Battle of the Badescus: Drying Lotion vs Buffering Lotion

Lately, I've developed some cystic acne (the kind that does not have a white tip and is painful and big and RED and is deep down in the skin so you can't squeeze it out... much to my chagrin).
I bought both Mario Badescu's pimple treatments (Drying Lotion "DL" and Buffering Lotion "BL") and here's the run-down:

Round one: Application
DL: I use a cotton swab and dip it all the way down to make sure the tip is coated with the pink calamine powder. Then I dab my spots with the pink swab. Ta-dah! Spotty face. Best part? The calamine powder calms down my skin and stops the itchiness.
BL: The BL applicator is easier to use, as it's more of a squeezy dropper, so I can apply it directly onto my problem areas. The solution is on the runny side, so I have to be careful with how much I squeeze out, and I always keep a tissue at hand.

Round two: Practicality
I prefer the BL in terms of practicality, because the DL cannot be shaken up (so it's very difficult to travel with... I always get so frustrated when I unpack). Also, I can only use it at night because the calamine powder is opaque and so after I apply it, there's light pink spots all over my face. The BL is milky in colour but dries pretty clear, so I can use it day and night.

Final round: Effectiveness
BL: After 48 hours, my pimples are COMPLETELY GONE. I was thrilled. I thought I'd have to live with these spots for at least two weeks, as they tend to lurk just under the surface of my skin forever. I think the BL forms a type of clear shield on my skin, clamping down on the affected area and cutting off all resources (dirt, sweat, sebum, etc) for the spot. That being said, it is very drying so make sure you only spot-treat. Nevertheless, my skin is almost completely clear again! Hooray!
DL: I've been using the DL for at least 2 years now, and I have never used another pimple treatment (except BL) because DL is just that effective. I do think it's bothersome how you can only use it at night because of the pink powder (always fun for your flatmates to make fun of) but this stuff works too.

OVERALL: Both of these formulas are amazing. I believe Mario Badescu is most known for its spot treatments, and this reputation is well deserved. I cannot think of any other pimple cream that can compare. Keep in mind: use BL for cystic acne (the large, sometimes itchy, red lumps that never come to the surface of my skin for me to pop). DL works wonders for pimples with whiteheads (the ones with pus-ew! in them)

Hope this breakdown was useful! Let me know what your miracle spot treatments are!