When a breakout hits, be it a solitary pustule or a full on acne infestation, all you’ll want is something that acts, and fast. We’ve all been there, and that’s why we’ve found the anti-blemish solutions that we keep close, ready to be activated.
Origins Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask
$27, available at the Origins store and counters
How do you refuse a premise like this? Other than how enticing its name sounds, this mask really delivers on its promise. I don’t use much, only on areas where I detect a fresh zit or a potential one, but the moment I spot these, I reach straight for this to quell the problem. The mask spreads easily and never feels too tight after; how it works is that it contains super-absorbent zinc oxide and sulphur to soak up shine, and camphor to purify the skin. However, I must say that it smells… effective. The medicinal scent takes some getting used to. Admittedly, and as a spot treatment, I also leave it on longer than ten minutes (according to reviews, I’m not alone!). What I do love though is how it calms down any sign of redness immediately after, and by morning, I’ll notice that the blemishes are already less visible. After two nights, some have disappeared completely!
– Amelia Tan, Associate Editor
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (Salicylic Acid)
$43, available at paulaschoice.sg
Of course, my pick is one from Paula’s Choice. No surprises there, really. This salicylic acid treatment is one of the more potent formulas in the brand’s lineup, and it’s a bestseller for good reason. Whenever I’m dealing with a nasty hormonal breakout (i.e. deep painful pustules that have decided to camp out along my jawline and overstay their welcome), I’ll reach for this warrior and dab it on my blemishes like a spot treatment or smooth it all over the warzone.
Since salicylic acid exfoliates deep within the pores and works as an anti-irritant as well, it reduces redness and soothes my angry breakouts. Within a day or two, the blemishes would dry up and start flaking off on their own. 🙌🏼 If my skin’s being a little moody in general, I’ll sweep this all over my face before moisturising at night and within mere minutes, my pores will appear less visible and my skin texture much more refined, allowing me to wake up with a clearer, less congested complexion. A godsend.
– Jade Yeo, Writer
ETUDE HOUSE AC Clean Up Pink Powder Spot
$23.90, available at ETUDE HOUSE stores
While shopping at Etude House, I noticed a very distinct green-capped bottle with pink powder in it, and I immediately thought of Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion, which Kylie Jenner swore by. It seemed like pink powder was a trend then and everyone was raving about how it does a great job at healing acne, so I decided to get one from Etude House, since it’s definitely going to be cheaper than the drying lotion from Mario Badescu.
I do have acne-prone skin, and most products I’ve tried doesn’t work as well as the A/C Clean Up Pink Powder Spot. I simply dip a cotton bud in the unshaken bottle and get a good amount of the clay-like pink formula that’s soaked in solution, and apply directly to the problematic areas. It dries up fast and I leave it on overnight. You do have to wash your face thoroughly the next day because the pink powder dries up on your face, similar to applying clay masks. The pink powder spot effectively dries up the pus of the zit, and reduced the redness of my pimple, which means I won’t feel the urge to burst it! It makes applying concealers easier as well since there isn’t an obvious bump too. It is so good that I actually cleared the entire bottle. It’s probably time to get a new one soon.
– Phyllis Guo, Editorial Assistant
Kate Somerville DermalQuench Clear Anti-Acne Treatment
$94, available at Sephora
I got the NYLON team to talk about their favourite blemish-fighting products, because I was inspired by the really, really rough patch my skin’s been going through. I do mean a literal rough patch – after unwisely using a product containing mineral oil, I’ve been left with something I found out is called “subclinical acne”. That refers to an acne breakout that manifests in the form of small, colourless bumps, clustered on both my cheeks and forehead.
It’s terrible, and I’m obviously never going near mineral oil ever again. But this has driven me to seek out a fast-acting blemish treatment, and this is how I ended up bringing this Kate Somerville product back into my daily routine. It comes in an interesting format: like a spray can but with an extra-long nozzle sticking out. You press down on the button on the top, and out shoots some white foam with an accompanying fizzing sound. While you can aim the nozzle straight at the offending patch of skin, I prefer to still use my fingers.
Here’s where a word of warning is necessary: this thing smells. Pretty bad. That’s probably due to the sulphur, a common acne-fighting ingredient. But I’m soldiering on an applying this all over the problem areas anyway, because I have seen improvements in my skin: the subclinical acne bumps have been reduced gradually. Which is all I need to put up with the smell, really.
– Tami Lai, Associate Editor
Main image: Kate Somerville on YouTube
You must be logged in to post a comment.