Skin in Crisis? Try These Emergency Tips and Tricks

A how-to in dealing with your skin in a state of emergency.

Aside from attempting to hide under a cute hat, what do you do in a skin crisis? As we all know, these times of crisis always pop up (literally) at the most inconvenient times. Hello first date, interview, a highly photographed day, etc. I have a full-on emergency mode I go into during these times. Below are the must-know tips you can spring into action with next time you are facing a skin crisis.

emergency skincare tips and tricks

Do not touch. Take a deep breath, and leave the situation alone. Repeat the phrase, “I will do more harm than good” over and over to fight the urge. In my Commandments of Good Skin post, I discuss the washcloth method. Use this and only this, no fingers. When you use your fingers and don’t extract properly, there is potential to spread the bacteria of the breakout, but the damage done to the skin will make it look far worse.
Do a quick face mask. Headed to one of the important events mentioned above? Do a quick hydrating face mask before you do your skincare routine. This will boost your overall skin clarity and make the spot(s) in question less noticeable. If I have extra time, I will do a drying mask (like a clay or charcoal,etc.) and a hydrating mask. This does double duty and ensures I don’t dry out my skin too much. See my post on face masks for more tips.
Add moisture. Nothing is worse than a breakout AND dry, dehydrated, or flaky skin. Apply an oil-free hydrating moisturizer after cleansing and toning to make the skin nice and plump again. Go the extra mile by applying a primer before makeup to help lock in moisture and create a smooth base for foundation. You can’t beat the Smashbox Primerizer if you have sensitive skin, are dealing with a breakout, or need something oil-free.
Use less concealer. Counterintuitive I know, but you’ll just draw more attention when you use too much concealer in an honest attempt to cover up. I like to use a very fluid concealer that sets down. Maybeline FitMe is a great option (always apply to your hand and then place it on your face—keep it hygienic or you’ll cause more breakouts). To apply concealer, use the Lisa Eldridge pinpoint concealing method. Basically, you want to use a fine pointed brush to build light layers over the blemish. This is best done after applying a light layer of foundation to even out skin tone. If all else fails, make a faux freckle out the situation! This works like a charm for a supernatural look.
Know when to leverage powder. After I apply my concealer, I take a slightly larger brush and gently press over the area with powder. I have tried many powders from many brands, both high-end and low-end, and I have found none better for this specific purpose than Rimmel Stay Matte. This is great news for you because it’s only $3.00 at Target. It’s buttery and soft, a very key step for disguising any additional discoloration peeking through.
Get creative with your makeup brushes. As I mentioned in steps four and five, it’s sometimes necessary to write your own rules when it comes to makeup brush selection. Half the brushes I use are not for their “intended” purposes. Real Techniques has a great arsenal of affordable brushes. I use a lot of their “eye shadow” brushes for concealer because the sizes are just right for the technique I like. Think of a lip brush for something to pin point conceal with.

And that’s it! I do these steps asap the night before/day-of an event. Trust me, it makes a major difference. I’ll try not think of all the times I butchered my skin and made things ten times worse. Work with the situation, not against it.

Check out my Commandments of Good Skin post for more must-know skincare tips to keep your complexion in tip-top shape all the time.

What do you do in a skincare crisis? Tell me more.

XAshley