Goodbye, blemishes: breakouts are as necessary as commercials. TiVo your face with these fast fixes.Summer skin is so spazzy. At first, it might improve because you're chillin' and getting all glow-y from the sun. But this gift from the clear-skin goddess is often temporary. Zits come, then clear up, then reappear like dermatology deja vu. It's a bummer bum·mern. 1. Slang An adverse reaction to a hallucinogenic drug. 2. Slang One that depresses, frustrates, or disappoints: Getting stranded at the airport was a real bummer. summer cycle of pretty, then pimple-y, then pretty again. And when it's not pretty, the blotchy blotch n. 1. A spot or blot; a splotch. 2. A discoloration on the skin; a blemish. 3. Any of several plant diseases caused by fungi and resulting in brown or black dead areas on leaves or fruit. tr. , zitty, bumpy breakouts often include not just the skin on your face, but it attacks your back and even your shoulders and chest. It's up here, back there ... wherever, it's got to go. Cure your summer skin right here (and there and there), right now. STRIKE OIL Clogs on your feet, like in tan leather with buckles from Nine West, are cute. Clogs on your face or back? Not cute. Clogged pores are the culprit behind eruptions of a wide variety. Blame heat and humidity. Or, rather, blame the perspiration those two provoke. Add in the fact that your skin produces more oil from the drying effect of the pool or ocean, as well as your choice to smartly apply sunscreen (because no one wants to look the part of a dorky-burnt tourist), and your skin is now in pimple pimple, small pointed elevation of the skin that may or may not contain pus. The formation of pimples is frequently associated with infection, irritation, or overactivity of the sebaceous and sweat glands. Repeated eruptions of pimples are often termed acne. mode. Why can't your body's largest organ (it's true--look it up) get its story straight? RUB-A-DUB Start with proper cleansing. Scrubby-dub daily with a cleanser that has meds mixed in, such as Benefit Wooosh! Acne Medication Foaming Face Wash ($18, benefitcosmetics.com). Wash your face every morning and evening. And before bed each night, softly swipe your skin with astringent astringent (əstrĭn`jənt), substance that shrinks body tissues. Astringent medicines cause shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues and are often used internally to check discharge of serum or mucous secretions in sore throat, , like Sea Breeze Actives Deep-Clean Astringent ($5, drugstores). Sweep an astringent-soaked cotton ball across your face (avoiding your eyes) then use a new, fresh piece of cotton for your chest or shoulders (ask Mom for help with your back). About twice a week, use a cleanser that exfoliates, like St. Ives Blemish blem·ish n. A small circumscribed alteration of the skin considered to be unesthetic but insignificant. blemish & Blackhead blackhead, yellowish or blackish plug of material accumulated in the duct of a sebaceous gland. The material consists of keratin (horny cells of the epidermis) and modified sebum (oily secretions of the sebaceous gland). Blackheads are the primary lesions in acne. Control Apricot Scrub ($4, drugstores), for dead-skin removal duty. Exfoliating with a grainy grain·y adj. grain·i·er, grain·i·est 1. Made of or resembling grain; granular. 2. Resembling the grain of wood. 3. Having a granular appearance due to the clumping of particles in the emulsion. product reveals the new, healthy skin underneath. ZIT ZAP Get rid of blackheads and whiteheads with a 2% salicylic acid treatment product (Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, $6.50, drugstores). To attack major blemishes, go for benzoyl peroxide (Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, $5.50, drugstores). DAILY DUTY You've had salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide unclogging your pores all night, so you don't want to go out in the world and gunk 'em up again. To keep pores clean and clog-free, toss a pack of Biore Daily Deep Pore Cleansing Cloths ($6, drugstores) in your bag. Whenever your skin gets oily from sweat, just pluck one of the pre-moistened sheets outta the pack and swipe. NO MORE BODY BUMMERS Bummers was a nickname applied to foragers of Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's Union army during its March to the Sea and north through North Carolina and South Carolina during the American Civil War. Body breakouts bringing you down? To control all-over zits, wash your bed sheets every four days. Bacteria and dead skin accumulate (ew) and, even though you can't see 'em, they're doing their thing looking for a clean pore to harass. Also, avoid hanging out in your workout clothes or damp swimsuit. In the shower, try a cool anti-acne body cleanser, such as Phisoderm Clear Confidence Body Wash ($5, drugstore.com). Every other day, follow with a body exfoliator, like Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub (S6, drugstore.com). For hard-to-reach spots, get a Back Scrub and Massage Brush ($16, thebodyshop.com). Dry off thoroughly before applying a spray treatment, like Murad Acne Clarifying Body Spray ($32, murad.com). Q & A Can sunscreen cause me to break out? Sunscreen is your most important summer accessory! But some sunscreen is for the body, some for the face. Face-friendly SPF (1) (Stateful Packet Firewall) See stateful inspection. (2) (Sender Policy Framework) An e-mail authentication system that verifies that the message came from an authorized mail server. has less pore-clogging oils and other ingredients. Try Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock sunblock Public health An opaque substance, usually formulated from zinc or titanium oxides, designed to completely prevent solar radiation from reaching the skin. See SPF rating. Cf Sunscreen. ($9, drugstores). If you're dealing with breakouts beyond the face, use the same sunscreen on your affected areas. What's good for the face is good for the bud. Reverse that, and you're back to clogging like a hairball hair·ball n. A small mass of hair located in the stomach or intestine of an animal, such as a cat, resulting from an accumulation of small amounts of hair that are swallowed each time the animal licks its coat. in your shower drain. QUICKIE SOLUTIONS FOR SUMMER BUMMERS POISON IVY Hikes are fun! Now your legs are covered in red, raised patches of yuck-o. Worst thing to do is scratch, so use Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream ($3.50, drugstores). SCRAPES Wipe out, skatergirl? Hit your knee with Benefit Boo Boo Zap! ($18, benefitcosmetics.com). The superpower formula contains good or camphor oil. SUNBURN sunburn, inflammation of the skin caused by actinic rays from the sun or artificial sources. Moderate exposure to ultraviolet radiation is followed by a red blush, but severe exposure may result in blisters, pain, and constitutional symptoms. Restore moisture with Babor After Sun Care Soothing Mask ($16, babor.com) for face or body or both. HEAT RASH Baby, when you're hot, you're too hot. Swipe a cotton round lightly soaked with tea tree oil (drugstores) over the rashy area. BUG BITES That pesky ... Ouch! Try an aloe vera gel (the 99% kind in drugstores) to shoo away pain and swelling. |
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