Mario Badescu is a popular skincare brand named after its founder, skincare entrepreneur, cosmetic chemist, and aesthetician Mario Badescu. If you are wondering what Mario Badescu products are best for your skin, this list of the best Mario Badescu products will help you build an effective skincare routine from cleanser all the way to night cream/moisturizer.
About Mario Badescu
For over 50 years, Mario Badescu has been offering a variety of skincare solutions from acne products to anti-aging favorites for every skin type. The skincare brand was founded in 1967 by Mario Badescu, who was born in Romania. He famously brought European-style facials to his New York City salon. Mario Badescu passed away in the 1980s. The company was purchased by Morise Cabasso, who continues to run with business with his family.
The Mario Badescu brand continues to offer simple and effective quality skin care products today that are loved by its loyal customers.
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The Best Mario Badescu Products
Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser
Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser is formulated with glycolic acid to target congestion, dull skin and hyperpigmentation, and age spots. It contains glycolic acid to remove makeup, oil, and impurities with its gentle foam.
Glycolic acid is the smallest of all alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which means that it can travel deeper into the skin than other AHAs (i.e. lactic acid), to reveal brighter and smoother skin.
The glycolic acid cleanser exfoliates dead skin cells which improves uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and even old acne marks. Glycolic acid also helps to improve collagen synthesis over time, helping to firm the skin and improve elasticity.
In addition to glycolic acid, the cleanser contains a blend of chamomile, marshmallow, sage, St. John’s wort, and yarrow extracts that offer anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits for the skin.
Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser is formulated to be used 1 to 3 times per week as a supplemental cleanser. Use it 1-2 times if you have dry to combination skin, and 2-3 times if you have combination and oily skin. You can also use this cleanser on uneven skin tone and breakouts on your back and chest too. It’s not recommended for use with topical prescriptions, acne-erupted, or sensitive skin.
NOTE: Products containing glycolic acid (and other alpha hydroxy acids) may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so be sure to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when using this product and for a week after.
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel is a best seller for a reason. The lightweight get formula is made with papaya and grapefruit extracts to remove excess oil and surface impurities.
Papaya extract has antibacterial properties and contains the enzyme papain which gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells which can cause clogged pores and worsen acne and breakouts.
Grapefruit extract helps to tone and balance the skin, making it ideal for those with oily and acne-prone skin.
The cleanser is lightweight and does not foam, making it ideal for light makeup removal. Formulated for all skin types, even sensitive skin, it feels very gentle and moisturizing on the skin. This botanically infused face wash leaves your skin soft and supple and doesn’t leave your skin feeling stripped, tight, or dry.
Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner
Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner is a resurfacing toner that contains 2% glycolic acid, grapefruit extract, and aloe to improve the look of pores, wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone.
As previously noted, glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells, helping to unclog pores and improve uneven skin tone. It improves skin radiance and brightens dull complexions. Citrus grandis (grapefruit) fruit extract offers skin-balancing properties.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice moisturizes, offers anti-inflammatory benefits, and even has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
The glycolic acid toner can be used twice a day and is ideal for those with combination or dull dry skin thanks to its brightening and balancing benefits.
Related Post: How to Use Glycolic Acid in Your Skincare Routine
Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner
Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner contains clarifying witch hazel and a rose blend that offers astringent benefits for the skin. It removes surface impurities like leftover makeup, dirt, oil, and even residual cleansing balm or facial cleanser.
This alcohol-free toner ensures that the skin is cleansed and moisturized without stripping the skin or leaving it feeling dry or tight. The formula contains Aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe) to soothe, hydrate, moisturize and repair the skin.
Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water offers multiple benefits for the skin, as it contains antioxidants, and has antiseptic and soothing properties. It rebalances the skin and helps clarify the complexion.
An aromatic floral blend of Black rose extract, rosewater, and rose oil protects and rejuvenates the skin with antioxidant benefits. Although formulated for all skin types, please note that there is a natural and added fragrance in this toner that may irritate sensitive skin.
If you are a fan of lavender, Mario Badescu offers lavender witch hazel toner for those with stressed skin: Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Lavender Toner.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is the original award-winning cult-favorite and best-selling solution for surface blemishes. This solution helps to dry up these blemishes overnight, with its fast-acting formula that helps to draw out impurities from your skin while you sleep.
The formula contains salicylic acid, sulfur, calamine, and zinc oxide to dry and shrink blemishes. Salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), is well known for its ability to treat oily, problem and acne-prone skin. It gets into the pores to exfoliate the skin targeting both blackheads and whiteheads and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Sulfur helps to reduce irritation, is antifungal and antibacterial, and works well with salicylic acid in the treatment of acne. Calamine helps to calm redness and irritation while mattifying the skin. Zinc oxide helps soothe irritation.
How to Use Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Be sure you DON’T SHAKE THE BOTTLE. At night, after cleansing and applying toner to your face, dip a Q-tip or cotton swab into the “pink sediment” at the bottom of the bottle. Apply the product with the Q-tip to the surface blemish without rubbing it in. Let it dry overnight and rinse in the morning. This spot treatment should not be used on broken skin.
In addition to your face, you can use this drying lotion on surface blemishes on your neck, chest, and back too.
The original formula comes in a glass bottle, but you can also purchase this product in a lightweight plastic bottle (shown above) which is ideal for travel.
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Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion
While Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is formulated for surface bumps, Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion is formulated to target large under-the-surface bumps. Perfect for oily and acne-prone skin, this lotion works overnight on troubled areas of the skin.
It is formulated with soothing and balancing ingredients like niacinamide. Niacinamide can help balance sebum (oil) production in the skin and has anti-inflammatory benefits, making it ideal for acne-prone skin. This study found that 4% niacinamide used by participants for 8 weeks was as effective at treating moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris as 1% clindamycin gel. Niacinamide also helps strengthen the skin barrier, which keeps out potential acne-causing irritants.
Glycerin and panthenol moisturize the skin while allantoin soothes the skin. Zinc oxide fights irritation. This lotion is a nice alternative to drying acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide. It should not be used with topical prescriptions and by those who have sensitive skin.
TIP: Apply directly to affected areas but don’t apply any products like moisturizers or night creams over this treatment lotion. It should only be used on active under-the-surface blemishes, not as a preventative.
Mario Badescu Spritz. Mist. Glow. Facial Spray Collection Trio: Lavender, Cucumber, Rosewater
Mario Badescu facial sprays are cult favorites of makeup artists and the skin care obsessed to reenergize the skin and provide a dewy radiant glow. You don’t have to choose between your favorite sprays with this limited-edition Spritz. Mist. Glow. facial spray trio. This makes a thoughtful and pampering gift, too!
This Mario Badescu facial spray trio includes:
- Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater (4 fl oz)
- Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber & Green Tea (4 fl oz)
- Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender (4 fl oz)
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater is the perfect pick-me-up as it contains aloe vera, gardenia, rose, bladderwrack, and thyme to soothe and revitalize your complexion. This rosewater spray is a customer favorite. It replenishes and moisturizes dry and dehydrated skin.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber, and Green Tea wakes up tired dull skin with botanical extracts such as antioxidant-rich green tea extract. Cucumber and peppermint leaf water tone and condition the skin. This face spray cools, hydrates, and refreshes all skin types.
Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile, and Lavender contains botanicals and lavender essential water to soothe, hydrate and destress the skin. A stable vitamin C derivative offers antioxidant protection from cell-damaging free radicals. Skin is left balanced and brightened.
Mist onto your face before or after your moisturizer, after makeup for a dewy finish, or throughout the day as needed for hydration and radiance. You can also spray these mists onto your neck and hair for an aromatic boost. Please note that these facial mists contain added fragrance.
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum is a lightweight serum formulated with two different vitamin C derivatives, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, to provide the three main benefits of vitamin C:
- Brighten the dull skin and fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots
- Stimulate collagen synthesis for a firmer complexion with a reduction in the look of wrinkles and fine lines
- Provide antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors such as damaging free radicals from UV exposure
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is an oil-soluble derivative of vitamin C that is stable, unlike the notoriously unstable ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C). It is converted to ascorbic acid in the skin and while it might not be a potent as pure vitamin C, it is believed to offer the same benefits as pure vitamin C for the skin.
3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid is a water and oil-soluble vitamin C derivative that, per the manufacturer, converts to pure ascorbic acid in the skin. This vitamin C derivative is supposed to offer the same benefits as vitamin C especially its ability to brighten the skin.
The serum also contains antioxidant Panax ginseng root extract and hydrating sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid). Aloe barbadensis leaf juice and Cucumis aativus (cucumber) extract soothes the skin. Soluble collagen moisturizes the skin.
Ideal for combination, oily or dry skin this serum has a somewhat oily feel upon application that goes away after it is absorbed into the skin. It works well for brightening and smoothing the skin in a very lightweight formula.
Please note that this serum contains lavender oil which has a calming and relaxing scent but may be irritating to those with sensitive skin. Directions indicate that it should be used every other night.
Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask
Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask is one of Mario Badescu’s original products and a favorite for dry and dull complexions. The mask is formulated with kaolin and soluble collagen to improve the look of fine lines for smoother more youthful-looking skin.
Kaolin is a type of clay that absorbs excess oil in the skin. While other clays may be drying, this gentle clay is a better choice for dry and sensitive skin. The mask also contains Avena sativa kernel flour (colloidal oatmeal), which is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory benefits for dry and irritated skin.
Soluble collagen hydrates and helps the skin retain water and moisture. Zinc oxide protects the skin and reduces irritation. This is a rinse-off face mask that should be applied to the skin for 20 minutes and then rinsed off with warm water. It can be used 2-3 times per week.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream
Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream is a lightweight oil-free moisturizer that is formulated with bladderwrack extract to nourish the skin. Moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, hydrolyzed elastin, soluble collagen, and sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) hydrate and plump the skin, improving the look of skin tone and texture.
Bladderwrack is a type of seaweed that calms irritation, redness and has anti-inflammatory properties. It contains vitamins and minerals that provide anti-aging and reparative benefits. It cleans out the pores and supports skin firmness and improved elasticity.
This green overnight cream has a rich texture and is deeply moisturizing without being greasy or leaving your skin oily. Wake in the morning to smooth, soft and glowing skin. Please note that this night moisturizer contains added fragrance. Ideal for combination, oily or sensitive skin.
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FAQs
Yes, Mario Badescu is cruelty-free. Per the Mario Badescu website: “Mario Badescu does not test our products or ingredients on animals, nor do we ask others to test on our behalf.”
Mario Badescu offers several products that target acne including their cult-favorite Drying Lotion. They offer a variety of products to prevent acne, breakouts, and scarring, and treat cystic acne, whiteheads, blackheads, and oily skin.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is a best-selling salicylic acid, sulfur, and calamine spot treatment that helps to shrink, calm, and dry up surface blemishes overnight.
Mario Badescu offers multiple products to rejuvenate aging and mature skin including their Vitamin C Serum, Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, and Glycolic Acid Toner.
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Final Thoughts on the Best Mario Badescu Products
Mario Badescu skincare products are well-loved for their effective formulas that treat a variety of skin concerns and suit all skin types.
The Drying Lotion and the Buffering Lotion are a few of the best Mario Badescu products for acne.
If you want an entire kit to keep acne under control, Mario Badescu Acne Control Kit, a 5-piece kit shown above, is formulated for normal to oily skin and contains their Acne Facial Cleanser, Special Cucumber Lotion, Drying Lotion, Drying Cream, and Drying Mask.
Mario Badescu products are simple and effective and will help get you the results you are looking for without having to pay a high price.
Thanks for reading!
Sarah Roberts is the founder, writer, and photographer behind A Beauty Edit. With over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, Sarah is an avid skincare and beauty enthusiast who shares the best beauty finds to help you save time and money!