How Do I Treat A Breakout?

Dear Kate, how do I treat a breakout?

Sara L.

Dear Sara,

We all suffer breakouts at some point. The causes are widespread; stress, hormonal fluctuations, incorrect product usage. I know its tempting (and oh so satisfying!) to pop a pimple but HANDS OFF! A spot has a natural lifespan of three days, when you touch it, pick at it or squeeze it you create a longer lasting inflammation. Over time excess picking and squeezing can result in pigment changes (creating areas of darker skin) and scarring. Squeezing a spot causes the ickyness to move deeper down into the pimple and that can develop into a very painful and exceedingly ugly cyst.

Acne 1o1

To understand the best way to treat a breakout, its imperative to understand exactly what a pimple is, then you can treat the breakout effectively. When a pore gets clogged with dirt and sebum (the skin's own natural moisturizer), the oil and bacteria are trapped inside and the resulting infection shows itself in the form of a pimple. Over zealous scrubbing and squeezing will only worsen the problem, even extending the lifespan of the spot for up to two weeks. The right way to treat acne is to use products that are gentle, won't irritate your skin and allow your skin to find its own natural balance. Its also a good idea to give your skin a break for just a few days a week by skipping your usual nighttime moisturizer. This will enable your skin to really breathe, get back its natural balance and kick start its own natural healing process.

The Fine Art of Disguise

Before applying your make up, dab a little of my Breakout Balm on the spot. With a blend of anti-inflammatory essential oils and balancing hazelnut oil, this gentle balm will ensure your pimple will heal naturally. Applying the balm will soften the area and take away that horrid crusty carbuncle look. Apply concealer (a thicker, stick concealer seems to cover better and last longer) with a concealer brush. Using a brush enables you to put the concealer exactly where you need it and also keeps your fingers off the spot! When you have applied the concealer, set it with just a tiny amount of powder so that the concealed area blends in well with the skin. Its also a good idea to use just a bit of extra blush, thereby attracting all and sundry to your healthy glow and not the spot!

STORE CUPBOARD SPA - Illuminating Yogurt Exfoliator

This is a fabulous treatment to help brighten and zing up your skin. It's particularly effective at banishing ashy skin and boosting radiance. It also works wonders at unclogging horrid pores and clarifying skin prone to congestion & breakouts. Yogurt is a terrific natural skincare ingredient as it's chock full of gorgeous lactic acid which not only acts as a gentle exfoliant but also has a gentle bleaching action making it rather fab at brightening dull skin. Plain old white sugar is also perfect for skin as its not just rich in glycolic acid (just like lactic acid, this is a natural alpha hydroxy acid) to gently banish those horrid dead skin cells but its gentle enough not to tear or damage skin. Here's What You Need a teeny little bowl 3 tbsp of natural yogurt 2 tsp of granulated sugar (nothing fancy just the regular stuff) Step One - Mix together the yogurt & sugar in a small bowl. Step Two - Gently massage the mixture into freshl

BEAUTY SCHOOL - Revitalizing Eye Treatment

The skin around your eyes is exceedingly thin, delicate and very fragile indeed! For those very reasons it's the first place to show signs of a weary spirit and stressed lifestyle. Dark shadows, puffiness and those horrid little dryness lines are all signs that you need to take time out and treat yourself to a simple reviving treatment. My Revitalizing Eye Treatment is a stupendously easy, utterly relaxing and works a treat. The combination of soothing Chamomile Flower Water and regenerating Argan Eye Balm will ensure your skin is super moisturized, deliciously plumptious and perfectly renewed. Here's What You Need Chamomile Flower Water Argan Eye Balm Oval Cotton Pads Step One - Place four cotton pads in a small bowl (or teacup) and pour on enough Chamomile Flower Water to completely drench the pads. Cover bowl with cling film (or saran wrap for my lovely North American readers!) and place in fridge for about half an hour. Step Two - Take a small amou

Store Cupboard Spa - Skin Brightening Tomato Treatment

As we reach the end of summer you may find that your skin is looking a little bit dull and dingy! The combination of hot, humid weather & rich sunscreens can cause your skin to become congested and prone to breakouts. My simple Skin Brightening Tomato Treatment will help gently smooth, soothe and brighten your skin. Tomatoes do make a wonderful treatment for acne prone skin as they are not only rich in Vitamin A & C but also have a gentle astringent action and can really help reduce the build of of sebum, dirt and other ickyness that clog up pores. Add just a dash of Lemon to help brighten and tighten skin and you have the perfect treatment to banish blemishes and boost radiance. Skin Brightening Tomato Treatment 2 medium sized Tomatoes ½ lemon oval cotton pads Slice the tomatoes in half and scoop out all the middle (pulp, seeds and all!) directly into a bowl. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Then with a dinky little hand blender blitz for a few seconds

Kate Logan Beauty

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