The Skincare: Spot Prevention and Treatments

Picture this. As I type this I’m in my onesie, my hair has been wound into a topknot and secured in place with a velvet scrunchie (my personal shout out to the 90’s) and I have what looks like toothpaste spotted in several places around my face. Outside of these white patches is a grey paste, slowly drying and tightening tin the usual clay mask fashion. The reason for this bizarre sight? You guessed it – Spots. We all get them. We all hate them. And if you’re reading this, chances are you’re here because you’re also constantly on the hunt for a way to be perfectly spot free. If you’ve read my last post on face mapping you’ll know that my main rule for spot prevention is to eat right, consuming more water and wholesome foods – less of the processed sugars. Now my Instagram full of cookies and my last post is not a great representation of practicing what you preach, but we’re all allowed to be naughty sometimes. As you can probably tell, when these pesky pimples rear their ugly heads, I have a firm few products in my stash perfect for the occasion.

Prevention

The Una Brennan Purifying Cleansing Wash has been a dream when it comes to unclogging my pores. Since using it I’ve found blemishes to be far more manageable and less frequent as bacteria is not collecting under the skin. If I’m having a serious detox (this usually occurs post dominoes or cookie eating) I slap on the Origins Clear Improvement Mask to clear my skin and keep spots at bay.

Treatment

Even with the use of products that help to prevent spots, sometimes they’re just inevitable. Most arise when I’m at work out of pure inconvenience, in this situation the Origins Super Spot Treatment is whipped out and dabbed on the area in question. This product has to be one of my most asked about when it features in any skincare instagram photo. “Is it amazing/a miracle worker” is the usual phrase that crops up, and honestly, if you have a spot nothing is going to make it magically disappear, but this is a product which will calm the inflamed area around the spot and will reduce the size. It won’t teleport of your face, but it will feel cooling and will prevent said spot from getting much bigger.

One product that I do think deserves a shout out as a skincare hero is the Origins Out of Trouble Mask. I’m squeezing the last few uses out of this baby and I will repurchase it straight away after. It cools and soothes spots, and helps to dry them out. I normally use this after cleansing and leave it on for as long as I need (but the recommended time is 10 minutes). The next morning there is an amazing difference in the spot(s), especially as mine are usually quite swollen and painful, this provides some serious relief and allows me to get on with my day without worrying people will be starring at the crater on my forehead.

For a while I was using the La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo when I had patches of spots, most people swear by this product but unfortunately I found that my skin experience a purging stage (I saw on twitter that other people have found this too) after around 3 days of use so I stopped using it and all was right with the world again. I thought I would mention it though in case you haven’t heard of it yet – you never know, it might work for you – or in case you’ve experienced the same issue (don’t worry, you’re not alone!)

My final product for post spot TLC is the Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair I purchased this after a month of constant break outs finally calmed. I was left with a crazy amount of scaring and had heard that this was pretty good at helping your skin to heal a little quicker. I found that my spots and scars do benefit from using it, but I only tend to use it when I have either spots or scaring as 1) its crazy expensive and 2) the effects aren’t as noticeable when you use this every single day – but when it runs out completely, that’s when you really notice and end up repurchasing after a couple of weeks. Guilty.

26 Comments

  1. *Jessieβ€˜s LalaLand*
    22 Mar 2013 / 9:47 am

    I have the Super Spot Remover and to be honest I'm not so impressed… It doesn't do much and took me 200kr(about 20οΏ‘).. :/
    The Origins mask sounds great, I may check it out next time πŸ™‚
    X

  2. HannahMMurphy
    22 Mar 2013 / 10:01 am

    I feel as though I have tried everything under the sun to help with my spots. I have a lot of scarring which has knocked my self esteem right down πŸ™ Think i'll try the Origins products and see how I get on! Thanks for this post πŸ™‚ x

  3. Anna Blush
    22 Mar 2013 / 10:49 am

    I found this post really helpful, thank you! I'm always on the hunt for products to help with my problem skin and these sound great. It seems like Origin's has got it pretty down pack, I can't wait to get my hands on the Out of Trouble Mask! I also really want to try the Estee Lauder ANR but can't get over how expensive it is! I'll let myself splurge one day!

    http://anna-blush.blogspot.com

  4. Jennifer
    22 Mar 2013 / 11:10 am

    I love effaclar duo, it seems to work for me! I have heard from a few people that it didn't work for their skin. I would like to try the Advanced night repair, everyone seems to rave about it xx

  5. Hannah Firth
    22 Mar 2013 / 11:12 am

    What a great little post Suzie, I've heard so much about the three Origins products you've mentioned – all good! I may just have to pick a few bits up from there on pay day.

    Hannah cagneyandlace.com

  6. Annabel
    22 Mar 2013 / 12:37 pm

    Have picked up the face wash because of you! πŸ˜‰ I was going to go with the dr jart bubble foam everyone loves but the una brennan range uses much nicer ingredients!
    I can;t use my little super spot remover much anymore as it stings like NO other.. sad πŸ™
    xo

  7. Luxe Life Aspirations
    22 Mar 2013 / 12:40 pm

    Great post, definitely going to pick up the Origins mask next when my other 34252 run out! I love using the ANR but wasn't sure if it was actually doing anything but I suppose I'll notice when it runs out πŸ™‚

  8. Charlotte
    22 Mar 2013 / 12:48 pm

    I absolutely swear by the Origins Super Spot remover, it is amaaaaazing. Advanced Night Repair worked for me in the beginning, but after a while it stopped working and I had to stop using it because I got acne from product build up πŸ™ I do now only use it one-twice a week for acne scarring. The Origins masks are both equally amazing!
    xx

    http://crookedteethxo.blogspot.be

  9. Maddy
    22 Mar 2013 / 2:12 pm

    I really want to try the Origins products aimed at spots, they look so good! xxx
    http://unstitchedd.blogspot.co.uk/

    • Anonymous
      22 Mar 2013 / 9:51 pm

      well you say that about everything πŸ™‚

  10. zoe louise
    22 Mar 2013 / 4:35 pm

    great post!only heard good things about the una brennan range x

  11. alittlebitofluxury
    22 Mar 2013 / 7:15 pm

    Love love love origins!!

    To celebrate the start of my new blog i'm giving away Roberto Cavalli's latest perfume, i'd love if you could enter πŸ™‚
    http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/roberto-cavalli-eau-de-parfum-giveaway.html

    talisa xx

  12. Pippa Jones
    22 Mar 2013 / 7:27 pm

    I use the origins drink up over night mask, but the out of trouble mask sounds like it will do my skin a world of good, It has been so spot prone recently, I am not sure its because the change of weather or the make up or product i am using but Defiantly an investment in this mask!

    Pipp xx
    http://pippjones281190.blogspot.co.uk

  13. AlittlebitUnique
    22 Mar 2013 / 8:32 pm

    The effacular duo didn't do much for my skin either, it didn't break me out like you, but it still didn't help πŸ™ I really want to try the origins bits and have heard so many good things about the estee lauder night repair

    A little bit Unique – Blog // Facebook // Bloglovin

    x

  14. makeup lover
    22 Mar 2013 / 9:48 pm

    I've considered buying the origins spot remover, everyone raves about it! xxx
    Amy | http://amysbeautyjournal.blogspot.co.uk/

  15. Emily
    22 Mar 2013 / 9:49 pm

    I love the Duo and need to try that Origins mask:) x

    www.thebeautymist.com

  16. Valentina Novo
    23 Mar 2013 / 12:01 am

    Love the origins super spot treatment! It's the best!

  17. Trina
    23 Mar 2013 / 2:33 am

    Effaclar duo did absolutely nothing for me but at least I didnt purge. I have the out of trouble mask on my skincare list!

    β™₯
    trinawears | nyc style blog

  18. Katherine xo
    23 Mar 2013 / 3:21 am

    just ordered the super spot remover, really want the Una cleanser too! Origins masks are the best around x

    http://thebeautyvisual.blogspot.co.uk

  19. hannah maggs
    23 Mar 2013 / 3:03 pm

    ooooh i always want to try out the origins products that you always rave about suzie, i just feel splurging that much on facemasks, are they relly worth it yea? x

  20. Leanne Rachel
    23 Mar 2013 / 5:49 pm

    I love the Origins Mask, it's so lovely! xx

    seeking–serendipity.blogspot.com

  21. .x.Sarah.x.
    23 Mar 2013 / 8:14 pm

    I LOVE Origin's Out of Trouble mask and the spot treatment gel both seriously amazing! Pretty keen to try out the Clear Improvement mask next πŸ™‚ x

    Sarah @ sarahlouxo.com xx

  22. Allie T.
    23 Mar 2013 / 11:29 pm

    This was a really helpful post, thanks for introducing me to some masks I should give a try πŸ˜‰

    http://ordinaryallie.blogspot.ca

  23. Claire
    24 Mar 2013 / 2:03 am

    I picked up the efficlar duo last week and so far I haven't had the purging stage but that might be to do with the fact that I only put it on my spots, like a treatment not all over. I live the EL serum I've just not built up the courage to buy the full size yet, though my sample is getting very low πŸ™‚
    http://wwwclairabelle.blogspot.co.uk/

  24. Millie
    10 Apr 2013 / 9:10 am

    Great post! I really want to try some more Origins product and this mask is on the top of my list! πŸ™‚ β™₯

    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk/

  25. Lisa Anderson
    05 Oct 2015 / 9:56 am

    It is very helpful and informative article. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!! I am using Sakare products, because it really helps to moisturize my skin.