By BR Kellie
I imagine only a rare few have yet to experience the joys of waking up to find a dirty great zit has formed on your face overnight. Or sighed in that moment where you caress your face because you're tired, fidgety or having a good old stress-soothing rub and your fingertips run over a bump that wasn't there in the morning. A bump that when you take out your compact for further investigation is raging red, or a pustacular shade of greeny yellowy white. Random zits, while not likely to end the world as we know it, can make us feel less than glamorous. Even if no one else notices them, we know they're there.
Of course, random zits aren't the same as an ongoing issue or acne, and if you're concerned about the state of your skin seek out a trained professional for advice and a regime that will (fingers crossed!) help with the situation. But for these one-offs there are measures we can take to reduce the inflamation, to deal to the rarrness, and to hasten the healing process. And no, squeezing the living daylight out of them isn't one of them. Pity, I know. So what can we do to zap the zits? Check these ideas out...
Ice Ice Baby. Yup, if the redness is real laying a little ice upon the spot can bring down the inflammation and the size. Once you've iced it might look a little more red to begin with, but it will subside. One tip? Don't apply the ice directly to your skin. Instead wrap it in muslin, or a thin fabric, then ice it for five minutes. Give it a break for ten to fifteen then re-ice for another five minutes.
This Can Work To A Tea... Tree. But avoid if you've sensitive skin and do a spot test first. Yes, tea tree oil is a potential zit zapper. It not only soothes but disinfects. But you don't want to be going all crazy with it. Take a little oil on a cotton tip and tab it onto the affected area, then after twenty or so minutes, or longer if you know your skin can handle it, gently remove the oil with a dampened, soft face cloth.
Oh Honey Honey... well, specifically, Manuka Honey. How lucky are we to live in a country where it's so readily available? This magical treat from nature has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, so dabbing a little on your zit will help clear away the bacteria while reducing its angry self. Let it get to work while you're munching a bit of honey on toast, then wipe off once you're done with your morning routine.
Clay Is The Way. If a whitehead of mountainous proportions is setting up camp on your face or you can feel an angry blind pimple threatening to burst its way forward, then doing a spot clay mask can help by bringing all the toxins to the surface. Simply do a spot treatment, being sure to cover the entire pimple area, then let the mask do its thing for twenty odd minutes or overnight if your skin can handle it. READ THIS: If you are going to try overnight, know what you're using and read the instructions if it's a new-to-you product. I've used a clay mask that the instructions said had to be washed off after three minutes and if I hadn't obeyed I fear my skin would have paid some wicked price because it was strooooooong. Once you've masked, wash it away add a pimple gel or lotion on top, like...
What Witchcraft Is This? This is my personal favourite to dealing with pimples. Witch Blemish Gel. I've tried all sorts of gels to help reduce or prevent a pimple in my time. Ranging from the affordable to the ridiculous in price. This one beats them all hands down in that, in my experience, it severely reduces the pimples life-span. It doesn't disappear overnight, but it gets the heck of my face much faster than other products I've used have. Oh and it's just over $10 - so totally worth a go!
Hang Those Pimples Out To Dry! Of course, if you're wanting to spend a few extra pingers and willing to believe the hype... Mario Badescus Drying Lotion is said to be the holy grail of overnight pimple treatments. I'm tempted to try it, but not as tempted as I am by these...
A Master Stroke? Of course, being a bit of a skincare junkie, my head was turned by the idea of sticker treatments, in particular the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch. These little clear hydrocolloid patches adhere to the skin and then work to remove the gunk that's causing the pimples while ensuring outside polluntants don't get in to cause infection or make the pimple worse. They say you can even apply makeup over the top, though I'd be interested to know how that would look texturally.
Oh how I wish these had existed when I woke up the day before my wedding day with Mount Vesuvius taking up residence on the right hand side of my chin. Thank goodness for talented makeup artists.
Tea tree oil has been my go to product for sooo long and it never lets me down! However, I've been wanting to try the Mario Badescus Drying Lotion for the longest time!