Acne Solutions: How to Get Rid of a Pimple Fast

We all know that the best way to get clear, beautiful skin is to find a good skincare regimen and stick with it. But even if you follow your skincare routine religiously, breakouts are bound to happen every once in a while. And of course, pimples always seem to pop up at the worse possible time, like two days before your first date with that adorable guy (or girl) you met at the gym. So what do you do if you need to get rid of a pimple fast? There are a few easy tricks to reduce, or even vanish, a pimple in just two or three days. You can use them separately or all together, as long as your skin isn't too sensitive. It's always a good idea to test out ingredients on your skin (a good spot is behind your ear) to make sure you don't have a bad reaction before using them on your face.

Highly effective and fast-acting acne products can be harsh, so it's a good idea to counteract their effects with soothing, moisturizing ingredients. This will keep the pimple and the surrounding area from getting too dried out or irritated. Before I treat a pimple, I dab a small amount of jojoba oil directly onto to the spot. Jojoba oil closely mimics the skin's natural oils, so it deeply moisturizes the skin without causing acne (or making existing acne worse). It is also great to use on dry hair or split ends, flaky elbows, or any part of your body that needs some extra moisture. In addition to jojoba oil, I like to use a soothing moisturizer containing extracts of chamomile, calendula, aloe and lavender. These natural, plant-based ingredients work wonderfully to reduce redness and irritation. Lavender oil also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps to heal the blemish too. For most people, lavender oil is safe to use directly on the skin.

Now that your skin is soothed and hydrated, it's time to bring out the serious zit-busting ingredients. For those with more sensitive skin, a gel containing 2% or more salicylic acid will gently but effectively slough off the layer of skin that has trapped dead skin cells and oil beneath the surface. Once this acne-causing buildup is removed, the pimple will heal fast. If you don't have a bad reaction to benzoyl peroxide, a 10% benzoyl peroxide spot treatment can work even faster to get rid of pimples. I like AcneFree Severe Acne Spot Treatment (about $5). No matter how much you moisturize, it leaves the skin a little dry, but it can drastically shrink a pimple overnight and prevent an emerging pimple from ever forming. If your skin can handle it, I suggest using the treatment day and night for serious results. After a few days, your pimple will be nearly invisible under a dab of concealer. Just be careful to wash your hands after applying, because benzoyl peroxide can bleach clothes or hair. If you prefer a more natural approach, tea tree oil is a great substitute for benzoyl peroxide. Like benzoyl peroxide, it kills bacteria and heals inflammation, but has fewer side effects, such as itching, burning and peeling. If you decide to buy pure tea tree oil, be sure to dilute it. A 5% solution is safe and effective for most people. I like to dilute tea tree oil in jojoba oil. You can also buy ready-made acne products containing tea tree, such as Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick w/ Tea Tree & Parsley (about $7). Just make sure you choose one that contains enough tea tree oil to make a difference (around 2%).

On the big day, you want your skin to look as smooth and flawless as possible, so skip the harsher ingredients and go straight for the soothing oils and extracts. By this point your pimple should be tiny and easy to cover up. Forget about it and go have fun!