Even the luckiest girl will suffer from a few spots from time to time, and they always seem to appear before party season. Maybe it’s the stress of trying to look your best.
Over the past couple of years due to exam season and my poor diet at the beginning of a new uni semester my skin has been through a couple of rough patches. As getting up earlier to apply more makeup was never an option I had to pick up other ways to hide those hideous blemishes. From trashy tv tips to friends advice ive found a fairly simple routine to keep those spots under cover.
As spots never really stop popping up I feel this routine is suitable for all ages and skin types. It consists of four fairly easy steps and is super quick to do before and after makeup application.
First you want to wash your face. This sounds really basic and easy, but you’d be surprised at the amount of dirt that can build up overnight/ throughout the day, even when you’re not wearing makeup. You can do this with makeup wipes or hot water and a face cloth. However after both ensure you splash some cold water on too, this will close your pours up making it harder for dirt to get in and initially form the spots we’re trying to prevent.
Not only does this cleanse your face it also helps the makeup settle better on the smoother surface.
Next apply ‘Sudocrem’, this is a cream advertised for nappy rash and infections but also is advised for acne. Apply a thin layer on any problem areas, perhaps a little more at night when no one can see the pasty white complexion it often creates. This cream is brilliant and is much cheaper than those specifically targeted at acne. The cream can reduce redness in under 8 hours and so though the spot remains it will become less visible, even without makeup coverage.
Sudocrem, Boots – £2.55 for 125g. With a small amount going a long way this price isn’t as steep as it sounds, with a medium tub lasting up to 24mnths depending on usage.
The third step is to apply a moisturiser. My favourite has been discontinued by the young Nivea range and so I scoured Niveas site for a replacement cream to the one pictured, i managed to find a cream suitable for all aged skin. The ‘Nivea Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream For Oily to Combination Skin’ is both a moisturiser and shine control cream, reducing the glare that can often occur around the t-zone. Using this cream should enable you to reduce the amount of makeup applied for day to day wear, giving both your skin and purse a break.
Nivea Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Cream, Boots – £3.99 for 50ml. Again this goes a lot further than it appears and provides a 2-in-1 solution.
The final step is completely free, don’t touch your face. This sounds like common sense and quite silly, but its something we all do and provides the largest percent of dirt getting into our pours.
The creams listed may be available in independent or smaller branched stores, so shop around for the best value in your area.
If you have tried and tested methods you can add them at various points in the routine, and perhaps share them below with a comment.
Natalie Rose and the World 