Don’t you just hate it when you suddenly wake up with an enormous zit days before a big event where there will be lots of picture taking? You don’t want this to happen especially if it is 1 or 2 days before your graduation photo shoot or your wedding. Here are some tips on how you can beat breakouts to keep your face picture perfect for that special date.

• A last-minute facial is not a good idea. If the affair or the photo shoot has been scheduled months ago, then you should also plan a visit to your facialist weeks before the event or photo shoot. Though it can be appealing to have an aesthetician sluice up to the last pore a day before the event, a smart person should know that it’s a stupid idea. Anything can happen and that short allowance won’t give your skin enough time to heal and get rid of the redness and puffiness, especially if you have undergone an exfoliation and deep cleansing session.

• Stick with your skin treatment program. If you are prone to breakouts and decides to use a skin treatment program in preparation for a big event, then it is crucial that you start with this program 2-3 months earlier and stick with it. Be patient and religious in following the step-by-step procedure. Though most of these skin treatment programs (like Proactiv Solution or Exposed Skincare) promise to work in just 30 days, sometimes, a month is not enough. Stay with the program for another 30 days and see if it makes a difference. If it still doesn’t work, then it’s time to get your money back and consult a dermatologist again.

• Neutralize a breakout. If you’ve done everything and a pimple still decided to pop up on your face a day before your big day, do not panic. Go to your trusted dermatologist and ask for the “magic shot”, also known as cortisone injection. It is a pimple injection that uses a mild cortisone formula that quickly reduces the size of a blemish. If you don’t want to go through this, another pimple first aid is benzoyl peroxide. Apply an acne cream or gel with 2% of benzoyl peroxide content (at most).

• Use a smudge-proof concealer. Every woman should invest in a really good concealer. This comes in handy for unsightly blemishes and eyebags. Find a formula that doesn’t need a lot of touch-ups like “Secret Concealer” from Laura Mercier. Before putting this on, apply a tiny amount of skin balm on the pimple. This should make the concealer more intact. A recommended product for this technique is Decleor Aromessence Balm Essential. This is a great trick that most make-up experts do.

These are just some of the things you can do to fight sudden breakouts. Practicing a good skin regimen and living a healthy lifestyle can help keep your skin healthy and looking perfect all the time.