After Years of Testing Skincare, I Found a Product That Calms My Breakouts

CNET's key takeaways

• The Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray always calms my skin when I'm dealing with a breakout or redness. 
• It can be purchased for as low as $12 for a travel size. 
• The SOS Rescue Spray contains hypochlorous acid, a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.

When I was a teenager, I dealt with acne and spent years testing various products to get rid of it to no avail. Now, as an adult, I still have the occasional breakout, but I've since found a product that calms my skin and reduces redness whenever a pesky pimple pops up. 

As a wellness writer, I recognize that we're all overwhelmed with face skincare recommendations on social media. While this makes skincare advice easy to find, that information is hard to trust. That's why I'm always on the lookout to test and assess highly recommended products to see if they actually make an impact. 

One product I was seeing all over my feed was the Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray, a toner that uses hypochlorous acid to calm skin, reduce redness and protect your skin against harmful bacteria. I got to try the spray and have found that it is, in fact, worth the hype. Whenever I get a breakout, I use this spray and wake up the next day with skin that isn't as irritated and red, and my breakouts are less noticeable. 

My experience with Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray

Since I have sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, I am always hesitant to add a new skincare product to my routine. However, I decided to give the SOS Rescue Spray a try after I saw that it's accepted by the National Rosacea Society and National Eczema Association and recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation. After using it for several months, I can safely say that my skin has not had an unwanted reaction. 

The Rescue Spray comes in a spray bottle, which makes it easy to apply. This type of application also makes the product more sanitary since you don't have to use your hands. I know a few people who use this spray before or after a sweaty workout, so I imagine it's helpful not to have to wash your hands before use if you're on the go. 

This product is also free of many things, which is another green flag for those of us with sensitive skin. It's vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, alcohol-free and oil-free. Though the SOS Rescue Spray can be used for all skin types, Tower 28 does mention in its product description that “the most visible changes will be seen after consistent use in sensitive/problem skin types.” Just make sure you do a patch test first. 

The Rescue Spray can be applied both day and night in place of a toner or as needed during the day (even over makeup). If I'm dealing with a breakout — usually hormonal — I will spray this toner on my face at night after I cleanse and dry my skin. To get a more precise application, I will sometimes spray it into my palm and then pat the product on my skin, concentrating it on areas where I'm breaking out. I will wait for it to dry down before I apply my moisturizer on top with an eye cream and retinol. 

Since hypochlorous acid is an oxidant and vitamin C is an antioxidant, the acid can degrade the effects of vitamin C if used in the same skincare routine. However, according to Tower 28, you can use the Rescue Spray before any other active (like vitamin C) if you allow it to dry down first. 

Though Tower 28 states that results can take anywhere from three days to three months, I noticed results the next day after using the product. My skin was less red, and my breakouts were less pronounced and obvious, so it appeared that the spray did calm my irritated, inflamed skin. 

In addition to blemishes and after a workout, the brand also states that the SOS Rescue Spray can be used for sunburns, rashes, eczema and post-procedure. 

The specs

• Price: $12 to $68
• Sizes: travel (1oz), standard (4oz), duo (4oz and 1oz) and jumbo (16oz refill)
• Features: vegan, cruelty-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, oil-free
• Skin types: all skin types, including sensitive/problem skin types 
• Sustainability: cruelty-free, vegan, bottle made from 100% post-consumer recycled resin, refill offered
• Application type: spray
• Ingredients: water, sodium chloride, hypochlorous acid
• Benefits: soothes irritated skin, reduces the appearance of redness, protects skin from harmful bacteria
• Seals: National Rosacea Society accepted, National Eczema Association accepted, recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation

CNET's buying advice

• After months of testing this product on my sensitive skin, I would recommend it for anyone with irritated, red skin — especially during a breakout. 
• The SOS Rescue Spray costs $28 for a standard size (4oz). While I wouldn't say this is cheap, I will say the product lasts a while, as you only need a spray or two per use. 
• To test out the product before you commit, you can also purchase a travel size for $12, which is easy to throw into your bag.