photoZits.
My skin and I have a love-hate relationship. When she's good she's freckly, flush and clear. When she's bad she's dull, pale (not like healthy pale, but like translucent) and not-so-clear.
Prevention:
Wash your face daily. Only once a day for me (to take off make-up) and no more as not to dry her out. She enjoys a bit of her own natural schmutz and can fight pollution and dirt better when outfitted as such.
Drink a ton of water. I hear it can wash away your electrolytes -let me know what you think, Becca. Drinking enough water helps keep your skin supple and helps it rebound from damage and the elements.
Moisturize. Gently apply lotion to your face -maybe face lotion, maybe not.
Get enough sleep. Just like my previous post stressed, sleep works wonders for body. One wonder? Your skin has time to recover from stresses and repair itself.
Eat right. You are what you eat/drink, but sugar doesn't make you sweet and coffee doesn't make you hot and dark (read: tan). Balance is key.
Watch your sun exposure. Although tanning may clear your skin for the mean time by drying it out, but it also causes your skin more stress in the long run which makes it wrinkly and age spotty. Not to mention when you skin dries like this, it produces more oil which then clogs your pores which then gives you more zits! 2x the problems will grow in the neck of this beheaded monster.
Avoid touching your face. Your hands are dirty too and will only rub more germs and dirt into your pores. If you must, wash your hands.
Treatment:
Toothpaste or a drying facial mask. Use it only on the trouble area or spot. I heard the toothpaste thing from an interview with Jessica Simpson years ago. Oh, will she ever stop contributing to society? No. Not if we're lucky.
If you must pick, pick at night. If you are going to irritate your face do it at night after you've had a hot shower/bath. The heat will open your pores and your face will have a chance to recover overnight.
Leave it alone. If it's not a quite ready to be extracted, leave it alone. Messing with it at this point will be painful and could prolong healing.
Cover-up:
Prime and paint: Use a lotion to soften your whole face and make the concealer absorb evenly. Conceal with a liquid that is either exactly your skin tone or a bit lighter. Always use powder and/or foundation to help the area around the concealer blend-in. Powder sets it.
Don't mess with it. Leave the problem area alone to not crack or irritate the paint-job.
Speaking of paint jobs and all of this warm weather (craving ice cream?) For your listening pleasure/annoyance/daily dirty rap music: Ice Cream Paint Job.
