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No matter your age, an unexpected breakout is likely to cause unnecessary stress as you frantically search your medicine cabinet for something to clear up your zit as soon as possible. Skincare is a delicate balance of preventative measures and working with the right products for your skin type, but sometimes it’s inevitable that your skin will fall victim to hormones or a bad reaction to a new ingredient. It’s in these moments that you want to take action to clear up your skin ASAP. Thankfully, skin experts have a few tips on how to do just that.
Don’t Pick!
Celebrity facialist, Founder of Joanna Vargas Salons, Skin Care and author of Glow From Within, Joanna Vargas emphasizes that picking is the last thing you should do when an unexpected pimple pops up as it can leave marks after the blemish is gone. She warns that people end up accidentally digging their fingernails into their skin, making it more difficult to heal. Leave it be!
Approach After Showering
While Vargas does not recommend popping your own pimple at home, if you feel you must, do it right after the shower. “The steam will help prep your skin similar to a facial. Have a clean face and clean hands. Instead of using fingertips and nails, use two Q-tips. They are covered in cotton and work around the pimple easily which won’t damage the skin.”
Try An Exfoliant
Using an exfoliant can be great for your skin after a new pimple arises. Vargas explains that a gentle face exfoliant can work to soothe breakouts and resurface the skin, creating a healthy base for the breakout to heal. Make sure to be gentle when applying, and Vargas even suggests sleeping in your exfoliator to wake up with glowing skin!
Use A Spot Treatment
If you’re looking to treat one blemish and don’t want to splurge on an expensive product to do the trick, Vargas suggests turning to your kitchen cabinet for the best remedy: Apple Cider Vinegar. “It’s an effective antibacterial and antifungal liquid capable of keeping breakouts at bay. You can also dilute water with ⅓ parts apple cider vinegar and use this for an all-over toner after you wash your face.”
Make A Mask
From her new book Glow From Within, Vargas recommends one DIY face mask in particular which will help soothe and heal pesky breakouts. The strawberries in the recipe even contain salicylic acid which will help to exfoliate and brighten!
1 cup plain yogurt
½ cup strawberries, mashed
½ cup almond meal
Splash of raw apple cider vinegar
Mix in a bowl, apply for 20 minutes and rinse. Easy as that!
Treat It With Tea Tree
Dr. Lamees Hamdan, Founder and CEO of Shiffa, suggests treating fresh breakouts with tea tree oil after patting gently with a hot washcloth on the sensitive area. This can be done multiple times a day, and the tea tree oil is great to ease inflammation on the blemish.
Take A Deep Breath
You may be stressed about your newfound blemish, but your fears will only make your skin worse. Dr. Hamdan explains, “Anxiety usually also triggers acne, rashes and more, so try taking calming epsom salt baths with a few drops of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Epsom salts are rich in magnesium which your skin will absorb, and helps calm your stressed nerves.”
Take a deep breath, follow these at home remedies, and your skin will be glowing and clear again in no time.
