Here's the ideal artillery and the order in which you should fire at your new "friend."
1. Cleanse your face and then, using a cotton tip, apply a (gentle but active) pimple-zapping toner onto the offending pimple, and NOT the surrounding area, because all that does is encourage excess dry skin. This helps to remove the impurities causing the spot/excess sebum, and acts as an anti-bacterial agent, too. Try: Garnier Pure Active Pimple Reducing Toner, $9.15.
2. Use a 'drawing product' as a gentle antiseptic to draw out oil and impurities, soothe the skin, calm redness and inflammation, and gently tighten pores. It will elegantly draw out the whitehead, so you can hygienically and cleanly pop it (using a tissue, not your fingers) in the morning, or if you're really lucky, it'll clear the pimple right up with no need for extraction! What a win. Use overnight, preferably when you're husband is already asleep/your boyfriend isn't over. Try: Ella Bache Creme Intex No.2, $49 OR the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $39.95 which has both the drying lotion AND a clay, and is absolutely terrific.
3. Be sparing and targeted with your concealer. Apply with a fine-tipped (nylon) concealer brush if possible (an old lip brush works well, too) or a cotton tip - and ever so carefully dab a thicker, waxy (not creamy) concealer JUST ON THE SPOT. More concealer and more foundation everywhere will not detract from your spot, so keep the skin looking as you would normally, or even fresher. (And highlight the eyes for even more distraction.) Then set with a dot of powder (to stop the shine.) Try: Napoleon Perdis Pro Concealer Palette, $55 which is the perfect texture for blemish coverage, and gives you three shade options so you can customise the perfect match to your skin.
