Spot Treatment

The problem: You have a pimple. You dab some spot treatment on it, go to bed, and wake up with two problems: the pimple's still there and your beloved designer sheets have streaks of telltale orange from your acne product. Blast! Resolved to never have this happen to me again, I consulted New York City dermatologist Dr. Doris J. Day for some answers.

"At any concentration, even 2.5%, benzoyl peroxide can bleach fabric," she says. "Even if you use a benzoyl peroxide cleanser and don't rinse well enough, it'll bleach your towel and sheets (but it doesn't bleach your skin). Retin-A can also stain because it has a preservative in it, but generally, if you're getting stains from using a retinol product, chances are you're using too much." To find out what Dr. Day thinks is more effective for spots than benzoyl peroxide anyway, read more

Due in stores this fall are two new sebum-controlling skin-care products from Darphin called Purifying Targeted Gel ($50) and Overnight Refining Lotion ($50).

The clear, fast-drying gel can be applied to the affected area as often as necessary. The lotion acts as an astringent to kill bacteria and reduce oil production and shine, especially to your t-zone —all without drying out your face like so many other spot treatments are prone to do.

The products contain essential oils, which are blended together with salicylic acid, lemon, Vitamin C, and isolutrol (a balancing agent) to help purify the skin, control sebum production, stimulate skin renewal, soothe, irritated skin and reduce the look of large pores. The treatments are gentle enough not to irritate the skin, yet are strong enough to fight off persistent pimples. And did I mention how great the smell is?

I've been using this combo for three days and so far I haven't experienced any flaking or unusual dryness — yippee!

I've never been one to have consistently gorgeous, glowy skin. It's always either a little bit dry, kind-of blotchy and almost always oily on the nose. Oh, and around that time of the month, you can bank on being able to play a fierce game of connect-the-dots. Having been a connoisseur of spot treatments since puberty, these are three of my go-to products that help pacify my pimples without causing dry patches or added aggravation. Which is your all-time favorite topical zit zapper?

Clearasil Tinted Acne Treatment Cream ($5.79) can be found at most drugstores. It doesn't sting or make you teary-eyed from the strong scent when you have to apply it to your face. The best part about using the tinted version is that it really helps cover up the red without having to pile on potentially bacteria-infested concealer.

Origins Spot Remover ($10) is a minty-smelling, transparent spot treatment gel that contains salicylic acid to dry out sebum and help kill old and new bacteria. It tingles just a touch upon contact, but it's nothing you can't handle. It stays clear and won't dry to an embarrassing flaky finish. Also, the tiny bottle is sure to last you through all twelve bouts of PMS per year, since all you need is a super-small amount.

For one more tried-and-true spot treatment that's slightly pricier, read more

For someone like me who is constantly battling erratic pesky pimples, I've gotten to know the spot treatment market fairly well. And the newest product that I've tried and liked is called Espa Essential Tea Tree Gel ($33). This gentle botanical gel contains lemon (to detoxify), thyme (to soothe), evening primrose (to balance) and tea tree oil which helps attack bacteria and banish blemishes — all without drying out your skin.

Additionally, it is formulated with a blend of fragrant essential oils which calm break-out prone and hormonally imbalanced (aka premenstrual) skin.

I heard about ESPA from a friend and was really excited when I saw that a .54 oz travel size ($18) is available. This size is ideal since all you need is a small amount to get the job done. Simply dot a thin coat on the blemish, and you can either apply a mask over it or just let the gel dry for a few minutes before putting on your makeup. You'll notice a slightly cooling feeling and in time you'll see that area is less red and puffy and more even-toned. I've been using it for a week and I am very happy with the results. I also hear it's great for ingrown hairs, so I am going to test it out and see how it rivals my Arezoo Cream.

Launched earlier this year, Aveda's latest skin care collection is called Outer Peace. This four-step skin care line uses modern Ayurvedic botanicals to achieve balanced, clear skin. Some key ingredients in these products include salicylic acid, the anti-irritant saw palmetto, ambla (a popular Ayurvedic berry that helps heal) and a blend of organic essential oils such as lemon, tea tree and rose geranium.

For a detailed list of each of the products and their prices, read more

Ever get a pimple — the really, really big kind that hurt? You know better than to poke or probe it, but it's too hard to sit there and do nothing. This happened to a friend of mine the other day and instead of leaving well enough alone, she squeezed and squeezed it. Since nothing came out to relieve her of the pain and pressure, she decided to sterilize a needle and puncture it at the root.

However, what came out wasn't sebum, it was blood. What was once a manageable red bump was now a bleeding puffy and bright red mess. She knew that an infection was bound to occur, so she ran over to the dermatologist for a cortisone injection to manage the swelling and kill off the bacteria. Two days later it scabbed and thankfully a week later it's almost 100% healed.

Lesson Learned C'mon gals—You know better than to mess with cystic blemishes. Next time, soak the heck out of it and then apply a mask overnight to dry it up and bring it to a head. Wash your face, apply a spot treatment and then cover it up with some makeup. Leave the needles to the M.D.'s please!

Source

The results of last week's Beauty Mark It challenge are in, and thanks to you readers, there are lots of suggestions for pimple-stopping spot treatments.

Melanie1022 suggests MyChelle Clear Skin Serum ($29.98). "I love all MyChelle products," she says. "You can order samples for just about $2.00." After browsing the available samples, I might do just that—especially because the products are non-toxic and cruelty-free.

Another highlight is Jenlusi's suggestion, Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17). It has salicylic acid to zap the zit, and calamine to calm the inflamed skin.

Want to see everybody's suggestions? Just browse this widget and you'll have tons of shopping options!

Even the healthiest skin is prone to getting pimples. Usually, they sprout just in time for an important event like a job interview or first date. Nice, huh? During such times, I rely on a spot treatment to beat those zits into submission. Most of them, like Leaf and Rusher Acne Serum Tx, contain salicylic acid, and you dab them only on the blemish—not on your entire face. (For more on salicylic acid's uses, read on.)

For this week's Beauty Mark It challenge, I'd like to find out which acne spot treatments you like best. You can share your suggestions by tagging your choices with the phrase "acne spot." I'll feature the readers' favorites on BellaSugar next Tuesday, October 16.

To learn about Beauty Mark It Challenges and to see how to add your picks, click here. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more

After learning about the many many first-aid and household uses for tea tree oil, I decided to do a little bit of research to see what kinds of beauty products exist with this ingredient. I found out that there are way too many to count, so I've decided to create a three-part series highlighting some of my favorite brands that use this fabulous essential oil in their hair, face and skin care products. I can't wait to hear what you think — and of course if you have any tea tree-infused products of your own to share, please leave a comment.

Liz Earle Spot On Roller Ball (around $15) is an amazing treatment for blemishes bites and cuts. It's made from pure tea tree oil, melissa and lavender (it's got that really strong tea tree oil smell). I've been using it for about a week now on my pimples and it's been extremely effective in fighting off bacteria.

I love the easy roller-ball application, and it doesn't sting like many other spot treatments often do. Unfortunately right now it's only available in the UK, but—shh!—there are tons of gray markets online that will deliver overseas.

For two more tea tree oil products for your skin, read more