I still remember my bumpy forehead. I think it was the Aquanet I was using to try and achieve the 80’s feathered bang look which was impossible with my stick-straight Asian hair, no matter how many perms and layered cuts I got. But the acne wasn’t too big a deal for me — others had it far worse, and I understood (thank you YM/Sassy/Seventeen) that I was not alone in my skin woes.
I learned early on that the main things I needed to keep my acne under control were the 3 step system of washing, toning, and moisturizing. Plus spot treatment. Back in the day, that involved harsher products like Noxzema and Sea Breeze and Stridex Pads, but essentially my skincare routine today is quite similar (with a lot more gadgets/serums). For the most part, that’s how I keep adult acne breakouts at bay.
But when I get an actual pimple, I attack!
Here are the steps I take immediately whenever I feel a zit forming.
Wash face and use a toner with AHA or BHA (I’ve been happy with Ren, Paula’s Choice, and Naturium’s) to clean the area. If it’s very bumpy and red, I’ll press an ice cube to bring down the swelling.
Use red/blue light. I used to swear by this Claro wand which broke after about two years but I like this new Solawave Bye Acne gadget much, much more. It’s about double the price (on sale now for $49) but it only takes 3 minutes and you don’t have to switch between the two different colored heads. I know this sounds like a gimmick but I believe this step really works in preventing major catastrophic damage, especially if I catch it early enough.
Apply the cocktail: benzoyl peroxide, sallycilic acid, and the teensiest dab of cortisone cream for redness (right now I’m using Neutrogena Stubborn Acne AM Treatment, Perricone MD Acne Relief Spot Gel, and Vanicream.
Cover up with a zit patch. If it’s a deep one that hasn’t come to a head, I use the ZITSTICKA Killa Kit which is expensive but works. If it’s already popped I’ll use good old CosRX or Mighty Patch to suck out all the gunk. If it’s in a flat place where a sticker would look cute (like my cheek or forehead) I’ll use a Starface one.
If I want to be wearing makeup and a zit patch isn’t an option (I’m not a fan of the “invisible” zit patches — they can still be seen IMHO) I have been using non-comedogenic concealer on a Q-Tip. I usually don’t wear makeup everyday so I’d rather be applying something double-duty — designed specifically for acne. I’ve used End-Zit in the past which is very similar to the classic Mario Badescu pink drying lotion but have found the bottle to clump/dry up quickly. So recently I bought Rescue Balm which comes in a tinted Apricot color (it also comes in green) and have been pretty happy using that on lighter coverage days. It’s super soothing, and also lightly covers up my eye bags which have formed post COVID (more on that in a future post).
Please share any tips you have learned over the years!
P.S. I still think of Naomi Campbell saying “Everyone has zits, I’m only human” from this episode of House of Style every time I get one (watch her skincare routine towards the end, though this whole video is GOLD).
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