in the past (and that includes Proactiv).
The scent might turn some ladies off (it smells like strong medicine!), and it’s not the least expensive spot treatment on the market, but I think it’s well worth a try. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Bedtime for beauty addicts
Don’t laugh, but it’s barely 9 and bedtime’s lookin’ pretty good to me. This girl desperately needs some REM sleep.
But before I hit the haaaay, I think I’m going to catch one more episode of Entourage.
Have a great night, and I’ll see ya Friday morning. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
dang 3 days is impressive. I’ll have to check this out loll I love how you named your pimple. Your acne reccomendations usually work so well for me. I bought Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash, and I’ve used up 2 bottles already. it’s great!
.-= makeup morsels’s last blog post… Lip Gloss Magic =-.
Hi Makeup Morsels,
That Neutrogena Body Clear was is my JAM! I use it all the time, especially in the summer. 🙂
Happy Friday!
It’s now almost 10 and I’m exhauuuuusted like you. I’ll probably watch Kathy Griffin’s my life on the dlist on you tube before sleeping. Have you watched it? A good episode is season 5 episode 3. She loses winning a grammy and visits Paula deen. Have a good Friday and I hope you will have slept well tonight!
Hi Syl,
I’ve seen bits of that show… she cracks me up!
You have a great Friday, too. 🙂 Got any plans for the weekend?
i gotta get me some, i suspect my face mask will cause some heinous zits on my chin
Hi Natalie,
I hope you give it a go!
I would like to try this BOO BOO Zapper. Although Retin A Micro works great, it tends to be a bit drying.
.-= amy’s last blog post… Once and Again NOTD with American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Office =-.
Hi Amy,
I’ve heard great things about Retin A as a treatment for pimples and fine-line reducer.
How long did it take before you started seeing results?
Wow. You just sold me on that. I’m going to Sephora post-work.
Signed, by the time my skin stops acting up I will have more wrinkles than a sharpei.
Hi Aparnaa,
GURL, trust me, I didn’t think I’d 34 dealing w/this B.S. Sigh…
Hey Karen 🙂
have u tried Cliniques blemish spot treatment gel? the stuff is AWESOME, if i put it on at bedtime i wake up and my pimple is pretty much totally flat with just a red spot left ( might stay red 4 me since i tend 2 scar, but its way easier 2 cover than a lumpy volcano pimple! )
Also the 2nd best treatment in the world 2 me, and yeh ive pretty much tried them all, is Proactiv, i know u said BooBooZap works better BBBUUUTTT Proactiv Body Clearing Lotion works better than their Facial lotion!!! if i leave a small blob of that on a pimple it totally calms it down makes it flatter and less red in about an hour or 2!!!
Hope this helps some gals with their annoying acne struggles 🙂
Hi Lee,
I haven’t tried Clinique’s but it looks like I have to put it on the list.
Oh, and I like ProActiv’s face treatment… will have to see if I can pick up a Body Clearing Lotion soon. Do you know what’s the percentage of BP? Is it 2.5?
Hey 🙂
From what i remember the % of BP is either less than the face lotion or the body lotion has Sal Acid instead, cant remember have 2 check it when i get home, but its definitly heaps more soothing for the skin than the face lotion, which just used 2 dry me out totally, think it has a whole bunch of extra soothing goodies in it!
Ugh, I need this. I just got a buried pimple (the ones that hurt!) on the side of my right nostril. I know, wtf right?
Hi Jen,
Oh, those suck. I’ve noticed the ones around the nose and the eye area really hurt!
I NEED THIS! My face is breaking out like crazy right now, you’ve completely sold me. I have to make another trip to the mall…. Btw, it’s okay. I sleep between 9-10pm most nights…. My friends call me grandma, but it’s worth the feeling of being totally well-rested since I get up so early for work! =)
.-= YJ’s last blog post… Assembly Required. =-.
Hi YJ,
When I was a kid, I remember hating having an early bedtime. Now I’m like, “Woo hoo! I’m going to sleep at 9!” LOLOL!
Do you go to bed early so you can wake up early for your job? What do you do?
I’ve been very wary of buying this, because the reviews on MUA are terrible terrible terribly.
And I’ve been burnt with some Benefit products before.
But you may be making me rethink things…Hm…
The past few nights I have been using the VERY clinical looking OTC PanOxyl 10% benzoyl peroxide face wash bar. I like washing my face with a bar, but they also make a liquid wash. Definitely worth a try. I’ve seen an improvement in the past two days alone!
.-= Kristin’s last blog post… silver factory =-.
Hi Kristin,
I used to use that ages ago when I was a teen. I remember it working pretty well.
That’s awesome that it works so fast!
Hi Scientific Housewife,
I was really surprised that it worked so quickly. 🙂
Wow! I could have used this before a monster zit attacked my eyebrow this week :(. Will definitely pick up a bottle next week when I hit Sephora. Thanks for the tip!
Hi Lowelli,
I hope this stuff works for you. I really like it a lot.
Oh my God, this sounds like it might be my skincare holy grail! I’ve been searching for years for a blemish fighter that actually works, but won’t bleach all of my sheets and clothes. I’ll definitely give this a try.
.-= Angela Noelle’s last blog post… Let’s Make A Deal =-.
Hi Angela Noelle,
Yes, that’s a HUGE plus! I use BP and it stains everything… I’ve ruined shirts, pillowcases and towels in the pursuit of getting rid of pimples.
That sounds like a holy grail product! I have been using Neutrogena Acne Eliminating Spot Gel and I love how it reduces your pimple size within 8 hours! I’ll have to give Boo Boo Zap a try one day.
.-= Jacquelyn’s last blog post… Can You Guess How Many China Glaze Nail Polishes that I Have? Also, another China Glaze Giveaway!! =-.
Hi Jacquelyn,
How does that gel work with makeup? Can you layer it on top or beneath, say, tinted moisturizer and a light dusting of powder?
i am a sucker for any and all benefit products. i just love their packaging and i think i’m gonna have to give this a try!
speaking of benefit…i just bought the 10 powder…its a bronzer and highlighter in one and it instructs you to do the “sexy sweep” with their brush for perfectly contoured cheeks! i am OBSESSED WITH IT. I have fair skin so it is the perfect color for me, i’m not sure how it would show up with those with darker skin tones. have you tried it?
Hi Meghan,
I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve heard great things about it from my pale buddies. Have you tried Georgia or Throb? Those boxed blushes are supposed to be great for pale skin too!
Duuude, benefit! I love how magic some of their products are, lol. 🙂
Having never tried this product before, I’m really wondering: how do you think it does when applied over makeup, visually? does it mess with your makeup or not affect it at all…? Can you tell that you just dabbed some liquid gunk on your face? What’s your opinion?
Hi Shannon,
If you aren’t wearing a lot of layers and just dab a teeny, tiny bit of it on you should be fine. That’s what I did yesterday. It messes with it a little bit (it is a liquid), but it’s not so terribly visible that it’s very obvious.
cool. Thanks!
Hmmm promising. But im kinda wary …. Maybe I can score a sample @ the counter.
Ive been intensely loyal to the Clinique Spot Treatment thingy for like a year or so now….
Hi Nina,
Well, it sounds like I’m gonna have to try the Clinique Stuff. Does it work fast?
If its not that huge of a zit – I see a diff overnight and its almost gone by the end of the 2nd day…
Ive read that the Neutrogena gone is good too ….
This looks really amazing. I’ve always thought Benefit had really cute packaging. I like that its a treatment you can apply over makeup. I might have to give it spin when i stop by Sephora cuz my skin is in shamblesss.
.-= Stephie’s last blog post… You need this: MAC Studio Finish Concealer =-.
have you ever tried apple cider vinegar and a q-tip for zits?
i’m using differin gel that i got over a year ago..i can’t believe i still have most of the tube left and i use it everyday. when i run out i’d love to try something like this..cant have anything with benzoyl peroxide since my skin is very allergic to it :\
I’ve been searching for a spot treatment for the occasional pimple but haven’t found one that works really well.
Unlike you, my Juan likes to come visit me with friends Julio, Jean-Paul, and Joe. They like to come visit me and have a little PAR-TAY but I’m not havin’ it though.
well now, gonna have to add this to my list….tried a new drugstore beauty foundation: sally hansen airbrush spray makeup. a cool idea, and a worthy foundation! adding it to my beauty bag!
Karen you cracked me up how you named your spot lol.
I hear you with the getting spots at 34.when i complain my mum just says you will thank me later. Apparently good skin runs in the family. To me it just feels like greasy open pores and spots lol.
Im going through a phase where they keep appearing just under my chin,im sure ive had two pop up in a matter of weeks 🙁
Say hi to tabs from my kitties 🙂
All I gotta say is that this product is the shiz!
.-= marisol’s last blog post… Products I am Loving =-.
Hi Karen, thanks for the review! You said you applied it throughout the day–so approximately how many times did you use it? TIA!
Has anyone used the Philosophy “On a Clear Day” blemish line? I’ve got a sample from Sephora of the “spot treatment” and the “all over treatment” – one contains sulfur and the other one contains Sal. A. – – I’m in the market…so just checking if anyone has used these at all and how they compare to the Benefit option. I keep breaking out randomly lately – and I had a JUAN of my very own (or should I say FOUR) the past several weeks in a row. WTH?, Right?!?!