From The Straits Times    |
acne_rec

Photo: 123rf

Acne seems to always have its way of rearing its ugly head (literally) at the time when you need them the least like before a first date, interview, wedding or even Chinese New Year gatherings. While acne is caused by a combination of different factors, sometimes it just comes down to stress. And we all know that prepping for a big day that we usually have very little control over is bound to cause major stress and anxiety.

When you’re stressed, your skin is more likely to produce too much cortisol, a hormone that leads to the secretion of excess oil that clogs the pores to create blemishes. While you might be tempted to pop that zit, doing so might just make things worse.

If you are bummed over that bump, here are four things you can do:

 

  1. Spot treat with a clay mask

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For stubborn pimples that refuse to resolve itself into a pus-filled head, try dabbing a tiny bit of clay mask with a Q-tip onto the affected spot to shrink the pimples and dry them up.

Clay masks are great for acne prone skin because they help clarify and detoxify the skin by drawing out impurities trapped within the pores, soaking up the excess sebum and gently sloughing off dead skin cells.

 

  1. Apply ice

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While an ice cube will not help you to get rid of that pimple, it does take down the inflammation and reduce the redness of the affected area, making it much easier for you to cover that blemish with makeup.

Apart from constricting blood vessels, applying ice on a zit will also prevent entrance of new bacteria which could potentially cause more breakouts. Wrap a towel or paper towel over the ice cube and place it against your pimple for 30 to 40 seconds. You’ll definitely notice that the pimple’s size has been reduced.

 

  1. Steam your face

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If you have a pesky zit, try steaming your face to detox the skin. When you steam your face, it opens up the pores, allows your skin to breathe and helps to get rid of bacteria, oil and grime.

You can either use a steamer that can be found at local drugstores for less than $30 or place a towel over your head and steam your face with a bowl of hot water. Just make sure to finish off with a toner that will help to close pores and tighten cell gaps to prevent impurities from entering the skin.  

 

  1. Conceal

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If all else fails, there is always makeup. It might sound counterintuitive, but steer clear of full-coverage foundation and opt for a lightweight tinted moisturiser and concealer instead. When you use a heavy coverage concealer, it could magnify your zit and look even bigger than it actually is.

You want to make it less obvious by matching your base makeup and concealer to your skin tone. Additionally, you can also use a green concealer to cancel out the redness of your pimple before following up with a concealer that is similar to your skin tone. Here are some of our favourite concealers that will not only hide your spots but treat them at the same time. When you doubt, sport a bold bright lip or smokey eye that take attention away from your zit.

 

ALSO READ: WHAT DOES STRESS DO TO YOUR SKIN?

 

 

 

 

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