I try not to think about high school too much. I was kind of a jerk when I was a teenager — I was super dramatic (theater kid), I skipped class a lot (sorry, Mom and Dad), and I’m sure I did my fair share of gossiping. I was also very awkward-looking, as most teens are. I was lanky, my brows were overgrown, and — shocker — I had acne. I’m in my late 20s now, and while the angry, full-on, hormonal acne has waned, I still get the occasional stress breakout when it comes time to pay the bills or go on a date. Special shout-out to my chin, which lives in a perpetual state of something between benign red blotchiness and straight-up zits.

The Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub doesn’t actually say it’s for 27-, er, 28-, 29-, 30-year-olds (whatever, I don’t want to think about it), but it definitely works on smaller, more localized breakouts in addition to hormonal acne. The tiny naturally derived beads exfoliate clogged pores and dead skin cells without totally destroying your skin, and the combo of salicylic acid and baking soda cleared up any signs of stress flare-ups within three uses. The formula was creamy while lathering, but my face definitely felt a little tight after scrubbing. No problem — it was nothing that a good hydrating toner couldn’t handle (I’ve been using Milk Makeup’s Matcha Toner, which worked like a charm after the acne treatment, but anything especially hydrating will do).

I have very sensitive skin that revolts anytime the wind changes direction or I use a new moisturizer, but it had no complaints about this scrub. Bonus: It smells fresh. A nice, light, easy citrus scent — nothing offensive or medicinal. (Remember that weird pink smelly spot treatment we used to put on our teenage pimples at night? No? Just me?) What blows my mind is that I can pick this up at the drugstore — and it works just as well as some prescription creams and washes I’ve been given.

My only complaint is that I didn’t have this as a sophomore in high school. Or for prom. Or, like, last week. When I was flooded with deadlines. I will, however, have this on call for my high school reunion this year. Watch out, world (or, you know, whoever actually shows up to that PTSD-fest).