Best on-the-spot treatments

Just got a zit in your face two days before the big day? It is red, painful and to you it seems like everybody will focus on this point? Relax, I am sure it is not the only point of attention in your face, although I always feel the same way. Trust me a break out can often ruin my day!

Well, I guess there are no miraculous treatments that can make it disappear in a day but there are some on the spot treatments that can DEFINITELY improve the situation and give you a confidence boost up!

After trying a million different products from drugstore all theway to the high end brands I am sharing with you those that worked perfect for me.

1. Spéciale 5 by Payot

This product is probably my favourite on the spot treatment. It dries and purifies all imperfections and also helps them disappear more quickly. I usually apply it before I go to bed and for some reason I am always amazed by the results the next morning.

2. Drying Lotion by Mario Badescu

This lotion is really effective! It works miracles on whiteheads. I usually apply it overnight and by the next day I always see a difference, it is as if it has shrunk and it is not as red. Also, this lotion is supposed to heal and prevent the spreading of acne on your face or body.

3. Drying Cream by Mario Badescu

This is a similar product to the drying lotion although it does not dry the area as much. Some people find that the lotion dries their skin too much and so prefer this more gentle soothing aloe formula. This product too, promotes the drying and the healing process.

4. Acne Spot Treatment by Murad

This product doesnt actually dry the blemishes but rather speeds up their healing process. To me this product works best when the blemish is not fully developed and it is at an early stage. And although it clears active breakouts it doesnt work as fast as the MB lotion and cream.

5. Pâte Grise by Payot

Pate Grise is another favourite product. It works great on painful and red imperfections, in other words at blemishes that are at an early stage and speeds up their maturity process. It's scent I must mention isn't the best, but who cares!

Treat and Cover

These concealers are great because they conceal the red areas and treat them at the same time. Sometimes when we have a blemish we tend to use thick products that offer more coverage. Unfortunately, these products have more oil in them, making the condition of the blemish worse.

1. Acne Treatment Concealer by Murad

This concealer comes in three shades and so it provides a  long lasting coverage while it heals the blemishes with acne-fighting Salicylic Acid. Among its primary benefits, according to Murad official site, is that it controls and prevents acne breakouts.

2. Stick Couvrant Purifiant by Payot

This product too, masks the blemishes but without offering a great coverage. Since it neutralizes imperfections, it is great to use when the blemish is not at its pick but rather has entered the maturity stage.

3. Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer by Clinique

Finally, this product is also a medicated concealer that helps clear and prevent blemishes. Like the Murad concealer this also comes in three shades plus a green one which helps balance the redness in a blemish.

SPF's break me out!!

No one can survive a summer in Greece without any sun protection creams. The sun is hot and almost always around, so even when being in the shade one may end up with a sunburn. Moreover, sun is one of the main causes of premature aging.

And now about me…..although I wear sun protection on my face all through the year, I notice that in the summertime I get breakouts. This is mainly because going to the beach means that you get to apply the product over and over, usually without washing off the sea salt, plus in the meantime you may get sweaty. Moreover most SP creams seem to have a thicker texture (although I always use the oil free version) to them -compared to moisturizers- especially if they have an SPF of 25 plus.

I just came back from my vacation –and although I had a great time- my skin is now suffering! I now have to cleanse it at least three times a day, use pore cleansing masks and tone my skin. And trust me, in order to get back to my normal skin, I have to pay a visit to my beautician and get a professional deep cleaning facial.

All through the years, I have tried most of the SPFs available in the market, ranging from the pharmaceutical (Vichy, Avene, Propoline) to the high end brands (Clinique, shiseido, Lancaster, Lancome, Estee Lauder).

BUT, I think I may have discovered the solution to my problem, the new Oil Free Moisturizer SPF30 by Mario Badescu. His products work great for me, especially when my skin is in a bad condition. There are a couple of stores in Athens when I can purchase MB products, but the particular moisturizer was very new, so it was not available in Greece, which means I will have to order it on line.

Why am I so certain it will work for my skin? Well, right before I left for vacation I purchased a couple of products from the MB stand and the lady who worked there gave me two tiny samples, the Hyaluronic moisturizer SPF 15 and the Complex Moisturizer with Vitamin E SPF 20. I am happy to say that none of the two gave me a break out. Unfortunately the first one had a low SPF and the second one was a bit too oily for my skin. Since these products did not make my skin break out, I think that the oil free moisturizer with an SPF of 30 will be ideal. According to Mario Badescu’s official site it is a non-pore clogging, paraben-free formula that provides UVA and UVB protection and the necessary defense against sun damage and acne scarring. Moreover, it is recommended for every day use on combination, sensitive, oily or acne-prone skin.