Like periods, zits are an inevitable part of life. There’s no need to wait until they get humongous or irritate them.
Don’t touch them (if you can help yourself)
We know we shouldn’t touch our zits because of contamination etc. but we often can’t help it. Here’s what NOT to do: squeeze a zit before it has surfaced and is easy to pop. You need to be able to see a white center.
If you pop it too early, you’ll only end up irritating the area and pushing contaminants like bacteria deeper into the skin. Which will blow up in your face — quite literally. The skin becomes red and an infection may start.
Put ice on it
A “young” zit needs to be chilled. Wrap an ice cube in a piece of cloth and hold it on the zit for several minutes. The cold will constrict the blood vessels, which reduces redness and helps minimize swelling and inflammation.
Another thing that can help with redness is aloe. You could also try tea tree oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Use makeup wisely
We recommend using makeup with anti-acne ingredients even if your skin flares up rarely. These ingredients will cover and soothe zits as well as keep more from appearing.
Look for primers that contain natural oil-absorbers like clay and sulfur and mineral powder foundation that contains salicylic acid. Wash your brushes regularly, because they carry all kinds of acne-causing bacteria. Apply a germ-fighting tool with anti-bacterial charcoal to your foundation to keep dirt and oil from re-circulating all over your face.
