A big party is coming up and the last thing you need is a zit popping up at the last minute. Let’s attack it with these simple steps:

1. Wash your face two times with your favorite cleanser. For normal-to-dry skin you may use the same cleanser. If you have oily skin, use a gentle cleanser to remove eye-makeup first. For the second cleanse use something with antibacterial properties.

2. Use a toner that either re-balances your skin or controls oil.

3. Place an ice pack on the pimple for up to 20 minutes, if you don’t have one you can make it*. You may apply the ice pack as often as you like throughout the day, but never longer than 20 minutes at a time. The ice will begin to reduce the inflammation which is the troublemaker.

*Make an ice pack by putting a couple of ice cubes into a plastic baggie and wrap it in a towel (paper or thin dish towel). Wet only the side of the towel that you’re going to apply onto your skin.

4. Apply a toner or serum containing salicylic acid or if you happen to have benzoyl peroxide (I don’t love BP and will explain in another post). My fave toner is the Adios Ingrown Hair and Razor Bump Tonic because it smells great and has equal parts salicylic and glycolic acid, so target pimples and dissolves them.

The final steps include applying a moisturizer around the pimple and not directly on top, followed by SPF. The sunscreen step is essential, since your skin is in crisis and is more susceptible to sun damage.  

There are so many varieties of pimples, blemishes and bumps. Check out my series on Pimples and Bacteria, Pimples and External Bacteria and Pimples and Internal Bacteria.

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