So today is a big day but you’ve woken up with an irritated, swollen zit. Now what?
You may not be able to get your pimple to disappear fast or like magic, unfortunately.
However, there are a few things you can do to lessen the appearance of the pimple, encourage the healing process and reduce redness.
It’s important to know that redness on and around a pimple is a sign of inflammation and irritation and the one thing you shouldn’t do is squeeze or pop it.
Squeezing a pimple will only cause more irritation and spread the redness to other areas of your face.
Instead, use natural or over-the-counter products to help reduce the appearance and any redness.
With the help of a few instant relief tips, you can lessen the appearance of that pimple and reduce its redness in no time.
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So how do you get rid of pimple redness?
1. Calm your skin with natural soothing ingredients
A pimple turns red when it’s irritated, so to lessen the redness you need to soothe the irritation.
Anything you can do to soothe your skin is going to help minimize redness. And a great way to soothe your skin is by using soothing ingredients.
Everyday ingredients like oatmeal, honey, aloe vera and chamomile help to soothe irritated skin so give those a try.
2. Apply witch hazel or apple cider vinegar
Witch hazel and apple cider vinegar are both fantastic products to use if you suffer from acne or have the occasional pimple.
They both have astringent properties, which means they are good for removing irritants from the skin’s surface and evening out skin tone as well as reducing swelling and redness. Both products are available at local health food stores or in the natural beauty aisle.
How to use it:
- Apply one or both with a cotton pad or q-tip to the pimple and let it dry
- Reapply as needed throughout the day or night
- Use caution and stop if your skin becomes irritated after using
Product picks:
- Witch Hazel Toner by Leven Rose 100% Pure Organic
- THAYERS Alcohol Free Unscented Witch Hazel Facial Toner with Aloe Vera
3. Do a cold compress with green tea
How do you get rid of pimple redness with green tea? Not only is green tea good to drink but it can be used for skincare and help clear up acne.
A simple DIY treatment that uses a cold bag of green tea can help reduce pimple redness overnight. When you use green tea on the skin, the caffeine from the tea will cause the blood vessels to constrict, which then helps reduce pimple swelling and lessen pimple redness.
How to use it:
- put tea bag in a cup of water and freeze for 10 minutes
- then hold the chilled tea bag on the pimple for 20 seconds
- repeat for 5 minutes alternating on and off
4. Use eye drops
Yes, I admit this tip might seem a little strange but it works! The same way eye drops help take the redness out of your eyes, is the same way they help take the redness out of pimples.
Eye drops for red eyes contain tetrahydrozoline, which is a drug that constricts your blood vessels. So using eye drops on a pimple can help to reduce pimple redness by constricting the blood vessels on the surface of your skin.
However, keep in mind that this is a temporary solution and that will only last for an hour or two.
How to use it:
- Squeeze one to two drops of the eye drop solution on a Q-tip and press it gently over the pimple.
- To further reduce the appearance of the pimple, you can use a green concealer to colour-correct the area before applying your foundation.
Product pick:
5. Spot treat with salicylic acid
Another quick and easy way to get rid of pimple redness is to use an over-the-counter spot treatment that contains salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid can easily be found in the form of gels or lotions. You simply use a small amount directly on the pimple and let it dry overnight.
Products that contain salicylic acid have become more common and are now more easily available.
You can find salicylic acid spot treatments at your local drugstore in the beauty aisle and many major and small brands now use salicylic acid in their spot treatment products.
How to use it:
- For best results look for products that contain .05 to 1% salicylic acid
- Use 2% salicylic acid for stubborn acne
- Works best when given time to dry and set in your skin (ie. moisturizers, serums) products that don’t rinse off
Product picks:
- The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
- The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid
6. Ice it
Using an ice cube to reduce pimple redness is another simple and easy method often that works.
You can use ice on a pimple to make the swelling and redness go down just the same as you would ice a swollen muscle. For this method, you’ll need ice cubes and a clean towel.
How to do it:
- Wrap ice cubes in a towel and press it gently on the pimple for 15 – 20 minutes
- Repeat as needed, 20 minutes on 20 minutes off
7. Try a cucumber
Cucumbers provide numerous health benefits for your body and your skin. They’re great natural coolants for your skin and just like witch hazel and apple cider vinegar they contain astringent properties that can help reduce the swelling and redness from a pimple.
Tip: use a cold cucumber for this method. Put it in the refrigerator so it’s cold enough.
How to use it:
- Place a cold slice of cucumber, (peeled or unpeeled), directly over the pimple
- Leave it on until it’s no longer cold, then replace with a new, cold slice
- Repeat as often needed
8. Use aspirin paste
Due to its anti-inflammatory effect, aspirin can help reduce the appearance of a red and swollen pimple.
Aspirin’s active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid, is similar to salicylic acid, a common ingredient in many acne skin care products which can help to reduce irritation, inflammation and redness on your skin.
How to use it:
- Crush 2 or 3 aspirin tablets in a teaspoon of water
- Wait for the aspirin to dissolve, then mix to form a paste
- Put the paste on the pimple and leave it on until it dries
- Rinse with warm water
9. Cover it up with makeup
This method is a temporary fix that won’t necessarily get rid of the pimple but is a great alternative if none of the other methods work or you need a quick fix.
Using makeup to cover pimple redness is simple and effective. This is a great option if your pimple isn’t too noticeable or you want to skip medication and DIY treatments.
How to do it:
- use green concealer, eyeshadow or lipstick on and around the pimple to colour correct any redness on your skin
- Next apply your foundation and blend to match your complexion
- Continue the usual steps in your makeup routine
Product picks:
- NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP HD Studio Photogenic Concealer Wand
- NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Color Correcting Concealer Palette
- The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer
Final thoughts
Pimples happen, but that doesn’t mean that’s what you want someone to see when they look at you.
Luckily there are a few things you can do to lessen and get rid of pimple redness.
You can ice it, use a cucumber, try over-the-counter salicylic acid spot treatments, even use crushed aspirin, but the one thing you should never do is pop or squeeze that pimple because that will only make it worse.
Instead, you can try using natural products, professional products or any one of the methods above on the pimple to reduce the redness so you can go about your day with confidence.
