Spots really are the bane of my life and have been for the last 3 or 4 years!
Now I don't want to be ones of those annoying girls that drone on about having 'acne' as you can clearly see from my picture on the right that I don't. Nor would I ever state my maximum of 5 spots on a bad day could be ache! However I do constantly strive for clear spot-less skin as my skin is pretty oily and does tend to develop spots quite frequently.
So here is my summary of products I have found to be affective on the high street to prevent spots, treat them and also to hide them!
Prevention is key!
Soap & Glory The Fab Pore 15 Minute Facial Peel (50ml/£7.15)
Properly cleansing the skin in the right way for you is the main way to prevent spots. However even if you do cleanse your face properly you can still suffer from unsightly blackheads. Now Soap & Glory's The Fab Pore doesn't preform miracles but it does make a visible difference. Unlike most products for blackheads this smells lovely as is actually nice to use... think more of a non-setting face mask (facial peel is definitely not the right way to describe it). The best time to use it? Before getting ready for a night out or if you are going somewhere special! The pot will also lasts you ages.
Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser
(200ml/£3.26)
(200ml/£3.26)
Now this stuff does really work and gives instant results, which is pretty impressive! But it also need to be used with caution as it is strong! I was actually so amazed by it's results when I first got it I used it day and night all over my face (not just were I had blackheads) and within 4 days I had dry skin on my nose and my lips felt extremely dry. So I'm now using it once every other day and I'm still seeing the benefits but without the drying effect. This definitely does work but I would say to give this a miss if you have sensitive or oily/dry combination skin.
Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser
(200ml/£2.99 normally £3.99)
Now I picked the new Superdrug Hot Cloth Cleanser as that is the one I'm using at the moment and I'm quite liking it. But really any cream cleanser that is effective in removing makeup with do. As long as you find one that totally removes all traces of makeup and you use it with a good quality muslin cloth (the one with the Superdrug cleanser is a bit rubbish) or a facial brush (the Botanics brush is amazing) then you are onto a winner. It's just all about cleansing the face amazing well at night and exfoliating it with the facial brush or muslin cloth. Using a cream cleanser every night in this way will help keep the skin clear of spots and also help prevent whiteheads.
Spots, be gone!
Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment Gel
(15ml/£4.81)
(15ml/£4.81)
This is my general everyday spot treatment that I sometimes use at night on a fading spot or even on-the-go when a lovely spot springs up from nowhere to ruin my face! It isn't the most fast acting spot treatment but I've found for that reason it isn't as drying as most and can be applied under or over make-up without peeling which is an important factor!
Garnier Pure A Intensive Night Treatment Gel
(40ml/£3.24)
(40ml/£3.24)
This really is a good value for money treatment gel as you do get 40ml of product with this. However it does recommend you use this all over the face and for some reason if you don't the results won't be as good! When it's the time of the month and my skin is getting a few spots and feeling a bit congested I apply this all over my face and sleep with the gel on. The next morning I of course wash it off as it does make the skin feel tacky and my skin all-round appears that bit brighter and my spots aren't as bad.
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Rapid Clear Treatment Gel
(15ml/£4.75)
This definitely is my favourite spot treatment... if that is even possible. This really is for when I have a huge nasty spot or when I can feel one coming under the skin. Amazingly this does actually visibly reduce spots in 8 hours, like the product states. The most effective I have tried!
The Conceal Queen
17 Photo Flawless Skin Primer
(15ml/£4.99)
The main thing to do when concealing a spot is to make sure it is flake-free as not only will all the concealer cling to it but it will also make it 10 times more obvious. Once that it done I've found using a silicone based primer on it really helps to give it a smoothed over finish. I only do this though with spots that as going, as if it is a new spot I don't want to be trapping it under layers of different products, not letting it breath or heal.
No7 Precision Eyeliner Brush
(£7.25)
I've known so many people that concealer their spots by just dabbing on a bit of concealer and then rubbing it in with their fingers, resulting in the concealer not properly concealing and also the conealer being on the skin around the spot. So if you do want to make your spots the least noticeable you should be using a small pointed brush that will apply concealer to the spot and the spot only. This brush also double up at concealing other little blemishes and red parts of the skin I find! Plus with the No7 £5 off vouchers the brush works out at £2.25.
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer
(£4.19)
(£4.19)
This is the most opaque liquid concealer I have found on the high street and it really does knock the socks off a lot of other more expensive concealers as well. It concealers redness really well and stays put nearly all day. Sadly the shade range is quite limited but if you can find a match with your own skin then you really are onto a winner.
No7 Quick Cover Blemish Stick
(3g/£8.00)
This No7 Blemish Stick has been a favourite of mine for quite some time now and I use it on oily spots or when my skin is going through quite an oily stage. The reason is that it is a cream to powder formula so it soaks up excess oil when applied. Quite a different concealer than any others on the high street. Highly recommend this to anyone that suffers from oily spot prone skin.
Last but not least!
If you can't resist squeezing a spot, which lets face it we have all done. Then placing an ice cube on the spot will not only take the redness out of it but will actually make it look less inflamed the next day!
