No one wants to deal with a big, angry zit. And sometimes, it can feel like they pop up at the most inopportune times – and they get worse exactly when you need to look your best.
The good news? You have more control than you think. Here are 9 steps you can take to stop a zit in its tracks.
1. Use a Great Cleanser
First thing’s first: if you want your face to be blemish-free, you have to keep it clean. Remember, acne is often caused by oil, debris, and bacteria. Keeping all of those things under control, then, can help you maintain control of the situation – or keep it from getting worse.
We recommend that you make sure to wash your face twice a day with a non-stripping, acne-fighting cleanser with ingredients like:
- Glycolic acid to evenly exfoliate the skin and kill blemish-causing bacteria
- Vitamin E to brighten the skin, destroy bacteria, and protect against free radical damage
- Neem seed oil to fight inflammation, bacteria, and fungus
- Shea butter and mango seed butter to deeply moisturize without clogging pores
2. Moisturize Your Face
This tip is often more overlooked, but you must also keep your face hydrated if you want to reduce acne. Oftentimes, acne and redness are actually caused by skin dryness and a stripped natural barrier.
To fix it, then, you need to make sure to keep your moisture barrier intact. This requires an effective moisturizer with:
- Hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin
- Geranium flower water to calm and soothe red skin
- Vitamin E to neutralize free radicals
- Cocoa seed butter to restore a compromised barrier
3. Use a Spot Treatment
You can also use a targeted spot treatment directly on your blemish, blackhead, or pimple. The trick here? Make sure that the treatment you choose isn’t too harsh and drying – otherwise, it’ll make everything worse. We recommend that you find one with:
- 2% salicylic acid, an AHA that can penetrate more deeply into your skin and kill pesky acne-causing bacteria
- Witch hazel for natural anti-bacterial and astringent properties
- Clove oil to banish bacteria and reduce swelling
- Aloe vera to hydrate and soothe the skin
4. Ice It
Feeling like your zit is sore and super inflamed? Apply an ice pack for 5-10 minutes! It will help reduce the signs of inflammation by constricting blood vessels, soothing your skin, and providing a quick fix.
Don’t love ice? Applying a warm compress can also help. Heat encourages your pores to open up, which will relieve pressure and provide some instant comfort.
5. Protect it From the Elements
If you couldn’t fight the urge to pick at your zit, you have to protect it afterward. Why? As great as it might feel in the moment, popping a zit will always increase irritation, inflammation, and scarring – and the chances of these problems arising will always be higher the longer the wound is exposed.
That’s why we recommend applying a small band-aid or a hydrocolloid patch. This will not only help quell further temptation but also keep a clean environment and encourage healing.
6. Take Off Your Makeup
You must take off your makeup every night! Remember, makeup, oil, debris, and grime are breeding grounds for bacteria, so keeping your makeup on overnight is just asking for a major breakout.
7. Try a Color Corrector
Stuck with a major blemish and trying to look cute? Sometimes you’ll need to use some cover-up. We recommend a green-tinted color-corrector to neutralize any redness. That way, you won’t have to use as much make-up on top.
8. Don’t Forget a Clean Mask
There are still mask mandates in many areas - and an unwashed face mask will be covered in dirt and bacteria. Make sure that you replace your mask at least every other day, or wash it frequently if you’re using a fabric mask.
9. Balance Your Oil Production
In the same vein as moisturizing your face, we also recommend that you apply a face oil daily to help regulate sebum production. Again, as counterintuitive as it may seem, excess oil on the face is often caused by overly dry skin!
How?
When the skin gets too dry, it starts to over-produce oil to make up for it? The result is tight, acne-filled skin that’s itchy, irritated, and feeling unbalanced.
The right botanical face oil will help regulate sebum production and banish those breakouts for good.