Acne, chipped nails, and red eyes—oh my! Fast fixes for your beauty woes.
Quick: You've just been invited to the White House for dinner
tomorrow, but your nails are a wreck, your skin is dull, and you have a
pimple the size of a planet! What do you do?
Below, experts weigh in on recovering from typical beauty misfortunes
quickly and healthfully so you can look and feel your best every
day—and, especially, when a special occasion arises.
Here's what to do if:
You wake up with a pimple so big it has its own zip coDo not—we repeat—do not pop it.
"You can cause more damage with your fingers and fingernails with
the pressure of squeezing out the contents than you can by simply
letting it go through its natural process," says Dawn Davis, a
dermatologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Plus, she adds, popping
a zit makes it more likely to become infected.
The best thing to do is wash your face with a mild soap, and apply an
oil-free moisturizer, she says. "You can also apply a damp, warm
compress for a few minutes to try to open up the pore on its own to help
expedite its own evacuation," she says. Afterward, Davis recommends
treating the pimple with an over-the-counter acne product that contains
benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Need to cover the spot fast? Go for a hypoallergenic concealer.
You slept in your makeup and now your skin looks sallow.
(Zum Face Sugar Face Scrub)Dawn
DaLuise, owner of Dawn DaLuise Skin Refinery in Los Angeles, says
sleeping in makeup is toxic for your skin. "When we sleep is when our
skin rejuvenates and heals. The pores open during our sleep, and if
they're swallowing dirt and perspiration and makeup, that's going to
invade the pores for quite some time."
OK, OK, we know you shouldn't sleep in makeup, but if it happens, DaLuise suggests using a face scrub,
which polishes your skin by removing dirt from pores. Davis adds that
applying a moisturizer with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may help brighten
dull skin.
Your skin is dry enough to sand the was Cool
weather can take a toll on skin. "It's not only the temperature that's
important, but it's also the fact that the humidity drops during the
fall and winter," Davis says, "and the wind will especially dry out the
skin."
To keep your dewy glow, you must moisturize, so Davis suggests stocking up on an over-the-counter hypoallergenic lotion or cream, and consider using a humidifier in your bedroom. Also be sure to cover up before heading outside.
For dry hands and feet, apply a thick cream before going to bed, and
cover them in white cotton socks. "The sock helps slow the evaporation
of the product and helps the hands and feet stay moister longer," Davis
says. White cotton socks are perfect, she adds, because they're cheap,
soft, dye-free, and allow your skin to breathe.
Your cuticles are a mess. (Essie Cuticle Pen)Frayed,
dry cuticles? You're not alone. "A lot of people complain about their
cuticles … but they're there for a purpose," says Nadine Ferber,
co-owner of Tenoverten nail salon in Manhattan.
These tiny strips of skin serve as your nails' protective barriers,
preventing bacteria from causing infections. Many people cut their
cuticles, which eliminates that protection and makes them more likely to
split and look worse, Ferber says.
Care for your cuticles by gently pushing them down toward the nail,
Ferber says. Cuticle pens or orangewood sticks, which may be found online
or at beauty stores, work better than metal tools, she says. Make sure
to hydrate cuticles, too, with cuticle oil or even olive or argan oils.