Operation No-Blemish: How To Zap That Spot And Pop The Pimple

We’ve all been warned by mums, grannies, aunties and our favourite magazines or websites to just leave the spot alone.

But realistically, this is a big question to ask. No woman can be asked to walk through her day with a giant white head on her chin. We’ve all been scarred by popping pimples, but if you do the extraction the right way, you can actually improve your complexion.

Magic!

Here are the three simple, yet effective, steps to get rid of zits.

1. Prep Your Skin

Apply an exfoliating peel to the pimple or blackhead, then cover it with a hot, wet towel. After about three minutes, clean off the product with a massaging motion until your spot and the surrounding skin is clean. Exfoliating peels can be bought in most own brand stores, but if you really want to treat yourself and your skin, try Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, €40 in Sam McCauley chemists nationwide.

Treat your skin with the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, €40

2. Operation Here We Go!

Wrap your fingers in an unscented tissue. With one finger holding the skin close to the blemish, use the other to push against the opposite side.

For a white-head, extract all the material until only clear fluid is left. For a blackhead, if it doesn’t come out after a few tries, stop! You can try again later.

3. Seal It

Cover former whiteheads with a lotion made with zinc oxide (A nappy rash cream like Vasogen can work wonders here) and busted blackheads with a clay mask (Try Boots Essentials Cucumber 3 Minute Clay Mask €2.53).

Boots Essential 3-Minute Clay Mask, €2.53

Phew!

The operation is over and you skin should stay scar-free and clean.