Can’t help it…I’m a picker and I definitely opt for the ‘Better out than in!’ BUT I also don’t want to damage skin so I have my own little method of getting the gunk out quick with little trauma to the skin. Everybody’s skin is different, this is just what I do and the products I use…

Step One: Cleanse the skin – make sure hands and face are washed and use a little antibacterial gel or rubbing alcohol to sterilise the area of the spot.

Step Two: Use a small Lancet (I just get a box of the diabetic blood sugar testing ones) to make a pin prick in the centre of the spot, this should allow the sebum or infection to be squeezed out without too much pressure or trauma to the surrounding skin.

Step Three: If you can, hold the area under the cold tap to rinse and help close the pore, or wipe over again with the rubbing alcohol or antiseptic.

Step Four: Use the Mighty Patches to cover the spot, this acts not only to prevent anything getting in, but also contains active ingredients which absorb any remaining sebum or gunk. These are made for just placing over the spot with no need to lance, so the first three steps are optional. If there is no clear head on the spot just go straight to the patches, and hopefully it will avoid the spot rearing it’s head at all.

Do not perform lancing if you suffer from Acne, this is only really practical for single occasional spots, and the odd frustrating Melia.

Good health, diet and hormone regulation will help avoid flare ups; where the spots occur and when can indicate the cause – for instance spots on either side of the lips or chin usually occur at ovulation.

Melia tends to occur as a result of dehydrated skin, ensure you are not using harsh chemicals on your face which strip away your natural oils as your skin will just send extra sebum to the surface causing spots and Melia.

For blackheads I like a charcoal peel mask, the charcoal absorbs toxins and the peeling helps with extraction, again without undue pressure.

I struggle with dry skin, and need to exfoliate regularly – this helps remove dead skin cells which build up and then trap the natural sebum production resulting in spots. Take care not to over exfoliate as this can cause sensitive skin and excessive sebum production. I like a fine scrub, something as simple as bicarb soda can work or even Charcoal powder, Dermalogica offer a range of fine scrubs but I like the Bodyshop Rice & Ginseng Clarifying Polishing Mask (although my absolute favourite was the Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Facial Scrub but this sadly appears to have been discontinued). These scrubs come in a powder and when you add water to activate, so they work out really good value since you’re not buying a bottle of product that’s 90% Aqua!

If you’re interested in trying any of the products I use just click on the link above to be taken to the Amazon Product Page.

Tone

Another key tip is to tone after bath, shower, face cleanse – this helps close pores and lock in moisture. I prefer a spray toner / face mist as it’s quick and easy and I’m then less likely to miss this step. These are my favourites: