How To Survive a Bad Skin Day
Bad skin days suck. Breakouts suck, and so do those dry patches. Can we all agree on this one?
I’ve struggled so much with my skin in the past, I’ve always felt jealous when someone said “OMG I’m having such a bad skin day” while having a microscopic pimple on their chin. I’d think to myself “bad skin day? Really? I have more of bad skin life.” Nowadays, my skin is definitely doing much better than it did in my early twenties, but I still get occasional breakouts or experience awful dryness/redness once in a while. The good news is, they don’t freak me out nearly as much as they did.
For dehydrated skin
SK-II Facial Treatment Mask. These sheet masks are great for dealing with dry-looking, tired skin. A fusion of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and organic acids revitalizes and moisturizes skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and nourished. You can easily use these (or any other sheet masks) in the morning while getting ready. After I’m done, I like to gently pat the remaining essence into my skin. Face mists are also great for that quick relief.
For dull skin and clogged pores
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel (Extra Strength Formula). This peel has been a staple in my routine for a few years now. They help with dull skin but also with acne marks, clogged pores and sudden breakouts. My acne-prone skin seriously loves these and I never let myself run out of them. Don’t let the “extra-strength formula” scare you off- my skin never stings, burns or feels irritated after using these. They also come in the original, less intense formula. REN Flash Rinse 1-Minute Facial is also great for a quick pick-me-up for your skin.
Another quick thing I do when my skin looks dull is to put some ice and cold water in a giant bowl and submerge my face in it for 10 seconds. I do this 3-4 times. It tightens the skin and helps with redness and puffiness. This is probably one of the very first beauty “hacks” I’ve ever learned and it seriously works. If you didn’t get enough sleep, had too much to drink the night before or your skin is looking tired and puffy for any other reason- try doing this.
MAKEUP
When having a “bad skin” day, I suggest you stay away from full coverage foundations as they can sometimes accentuate small imperfections. Instead, go for something very lightweight with less coverage. I always keep my makeup to a bare minimum when experiencing sudden breakouts or dryness. I always felt like caking it up only makes my skin feel and look worse than it actually does. Trust me, you’ll look much better if you have a little breakout showing through here and there, than if you cake up on your concealer, 3 layers of foundation and powder. Concealer is definitely your best friend on bad skin days, but always remember to work in thin layers- both with your concealer and your foundation. L’Oreal’s True Match foundation is great for this. It doesn’t provide a whole lot of coverage, but it’s enough to battle occasional redness, it feels incredibly light and natural on the skin. It also works great with dry skin. Clarins True Radiance is awesome too. I also love this tinted moisturizer/foundation from Guerlain– wish it wasn’t so highly fragranced, but it makes my skin look SO beautiful.
BREAKOUTS
Nothing works better for me for sudden breakouts than Tazorac– even when it comes to those painful cystic acne breakouts, it heals them overnight. Literally. A great over-the-counter product for cystic breakouts is this Buffering Lotion from Mario Badescu. I’ve used it for years and always travel with a bottle of this, in case of a skin emergency. I also love Eve Lom’s Rescue Mask. It’s great for dealing with those minor breakouts. I use it both as a spot and an all-over treatment.
DRY SKIN
Josie Maran’s 100% Pure Argan Oil is my answer to dry skin. If I could, I’d bathe in this stuff. When I apply this on my skin- especially when it feels dry- it’s like a drink of cold water on a hot, sweaty, summer day. It brings instant relief to dry skin and leaves it feeling super smooth. If I am planning on wearing makeup I stay away from oils and instead, I apply a thick layer of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream and gently blot the excess with a tissue. It’s the best thing ever, for dry skin. It’s rich, thick, creamy and most importantly, fragrance-free so it won’t irritate your skin. I wouldn’t have survived those last couple of months being on antibiotics, Tazorac, Acanya and Retin-A Micro, if it wasn’t for this cream. My skin was peeling, it was red, burning, irritated and the Cetaphil cream seriously saved my life along with this essence.
WATER
Every single time I read an interview or a beauty article about someone with great skin, one question always keeps coming up: “what’s your secret?” and the answer is always the same: “honestly, I just drink a lot of water, blah blah blah.” Will water magically smooth out your wrinkles or heal your acne overnight? No. BUT, if you drink lots of water on a regular basis your skin will thank you, trust me. Whenever I’m too busy during the day to either eat right or happen to drink too much tea or coffee, I always make sure to drink a lot of water throughout the day. This alone helps my skin look better, even if I happen to be exhausted and/or had barely any sleep (and trust me, lack of sleep is one thing that will always show on your skin).
At the end of the day, remember that while you might not be able to keep your eyes off those small, occasional imperfections, no one else pays much attention to them. A pimple is just a pimple, it will heal and it will eventually go away, so try not to stress about that sucker too much.
I’d also recommend that you stay away from trying new products when you’re having a “bad skin” unless you patch-test them first!
How about you guys? Do you have any other tips for dealing with those bad skin days?
