Here’s exactly how you should deal with a pimple
When you reach adulthood, there is nothing quite as frustrating as having to deal with a surprise pimple on your chin, cheek, or forehead.
And while we have some pretty excellent tips on how to expertly cover that red, angry breakout, and even a clever trick to make sure your pimple is covered all day long, we know that chances are incredibly high that you would rather just get rid of it. Your instinct may be to try squeeze out the gunk with the hopes that the offending pimple never existed, but that’s never the best option.
“This will just spread the infection, make it worse and possibly leave you with a scar!,” explains Emma Hobson, Education Manager from Dermalogica and the International Dermal Institute.
So what’s the solution? Well, we asked some of the beauty industry’s best, and here are just a few suggestions to deal with a pimple the right way (because let’s face it, Kendall Jenner’s DIY pimple trick and Gigi’s $3 pimple-blitzing solution aren’t necessarily approved by the professionals).
1
Try a natural remedy
Charlotte Turner, beauty therapist and Head of Training at Clarins, suggests you target the offensive area with some witch hazel, which is known for its anti-bacterial and astringent properties, meaning it can help reduce inflammation and prevent the spread of bacteria. Turner recommends applying the natural acne remedy three times a day to repair, soothe, and heal your pimple, which you can do with T.N. Dickson’s Witch Hazel. Alternatively, you can make sure to add some witch hazel to your regular skin care routine with Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris to help prevent any surprise visits.
2
Try a spot treatment
Hobson is all for using a spot treatment – just as long as you use the right one!
“They usually contain acne-fighting ingredients such as zinc, colloidal silver, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide and lactobacillus ferment coupled with a good dose of anti-inflammatories such as tea tree oil. Don’t go radical and use something crazy like methylated spirits, all it will do is make the skin very red and irritated!"
As for the how, apply the treatment directly onto your spot (or spots), which will help heal it rapidly and effectively without any of the negatives of squeezing.
Try Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Emergency Spot Fix for a pimple crisis that needs to be sorted ASAP.
3
Try a mask
A good steam session paired with a mask can do your skin and pimples a world of good, according to Danielle Williams, Jurlique Education Specialist.
“Skin lesions in the form of breakouts respond best to treatments to soften and ‘open’ the pores. This allows the blockage to gravitate towards the surface, allowing it to be expelled. Steam, aromatherapy compresses and clay masks that gently draw out impurities are the best treatments. Some masks contain moor mud, and left on the spot overnight, can also be the perfect hack to wake up to greatly reduced inflammation and redness in the spots,” she says.
If you’re after a clay mask to help draw out those impurities and solve your pimple dilemma, try Jurlique Purifying Mask, and for a moor mud fix, try Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Mask.
Image credit: @itsashbenzo
