Miracle Worker: Neutrogena Spot Treatment

Ok, so I know Friday’s are becoming a homemade product of the week, but I needed to venture from the norm for just today.  Last night, I noticed the biggest freakin zit on my cheek (which is usually the nice part of my face – my T-zone is what usually breaks out – chin and forehead). Anyway, I used a dab of Neutrogena’s On-The-Spot Treatment for the pimple that I felt swelling up (it was gonna be a big, nasty one) and then just went about my regular night routine (moisturizer all over my face). I woke up this morning, went to put on some more of it on, and seriously couldn’t even feel where the pimple was any longer. It worked THAT good. I’m still putting it on today and probably tonight too, but this product has been quite a few “Best of” lists and now I know why! (Oh, and it’s super cheap too! $6, Target.com)

Winter Face Woes

Here are a few tips to keep soft, supple skin during the dry, winter months:

1.     Moisturize at night – this can be accomplished one of three ways:

a.     Use a thicker moisturizing cream (at night) for that extra umph of goodness or

b.     Use a face serum under your regular moisturizer

c.      Or hell, use both a serum and thicker moisturizer if you’re so inclined and see how your face looks and feels in the morning.

*If the result is that your face is too oily in the morning, naturally lay off of one product. If it’s still too dry, maybe try washing your face with a cold cream (Pond’s has the best) at night before your moisturizer.

2.     Use honey in the shower – NO, Don’t eat it! (Well, if you're hungry enough, but I wouldn't brag on that) TRUST ME on this - use it. It glides on and glides off under the hot water, so there is no sticky mess. And you can feel the difference right away. Manuka honey is recommended by most sites I’ve researched, but regular honey works just fine. Most celebrities swear by this and no freakin wonder. 

3.     Wash only once – at night. The mixture of water and dry air may be stripping you of your natural oils, and you are not as inclined to sweat during the winter days, so if you can, try washing only once.

4.     Don’t forget to mask once a week – this will get rid of dead skin cells that have accumulated and will keep you polished and smooth!

5.     Keep Drinking Water – it’s easy to forget and instead drink wine or hot chocolate, but this is one of the best ways to keep your skin looking vibrant and supple.

6.     Now is the time to use skin/spot brighteners – you don’t want to use them in the summer, because by that time, it will be too late and your spots will be getting some sun-tanning time that only makes them darker!! (Try RoC - Multi Correxion Tone Perfecting Treatment, $22, Target, CVS). I give this Five stars – it seems to work great on discoloration and evens out my skin tone, especially on my chin, where I have a lot of acne scars and dark spots.

7.     And last but definitely not least – SUNSCREEN!!! Even when it’s overcast or raining, the sun’s UV rays can still wrinkle that pretty face (and hands and chest) of yours. So make sure to cover any part that is exposed during the day, even if it seems insignificant – it does make a big difference over time.  And now Neutrogena has special SPFs designed specifically for face and hands so as not to be so oily.

Next time…my favorite face cleansers (for winter & summer)