Lianna Albrizio, Assistant Editor04.13.23
The blemish patch may be the current fad when it comes to alleviating problem zits in 85% of the population affected by acne. Brands from Bioré to Mighty Patch and Band-Aid are championing the hydrocolloid solution, but Gen Z-centric skincare brand Bubble is not one to jump on the pimple patch bandwagon.
The clean skincare brand was founded in 2020 by CEO Shai Eisenman who made Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Women of Influence last year. The brand started out direct-to-consumer (DTC) with input from a community encompassing thousands of young adults. They voiced what they wanted in skincare products, which included efficacious, plant-based ingredients in colorful packaging at an affordable price point. They also christened the brand that is currently blowing up.
Last year, Bubble burst onto the retail scene in Ulta, CVS and Walmart selling face oils, masks, moisturizers and anti-acne products with support from celebrities including influencer Madison Pettis and Justin Jefferson of The Vikings.
Among its acne hero products is Super Clear, a clinically-proven acne cleanser that contains Centella asiatica leaf extract to soothe and calm; squalane to calm irritation and boost hydration; and neem seed oil, which contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to promote glowing skin.
This week, the brand announced the release of two new spot treatments that also tackle acne at the core. According to the company, unlike tradition acne patches, which work to purge the pore of the bacteria, excess sebum and dead skin cells which comprise the “gunk,” that shows up on the pimple patch, Bubble’s pair of companion acne-fighting spot treatments, called Knock Out and Fade Away, aim to treat the zit and cut pimple-eliminating time in half.
How? By effectively keeping the skin microbiome balanced without stripping skin, providing gentle exfoliation and ensuring for a quicker fade time for the pimples that tend to leave a mark months after it’s healed.
Knock Out
Knock Out, packaged in a sleek red tube, contains 1.8% salicylic acid to kill the bad bacteria in the pimple, whitehead or blackhead; sambucus nigra fruit to reduce inflammation; and willow bark extract to gently exfoliate. The antimicrobial product, according to skincare expert Amy Koberling, is lipophilic which means it “loves oils” and works to penetrate the sebum in the pore and clean it out.
“I’m obsessed with Knock Out,” said Eisenman, who suffered a bout of hormonal acne while pregnant. “In the last few months, I started to get a lot of acne during my pregnancy and Knock Out was my go-to. It helped me tremendously during breakouts.”
Knock Out can be applied directly to the pimple after cleansing followed by the consumer’s regular skincare routine, which includes using a toner and moisturizer. Because the product can increase skin’s sensitivity to the sun, Koberling recommends a daily sunscreen as part of this regimen.
Fade Away
The same dirt, oil and debris that can cause white and blackheads, Koberling said, can lead to painful cystic acne when it gets pushed deeper into the pore, causing inflammation and irritation. Fade Away, distinguished by its sleek orange tube, is a comedolytic, meaning it inhibits the formation of comedones (blackheads) and blemishes that form when oil and skin cells become trapped in the pore. It contains 5% benzoyl peroxide to reduce bacteria. Sambucus nigra fruit reduces the inflammatory response and licorice root extract calms and “turns off” melanocytes or pigment cells, to prevent the acne marks pimples leave behind months after its healed.
Fade Away does not leave a burning or stinging sensation and does not dry out skin, Koberling said. When used twice-daily, consumers can expect to see results in up to 2 days.
Knock Out and Fade Away can be browsed on hellobubble.com.
Additional Reading
Check out our coverage of Bubble's Over Night Hydrating Sleep Mask at a pajama party in New York City.