I have an intense post-workout face cleansing routine that involves a Clarisonic, moisturizer, treatment cream, and spot treatment. Most of the time I’m good about it, but sometimes I just don’t have time for it all, which is where acne pads come in. On days were I have just a few seconds to wash and go, I’ll splash water on my face, dry (I don’t completely dry my skin though – I’ll let it partially air-dry as I’ve found this stops my face from feeling overly dry), then I’ll swipe an acne pad all over my face and neck. I could never get away with this every day, but this is a quick, easy, and effective solution when I don’t have time for my Clarisonic and full regimen.

Two awesome pads are  Cane + Austin Acne Treatment Pads (60 for $60), and Philosophy Clear Days Ahead (60 for $39). The reason they’ve become go-tos is because neither will leave your skin dry – which is rare with anything that is treating or preventing acne – so you can literally swipe this on your face and go. The major difference between the two is that the Cane + Austin ones are formulated with glycolic and salicylic acids, while the Philosophy ones only have salicylic acid. The Cane + Austin ones are also a bit heavier and more soaked with formulation (hence the price difference). You can’t go wrong with either, but if you’ve got more serious acne or are very acne prone I would opt for Cane + Austin – especially after a workout. If you’re just looking for minor preventative measures or a little mid-day cleanse, the Philosophy pads are awesome.

Another thing to note is that neither of them have a noxious smell so you can swipe these pads all over your face and feel refreshed and ready to go!