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 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 Read more

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 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 — Read more

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 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. Read more

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 Read more

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 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 Read more