Blemish cure-all

Big event or presentation coming up? Sod’s law has it that you’ll break out in a beacon of blemishes beforehand. If this is your nightmare, first reduce the redness by pressing an ice cube on the spot for a few minutes. Cleanse with a pore de-clogger containing salicylic acid like Murad’s Time Release Acne Cleanser ($ 63) and then apply a spot treatment containing the anti-bacterial benzoyl peroxide. Finally, dot with concealer. Using clean fingers is fine but you will probably get a longer-lasting result with two light layers of concealer applied with a brush.

Why buy? It’s not inexpensive but Time Release is a high-performance cleanser that won’t dry out the skin thanks to its combo of amino and hyaluronic acids.