Few skincare ingredients have survived the fickle tides of beauty trends quite like sulfur.
It doesn’t boast the glamour of vitamin C or the instant name recognition of retinol, but for those who know, sulfur paste is a secret weapon that works quickly and quietly.
Typically thick, chalky formulas designed as targeted spot treatments, sulfur pastes can shrink a breakout overnight, making them a bathroom cabinet staple for anyone who wants results without the fuss.
“Breakouts form when oil and dead skin cells clog the pores, creating the perfect environment for inflammation,” explains Grace Day, aesthetician and skincare expert.
“Sulfur tackles both issues. It absorbs excess oil while gently exfoliating away dead skin, helping to clear blockages before they spiral into angry spots. On top of that, it’s anti-inflammatory and even has antibacterial effects against C. acnes bacteria, so it addresses multiple causes of acne at once.”
Applied directly onto blemishes rather than all over the face, sulfur paste is versatile enough to work on everything from small surface-level spots to deeper cystic bumps.
Because the texture is characteristically chalky, most people prefer to dab it on at night as the final step in their routine. “Make sure your moisturiser has absorbed before applying,” advises Day. “That way, you’ll prevent dryness and help your skin recover more effectively.”
While sulfur is broadly tolerated across skin types, a little restraint goes a long way. Its oil-absorbing abilities make it effective at tempering oily or acne-prone skin, but it can tip into dryness if used too often – particularly on sensitive or already parched complexions.
“Sulfur is drying by nature, so overuse can impair the skin barrier,” reveals Day. “That can actually prolong healing and increase the risk of scarring or pigmentation. I’d always recommend looking for formulas that balance sulfur with soothing or hydrating ingredients, and ensuring your routine includes plenty of hydration.”
Unassuming but impressively effective, sulfur pastes are proof that sometimes the best solutions are the ones that have been there all along.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best formulas worth knowing about, whether you’re dealing with the occasional unwelcome visitor or more persistent flare-ups.
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Malin+Goetz 10% sulfur paste
A targeted overnight treatment designed to shrink blemishes fast, Malin + Goetz’s Acne Treatment Nighttime combines 10% sulphur with salicylic acid to dry out spots and clear congested pores.
Zinc oxide helps soothe inflammation and minimise post-blemish marks, while camphor delivers a cooling, calming effect. The sediment-in-liquid formula is applied directly to blemishes with a cotton bud — no shaking required — forming a protective layer as it works.
Use it for sudden breakouts, and enjoy the refined, modern take on the classic sulphur drying lotion.
Buy now £25.00, Malin+Goetz
Vichy Normaderm S.O.S Anti-Blemish Sulphur Paste 20ml
Vichy’s Normaderm S.O.S Anti-Blemish Sulphur Paste is designed as a targeted overnight treatment to visibly reduce spots by morning. Formulated with 10 per cent sulfur to absorb excess oil and dry out blemishes, it’s supported by niacinamide to calm redness and glycolic acid to gently exfoliate dead skin cells. The result is a fast-acting paste that tackles multiple causes of breakouts at once, while still being suitable for sensitive skin
Buy now £20.00, Lookfantastic
Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur Spot Treatment Mask
Sunday Riley is beloved for its use of science-backed botanical that harness the power of nature without sacrificing on efficacy. The Saturn Sulfur Spot Treatment Mask is a targeted treatment that goes on blemishes that has already reared their ugly heads to limit their lifespan. This is achieved through the use of the headline ingredient sulphur that dries out the area, removing sebum and dead skin cells.
The combination of niacinamide, zinc PCA and volcanic ash-derived bentonite encourage a clear complexion by drawing out the pore-clogging bacteria, calming and hydrating. Supercharged elements of antibacterial tea tree and manuka oil are the finishing touches for clearing the complexion. Beware, this can be very drying on the skin and a little goes a long way.
Buy now £20.00, Cult Beauty
Kate Somerville EradiKate Blemish Spot Treatment
This is a potent overnight ally featuring 10% sulfur to address existing breakouts and help prevent new ones.
Kate Somerville’s classic spot treatment blends BHA salicylic acid to exfoliate and unclog pores, soothing zinc oxide to absorb excess oil and calm irritation, plus a hit of camphor for a cooling, clarifying finish.
Housed in a no-nonsense, sediment-in-liquid format, it targets blemishes with old-school efficiency.
Buy now £25.00, Cult Beauty
The Ordinary Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate
A clever, mess-free spot treatment that transforms from powder into a translucent cream on contact.
It delivers a high 10% dose of colloidal sulfur to shrink blemishes in under an hour, while niacinamide and L-carnitine help control oil and soothe inflammation.
Travel-ready and discreet under makeup, it offers precision targeting without the tell-tale sulfur scent.
Buy now £9.00, The Ordinary
Dr. Jart+ Teatreement Soothing Spot
A concentrated, chalky-pink spot treatment crafted to calm angry breakouts without overdrying.
Packed with 9.9% calamine to absorb excess oil, plus Australian tea tree leaf to purify and niacinamide to regulate sebum and brighten, it’s a soothing solution for blemish-prone skin. Infused with salicylic acid and colloidal sulfur, it gently exfoliates and clears clogged pores.
Dermatologist-tested and ideal for targeted use, this non-fussy corrector delivers classic calming power with modern hydration
Buy now £19.50, Space NK
The Ordinary Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate
A clever, mess-free spot treatment that transforms from powder into a translucent cream on contact.
It delivers a high 10% dose of colloidal sulfur to shrink blemishes in under an hour, while niacinamide and L-carnitine help control oil and soothe inflammation.
Travel-ready and discreet under makeup, it offers precision targeting without the tell-tale sulfur scent.
Buy now £9.00, The Ordinary
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
You may already be a fan of Mario Badescu from the label’s cooling face mist, but have you tried the Drying Lotion? Through the combination of calamine and salicylic acid, the formula works to clear skin, without further irritating. It is also ideal for sensitive skin as the lotion is very gentle. In an office poll taken around the water cooler we discovered several of us own this product and each one of us found it reliably excellent.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Beauty
