Skin Care tip if you have 12 days before the big event:

• Assume the worst and plan for the best. If you have occasional sensitive skin outbreaks, start your treatment regimen before your visual symptoms start. This will keep your skin happy, and you as well.

Skin Care tip if you have 3 days before the big event:

• Do some gentle exfoliation to lighten and brighten your skin. Keep your skin moisturized and apply an eye cream with optical brighteners to keep the eye area bright and luminous.

And for the OMG emergency pimple fix, try this:

1. Apply ice for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce redness and swelling. Make sure to cover the ice with a cloth napkin or use a covered ice pack.
2. Cleanse and apply a treatment lotion containing sulfur.  This can be purchased without a prescription. Sulfur helps to unplug pores and shrink swelling.
3. Follow with an over the counter product containing 1% hydrocortisone or benzoyl peroxide to keep pores clean.
4. Apply a thin layer of a medicated concealer.
5. And…if time permits, get a cortisone shot from your dermatologist. The results can be amazing.

As the days tick down toward your big event, you will be able to handle any skin care emergency that comes your way.

Watch Cassandra Bankson’s makeup tips to cover up severe acne.

Assuming spring is here…or at least around the corner… you know what that means – time for some good ol’ spring cleaning. Only I’m not talking about your house. I’m talking about your skin! The change in weather, temperatures and precipitation means it’s time to reassess your skin care regimen.

Take time to clean your skin, slough away dead skin cells and amp up your skin care routine in order to expose a more radiant, youthful complexion. The key is to begin with exfoliation.  When you incorporate gentle exfoliation into your daily or weekly routine, the rewards become obvious. You’ll notice a brighter, more luminous complexion and, believe it or not, a cleaner house.

Yep – it’s true.  70-90% of household “dust” is really just dead skin cells we’re constantly shedding. Gross but true!  By exfoliating we can reduce this household dust significantly. Research shows that each time you exfoliate, you are removing skin layers that actually trigger key communication with the skin cells below, sending the message it’s time to jump into action. In other words, the more you exfoliate, the faster your overall skin cell renewal cycle will be and ultimately, you will notice more youthful and radiant looking skin.

Have a great spring!

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~ William Shakespeare