Once I have released the pressure of the pimple it usually goes down in a day or less and I'm good to go. During that time I will usually cover up any redness with a concealer that has Salicylic Acid in it to continue depleting the pimple until the bitter end. Almay makes a GREAT one of these called Almay Clear Complexion Concealer. I also like that it's made with all natural ingredients.
Cystic Acne is a whole 'nother ball game. Where surface acne is usually triggered by oil, dirt, or some other outside source- Cystic Acne is hormonal. These little buggers will show up when you are stressed, depressed, or when it's "that time of the month." Basically they like to come around when life already sorta sucks, which is nice of them. Now I have never had a severe Cystic Acne problem, but when you're getting more than one of two at a time it's time to see your Dermatologist. I've heard Proactive is fantastic and know it has a huge fan base. There are other options as well but I haven't really encountered this issue so I recommend just talking to your Derm about it. If you are only getting a few of these every so often, my advice is better suited for you. In my experience, there isn't a whole lot that you can do once Cystic acne comes to town. As such, the best defense is a good offense. First of all, keep up the good work you've been doing of not touching your face. Think honey-thoughts. Secondly, wash that pretty mug of yours every night! Some people may need to wash their face twice a day but it's been my experience that a little of your natural oil is fine and washing in the morning isn't really essential- so long as you're using that clean pillowcase. While we're talking sleeping habits- tell that man of yours to keep his pillow under his own head and not take yours! Most guys use some sort of sticky gel or balm and you do not want that on your face at night. If your man is sleeping with his shirt off, be sure not to rest your head directly on his chest if you're prone to cheek breakouts. No, I'm not saying you need to put up a curtain between the two of you, just make sure you're putting a (clean) pj top or a sheet between your face and his skin.
Especially with Cystic pimples, the absolute worst thing you can do is to try to pop them. If it doesn't have visible sebum (that white part) that means it's not near enough to the surface and squeezing it will only worsen your problem. Ditto for picking at it. The only thing worse than a big red mountain on your face is a big crusty red mountain. Sorry to be graphic but ew. The best thing you can do is to just relax. Stressing over it will only make it worse. I usually use a really great face mask with drying agents like Sulfur in it. I swear by Murad's Clarifying Mask, pictured below. Another great one (for more product for your buck) is DDF's Sulfur Theraputic Mask.
I use a face mask about once a week. The best way to use a face mask is to use it right after you get out of the shower. Not only will your pores be opened up from the steam, but it's time-efficient to let it dry while you're picking out what to wear. I also use a Facial Peel once or twice per week but I think that's more to add sheen to your skin and prevent some aging issues, so I wont get into that.
It's also important to use a Facial Scrub almost every day. I use mine in the shower, where I also always wash my face. I like it because I remember to use it as a part of my daily routine, and also you just stick your face under the nozzle to rinse it off as opposed to taking forever to get it all off at the sink. My favorite scrub is also a really inexpensive one. It's the Blemish and Blackhead Control scrub from St. Ives.
Past that you just kind of have to sit and wait. The one good thing about Cystic Acne is that it's not usually very high off of your skin, so unless you're aggravating it it's not as noticeable to other people as it is to you. A little of that Almay concealer should do the trick, maybe followed by setting it with an oil-free loose powder. Usually at night I will Monster out and use a drying lotion, like Bye Bye Blemish. You can get it at most grocery stores even though it's an "As Seen On TV" product. You have to be sure to follow the instructions, though, or you're wasting your time. It's important not to shake the bottle but only to use a q-tip dipped in the pink portion of the medicine. The clear part is not going to do anything. It sort of looks like an unshaken bottle of Salad Dressing Vinaigrette, only use the bottom half. You look like you got attacked by mosquitos and used calamine lotion on your face but it gets the job done.
So now you know everything I know about pimple care. We all get them, they suck, and we hate it. But it's good to know there are things you can do to prevent and treat breakouts when they come along. Enjoy!
Love,
Lula Mae
4. WIFEBEATERS. I know it sounds unclassy, but a nice (not grungy) wifebeater can be your best friend. You can wear it plain, with a cardigan, or even under a nice vest for a funky edgy look. I prefer to buy vibrant colors and you can find them at nearly any cheapie store for a few bucks. I recently bought some racer-back ones from the little fashion-junkie store at 5-Points (for any of you HB locals) that have beautiful lace on the racer part of the back. It dresses them up quite nicely, I think. (PS Unlike this picture, I prefer them looooong!)
5. NOT-SO-LITTLE AND NOT-SO BLACK DRESS. For as long as I can remember, I have been hearing praises of the LBD. I bought into it and I admit that I own a little black dress- but!- I never wear it. I hate wearing black to formal events because it A. Doesn't make you stand out and B. Look (and feel) like you're going to a funeral. So I say screw the LBD and get something that maybe is reserved, but not that reserved. I mean, come on, The Great Depression is over people, all hail the bright cheery dress! This is something that you may want to invest a little bit of money in since you'll be wearing it to formal events. You might also want to invest in a matching pair of shoes to complete the look for the same reason. In a perfect world, this would be my go-to (From Anthropologie):
6. LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN DRESSES! Dresses are a great item to not spend too much money on because you can get sort of trendy dresses for fairly cheap at, say, Forever 21. You probably aren't going to be doing a lot of heavy labor wearing a dress, so you can get lots of inexpensive ones without worrying too much that you will only wear them once before they tear or something. Here are a few of my favorites from Forever 21:
I seem to have a tougher time finding stuff online but always have luck at say, Target and Forever 21. Here are some darling dresses from Mod Cloth but they're a little pricier. I couldn't help but post them, they're too cute!: 
7. LEGGINGS. My new favorite trend. I mainly go with basic black, and I like to put them under a dress that might be just a TAD too short.
9. A NICE BLAZER. You can actually get one for cheap at Target (about $35). I just bought a black one that I absolutely LOVE, and I'm thinking of going back to get it in tan and/or grey. For some reason Target wont let me swipe pictures, but you can go to their site or just look in store.
