‘I tested a dermatologist’s flawless spot treatment and the results stunned me’

After realising I was making one of the ‘biggest mistakes’ seen on Harley Street, I switched things up and it cleared up my existing breakout and prevented new ones too

To say I’ve had a stressful few months would be an understatement, and during the week when getting my new house keys and my time of the month coincided, there was no surprise it all manifested itself in a big old breakout. As such, there was no better time to test out the newly launched Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller from Dr Sam’s – designed to not only treat, but prevent breakouts, too.

I’ve long been a fan of the original Flawless Neutralising Gel from the cosmetic dermatologist – one that took four years and 39 versions to perfect. But I admit, I’m one of the people making the ‘biggest mistake’ that has influenced this new applicator.

While working at her Harley Street clinic, Dr Sam Bunting noticed that patients were addressing their breakouts spot-by-spot, reacting to each new flare-up individually, instead of treating the entire area, such as the forehead or jawline. Now, the new roller dispenser aims to change all that.

She explained: “The biggest mistake I saw in my acne patients often wasn’t the products they used – it was how they used them. Treating breakouts spot-by-spot keeps you in crisis mode. Treating the zone transforms everything. I created the Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller to make that correction effortless.”

I’m someone who’s always treated spots reactively, so a blemish-specific product is not part of my daily routine, and is instead applied on an ‘as and when needed’ basis. But Dr Sam Bunting’s new Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller has completely shifted that mindset and I’ve been stunned at the results.

I applied the Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller daily for nine days, and not only did it clear up my existing breakout, it fended off a hormonal spot in 24 hours, and prevented any new blemishes. Each day, I applied it across my usual problem areas – mainly the chin, forehead and jawline, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to my old ways.

The roller applicator feels cooling and soothing on the skin and makes it easy to cover a wider area without over-applying. The size is big enough to cover wide areas of the face quickly, without being too big and it distributes the gel evenly, which helps avoid that heavy, sticky feeling some blemish treatments leave behind.

I initially tried using it in the morning, but found it could pill when layered with other skincare products and makeup. Switching to a night-time application solved that issue instantly, meaning I could apply it right before bed and let it work overnight. Another slight niggle was that on one occasion the applicator popped off, but it was easy enough to click back into place and didn’t affect the product’s performance.

The formula contains 5% Azelaic Acid to diminish redness and smooth texture, as well as 2% Salicylic Acid to unclog pores and soothe inflammation. Additionally, 0.5% Bakuchiol aids in minimising post-blemish dark marks, while 5% Squalane contributes hydration and strengthens the skin barrier, leading to flawless makeup application, according to the brand.

After consistent nightly application, I noticed existing breakouts calm down and disappear within a few days. Midway through the week, a hormonal spot surfaced on my chin, and while these would usually painfully sit under the skin for days, it surfaced and cleared up within 24 hours, which is unheard of with my fair complexion, which often remains red and angry.

Due to the time of the month and other external stress factors, it’s safe to say that Dr Sam’s formula had its work cut out, but I was thrilled that by the end of the week, my skin looked visibly clearer, with considerably fewer blemishes.

It’s not the only spot treatment I can vouch for, though, with the £25 Blemish SOS by Medik8 (15ml) being another formula in my skincare arsenal. It features maximum strength salicylic acid (2%) for swift blemish reduction whilst calming redness to restore a clear and healthy-looking complexion.

I also really like the Bioderma Sebium Kerato+ 30ml anti-blemish gel cream for acne prone skin 30ml, which is £18 at Boots . The non-irritating, hydrating treatment is said to deliver visible results in two days, working to reduce pimples, blackheads and refine skin texture, while reducing existing marks.

Dr Sam’s Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller is slightly more expensive at £42 , but does come in a larger 50ml size, with the innovative roller offering broader coverage.

Overall, the Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller feels like a smart evolution of blemish care — especially for anyone stuck in the cycle of treating spots only once they appear. If you’re prone to hormonal or stress-related breakouts and want a more preventative, low-effort approach, this could be well worth the investment.

The original Flawless Neutralising Gel has garnered over 1,000 five-star reviews, and the new roller version is already receiving accolades from shoppers, boasting an overall rating of 4.65 stars. One said: “This product has really helped to manage my closed comedones. It has also helped to clear redness from previous spots. Fantastic product.”

Another added: “I loved the roller applicator, definitely good for larger areas on the body or face where I was apply to my cheek. Have been using the neutralising gel for a while and really enjoyed the new applicator.”

Some have found the applicator a little tricky, but still like the product itself, writing a four star review which read: “Roller can be a bit difficult at times, when using the gel sometimes it peels off after it has dried but saying that this is the best gel I have used and has made a good difference to my skin.”

A fourth commented: “I love the Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller! It gets rid of blemishes quickly and helps prevent new ones. The roller distributes the product evenly and makes it much easier to apply over larger areas.”

Customers can check out the new roller applicator for Dr Sam’s Flawless Neutralising Gel on Dr Sam’s website.