Emergency Fixes For A Surprise Pimple

Whether it was picture day, your wedding, a job interview, or a photoshoot, we all know the familiar horror of a last minute pimple. When it comes out of nowhere, it's often too late to change your whole skincare regime — so what are some emergency fixes for a surprise pimple? I mean, acne-busting face washes, complex skincare systems, and skin-saving dietary changes are all fine and well for the long-term, but what does one do when faced with a last-minute, out of the blue zonker?

Well, luckily there are a lot of great super-powered spot treatments out there to help you make it through your big day — even if a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-style zit happens to crop up at the last minute. From standard options like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, to more surprising fixes like drugstore-counter anti-itch lotions and eyedrops, there's something for everyone. Some can even be used in conjunction with each other, working together to bust through redness, inflammation, clogged pores, and zit-causing bacteria (ew).

So, fear not — armed with the options listed below, you'll be able to face whatever the day has in store without taking a sterilized lancet to the face.

1. Hydrocortisone Cream

Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Formula, $4, Amazon

It's not marketed as a zit-fixer, but it makes sense: After all, it's designed to reduce redness and inflammation. As dermatologist Dr. Roy Grekin told The Wall Street Journal, "The best thing you can do is get a hold of as potent a corticosteroid or cortisone cream as you can." Another bonus? It works quite quickly.

2. Benzoyl Peroxide

Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, $8, Amazon

Dr. Grekin also advised the use of benzoyl peroxide, noting that it works very well in conjunction with the aforementioned hydrocortisone cream — "You put a little dab of that on and a little dab of cortisone, kind of alternating them ... The benzoyl peroxide tends to be very drying and the cortisone will get rid of the swelling and the redness," he told WSJ.

3. Eye Drops

Visine Advanced Redness & Irritation Relief, $5, Amazon

Want to know another surprise redness buster? Good ol' Visine. It's intended to fix red eyes, but it also actually works on acne and dark undereye circles, according to Allure. Who knew?

4. Sulfur

Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment, $26, Amazon

Sulfur is actually a major skin saver. As with benzoyl peroxide, it works wonders when it comes to drying out your pimples, according to skincare guru/dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross, who told Real Simple that it "acts like a sponge to draw oil out of blocked pores."

5. Salicylic Acid

Estée Lauder Clear Difference Targeted Blemish Treatment, $35, Nordstrom

Another acne-busting favorite? Salicylic acid, which clears acne by acting as a chemical exfoliant. It helps unclog pores, and a super-charged formula like the one above will work great as a last-minute quick fix.

6. The Right Concealer

Marc Jacobs Beauty Cover(t) Stick Color Corrector, $42, Sephora

If all the spot treatments in the world aren't working for you, it's time to break out the concealer. Now, there are a few things you should think about: First off, you're going to want to make sure you pack on moisturizer beforehand. After all, acne treatments are by design drying, and you don't want flaky concealer. Next, you might want to consider a color-correcting concealer or primer — green-tinged products are best known to counteract redness. Then, once you're moisturized and color-corrected, throw on your favorite concealer, set with powder, and you're good to go!