Your party skin survival guide

Your party skin survival guide

It’s the party season and you’ve got loads of great nights out planned. But why is it your skin seems to break out in spots on the day of a big night out? Relax – there’s no need to hide under your duvet and miss all the fun. Follow our guide to fabulous party skin and you’ll never let a few spots spoil a night out again.

What triggers a breakout?

Acne is caused by an increased sensitivity to the hormone testosterone, present in men and women, which stimulates your sebaceous glands to produce too much oil. In people with spot-prone skin, dead skin cells which line the pores are not shed properly and tend to clog up the hair follicles. This combination of too much sebum and blocked hair follicles can result in spots.

People with a tendency to get spots often find they get worse when they’re under stress. It’s thought that stress can affect our hormone levels, which in turn can increase oil production (it may also be because you tend to sweat more when you’re stressed) which can result in oily skin and clogged pores.

If you find you’re getting stressed at this time of year – because of exams, worries about your appearance or just trying to cram too much in, take time out to relax and you’ll cope better. Listen to music, read a magazine, have a warm bath, chat to a friend – all this will help you to chill out. It’s well proven that exercise is a great way of tackling and preventing stress – it helps to release the body’s own feel-good chemicals called endorphins which help you to feel calm and in control, so your skin is more likely to behave. It doesn’t matter what type of exercise you do, as long as it gets your heart pumping and leaves you out of breath and warm.

Keep it clean

The easiest and most effective way to help prevent a breakout at party time is by following a regular cleansing routine – and not going to bed with your make-up on, no matter how late it is! A build-up of grime and oil in your pores can lead to blockages that result in spots. If you cleanse your skin morning and evening you can cut your chances of developing spots by removing excess oil, dead skin cells and dirt.

Soap and water can dry out your skin and upset its natural pH balance, so instead opt for a cleanser specially designed for oily, spot-prone skin. Freederm facial cleanser contains anti-bacterial ingredients to fight spots, while effectively removing dirt and excess oil. Massage a little into your face and neck, then wipe off with cotton wool or rinse with warm water.

Fighting spots

While cleansing your skin daily will cut your chances of developing spots, using a spot treatment can help when you do get a break out. Freederm gel is a unique anti-inflammatory spot treatment which helps to reduce redness and tenderness of spots. It works in a different way from other spot treatments because it actually targets the inflammatory process that causes spots in the first place. You can use it twice daily after cleansing.

Help, I’ve got spots!

In spite of your best efforts, you’ve broken out in a couple of spots on the day of a party. What do you do?

• If the spot has a head on it, you can gently remove the pus by pressing a clean flannel soaked in warm water over it, and carefully easing it out. Then apply a spot treatment such as Freederm gel to reduce the inflammation.
• If the spot doesn’t have a head, don’t try to burst it or you could end up with a scar or an infection under your skin. Simply apply a spot treatment twice daily.
• To cover a spot, first take a green or yellow-based concealer stick and gently dab it over the spot to knock out any redness. Apply with your ring finger and then blend well. Next apply a dab of foundation over the top and dust with translucent powder to ensure your cover-up job stays put all night.

Party-proof make-up tips

• To stop your foundation melting and your skin looking shiny as soon as you get warm, choose an oil-free formulation. If you’re using a liquid foundation, apply it with a brush for a flawless finish. The new powder mineral foundations are great if you have sensitive as well as oily skin as they’re derived from natural ingredients that won’t irritate your skin. Apply using a large, soft brush using circular buffing motions.
• Keep your skin shine-free all evening with a dusting of translucent powder over your t-zone, where most of your skin’s oil glands are located. Keep it in your bag for touch-ups during the evening.
• At the end of the night, don’t forget to cleanse your skin, otherwise pores will become blocked with grime and oil and you could wake up with a spot breakout.

The cheat’s guide to faking gorgeous morning-after skin

• Lack of sleep can leave your eyes looking tired and puffy, never a good look. Give them a lift by taking two used teabags and chilling them in the fridge, then place one over each eye and leave for 10 minutes. The tannins in tea will calm the puffiness.
• Skin looking dull? Exfoliating will get rid of the dead surface cells that cause a dull, flaky complexion. Freederm exfoliating facial wash is specially designed for spot-prone skin so it’ll control excess oil too.
• Use an under-eye liquid concealer to disguise eye bags and give you a more wide awake look.
• Moisturise your skin to counteract the dehydrating effects of a night out. Freederm zone balancing moisturiser is formulated to only hydrate the areas of your face that need it, so it won’t overload your skin with oil.
• Apply a little shimmery illuminating highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones to give the illusion of super-healthy skin.