Anti-blemish Spot Treatments: Warring in the Trenches Against Zits

As I mentioned in my glowing recommendation of Tea Tree Oil Face Wash, I have recently suffered under the tyrannical rule of a massive zit. In my zeal to rid myself of it I tried a variety of things, including an old favourite, the anti-blemish spot treatment.

These tiny tubes have allowed many a girl to get a good nights sleep after confidently dabbing on the solution. Basically you apply the gel/cream/stick directly to the affected area (ie the giant zit poised to ruin your life) before bedtime, and in the morning the offending mark will be reduced and/or gone. For the most part these products seem to work fairly well, although there is always the odd case where nothing you do is going to totally eliminate the spot, but that's why we have concealer.

The spot treatments tend to be a clear gel that comes in a tiny little tube, like Garnier Pure SOS Anti-Blemish Spot Pen or Clean & Clear Invisible Blemish Treatment. I've used the Garnier one for many years with decent results. After washing and toning my face at night I simply apply the get to any spot where I have a blemish, or where I see/feel one developing. I then continue with my night routine, but I avoid putting my night cream on over the spot treatment, just to let it have a chance to work. The gel dries over the spot and works to dry out the blemish. In the mornings there is a bit of a gunky residue left over. It's not a big deal as it easily comes off when you wash your face, however, it does mean that I don't use these treatments in the day as I don't want to walk around with that on my face.

During my last battle with my spot, I found my normal spot treatment just wasn't cutting it, so a friend suggested I try her favourite secret weapon, the Vichy Normaderm Drying Concealing Anti-imperfection Stick. Unlike the other anti-blemish treatments I've mentioned this one is a solid stick that you use to colour over the spot. It is a concealer too, however, it only comes in one shade, so unless you happen to match that shade, it's not terribly useful as a concealer. As an anti-blemish treatment, however, it is marvelous. Since using it I've found that in most cases it stops a forming zit dead in it's tracks, and clears up minor spots in a matter of a day. I use it at night, but because it goes on smooth and doesn't gob up like the others, I also wear it in the day. The colour doesn't match my skin, so I have to put concealer over it, but really I was going to put concealer on over the spot anyway, so I might as well apply something that is actively fighting to clear my skin?

Being a Vichy product it is a little bit more expensive, but for under $15 you can have this miracle pen in your arsenal too. However, the more inexpensive options are also good little foot soldiers.