A girl is lying if she says she has never experienced the absolute horror of waking up to an angry zit, even if she is blessed with otherwise-great skin. Of course, concealer is the closest we can get to a magic wand for covering it up, but there are a few ways to reduce an embarrassing pimple situation. We give you a few easy tricks to shrink a zit in no time, especially when they pop up on important days!
I. Dry It Out
1. Grab Your Tube Of Toothpaste
Toothpaste is extremely drying, so save this trick for beauty emergencies only. Squeeze some out onto your finger and simply dab it on the spot. If you have oily skin, you can keep it on for up to 30 minutes, but if your skin is dry, be sure to wash it off within 15 minutes. This will definitely help dry it out and shrink the pimple.
2. Garlic To Fight All Evil
Garlic has the same effect on zits as it has (supposedly) on vampires – it can make them disappear! However, being super smelly, try this remedy when you don’t have to rush off for an important meeting, or even worse, a date! Simply rub raw garlic on those pesky pimples and problem areas a few times a day and watch them clear up in no time. This is also a great trick to try everyday for a clear complexion within a few weeks.
3. Oh, Honey!
Honey is one secret weapon for a variety of skin problems like dealing with tans AND zits. It helps kill bacteria, which will dry out the pimple and prevent it from growing further. Once the pimple head is visible, apply honey to it and cover it up with a band-aid for the rest of the day, or for however long you can. Once you take it off, the spot will have reduced noticeably in size, or even disappeared! Don’t forget to apply moisturizer after.
II. Reduce Redness and Swelling
1. Ice It
This has got to be the easiest way to reduce a zit ASAP – just ice it! The cold can reduce redness, swelling and inflammation and reduce oil build-up. You should definitely run to your freezer the next time you feel a zit coming on.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar To The Rescue
Using a cotton ball, dab on some apple cider vinegar on the zit to help shrink it. The liquid kills bacteria, which will help reduce the swelling and redness of the angry pimple.
3. Potato Palooza
Yup, another kitchen wonder for fighting angry pimples is good old potatoes. Place a slice of raw potato on top of your zit and leave it on for about 7 minutes. It will help reduce inflammation and swelling noticeably.
4. Bring Out The Eye Drops
You know how much we love telling you about fascinating ways to use different things! Well, another quick trick to try in case of an emergency, or when you’re out and about, is to apply eye drops on your blemish to help reduce redness and shrink its size.
III. Help It Heal
1. Amazing Aloe Vera
Even if you’ve tried these quick beauty 911 techniques to shrink your zit, you still need some under-the-skin healing. Apply aloe vera gel to the spot overnight, or for a few hours. It’s very cooling and will help soothe and heal your skin.
2. Benzoyl Peroxide Will Always Help
It’s a no-fail acne fighter recommended by every dermatologist. So, try an over-the-counter ointment to apply to problem areas. It will help heal your skin and lead to a clearer complexion. Also, don’t forget to keep your skin hydrated, always!
Images: Shutterstock
MUST-READ: Lazy Girl Style: How To Get Gorgeous Hair The EASY Way
MUST-READ: #Embarrassing: How to Deal with Hair in Weird Places
