Described herein is a child-resistant topical drug applicator and methods of applying a topical pharmaceutical composition to a surface. In one aspect, the child-resistant topical drug applicator comprises a container comprising a connector and a tube configured to contain a topical pharmaceutical composition, a sponge applicator fluidly coupled to the connector, and a child-resistant cap that reversibly couples to the connector and encloses the sponge applicator, the cap having a locked position and an unlocked position. Also described herein are methods of opening and using the child-resistant topical drug applicator.