Why is it that blemishes always seem to pop up at the most inconvenient time? It's pre-date night and sure enough one rears its head. You're getting ready for a big night out and a pulsing pimple surfaces on your nose. It's like they know.
While blemishes are often associated with our adolescent years, 50% of us deal with bad skin in our adult lives - be it the odd spot or a case of full blown acne. The good news is, with the right products and a little know-how, they can be both banished and, with any hope, prevented. Here are five products to add to your skincare lineup stat...
The face washNeem has already been hailed by the health world as a wonder herb, but it's anti-bacterial properties make it brilliant at cleansing skin too. Use Himalaya Neem Face Wash, £3.29, morning and evening - simply massage it in to damp skin, then rinse it off and pat your skin dry.
The treatment Not only can popping a spot spread the infection, it can also scar - and let's face it, who wants either of those things to occur? Instead of picking, try an on-the-spot treatment that’ll dry it up and make it less squeezable. Origins Super Spot Remover, £15.50, is an astringent gel you can pop on any breakout. Its salicylic acid content will start to breakdown your pimple.
The toner If oily skin and blemishes seem to be a constant battle for you, we've found a toning mist that will solve your problems. La Roche Posay Serozinc, £6.37, is specifically designed to target the key signs of oily, blemish-prone skin. It's made with a simple yet effective trio of ingredients: zinc sulphate, thermal spring water and sodium chloride. It works its magic by toning the skin, reducing irritation (which can often go hand in hand with spots) and clear up any blemishes within a few days of regular use. So good, that when it launched in the UK this year it sold out in 24 hours.
The face oilWhen it comes to oils, rosehip is a dream for skin that is – or has been – prone to blemishes. Trilogy Rosehip Oil, £19.50, is rich in fatty acids and Omega 3, 6 and 9 to feed and nourish skin, all while helping heal any acne scarring.
The face creamWhen blemishes strike, it can be hard to know what to pop on your face before applying makeup. Bioderma Sebium AKN Fluid, £12.10, smoothes and purifies skin that's suffering from imperfections by cleansing the pores and slowing down the production of sebum.