While this past semester has been one of the most challenging of my life, I’m super grateful for all I’ve learned and accomplished. With the stress comes productivity! But it also comes with… you guessed it: pimples!
I was pretty lucky with my skin in high school in that I never really struggled with acne. My problems came more from dryness or skin irritation because my skin is so sensitive. College has completely changed all of that.
I am by no means claiming that I have a way to clear cystic acne, but I’ve tried out a bunch of pimple remedies over the past couple of months. Here are my faves!
Zit Patches
These lil guys have salicylic acid in them and can help reduce the size of zits fast. Although you can use them at night, I like to use them when I notice a zit (or pop one) in the morning.
Differin Gel
I actually started using this product as an anti-aging treatment because it contains retinol which is said to fight wrinkles. However, retinol is traditionally an acne treatment, and I’ve genuinely noticed my skin improve since using this. Note: This can be intense for some people. My dermatologist recommended, for the first week, to use it only every other night to slowly introduce your skin to the product.
Tea Tree Oil
Ah, a tried and true. I’ve been using tea tree oil to treat pimples since high school. It works better treating small zits and clogged pores than larger pimples, but it is still very effective.
Hydrocortisone Ointment
This is probably the least sexy of all the treatments, but this ointment really does help with swelling of acne. It’s super thick, so I wouldn’t use it during the day. This also helps heal any type of skin irritation.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
I’ve definitely talked about this product before, but it is by far my favorite overnight acne remedy. Although there is some dryness/ redness after removing the lotion in the morning, my pimples literally disappear!
Slip Silk Pillowcase
Definitely my most unconventional acne remedy, but this thing has changed my life! Ever since I got my Slip pillowcase, I’ve noticed a huge difference in my hair and skin. I know some of you may be rolling your eyes, but I’m in love. Also, this would be the best Christmas present ever!
i have the slip silk sleep mask and its the bomb!!!!
Author
Me tooo!! it’s so awesome 🙂