Afternoon beauty fix: How to remove pimples without turning your face into blotchy mess

I treat myself to facials a few times a year, but sometimes I can’t resist the urge to pick at problem spots on my own. Could I be damaging my skin by doing my own extractions? Going to a spa has as much to do with pampering as it does the maintenance of your skin. So far as your extractions are concerned, there’s nothing standing between you and a clear face, save for a few helpful guidelines and a couple key tools. To begin, open pores with a gentle cleanser and a hot face cloth. A little bit of steam can also help open them even further, but we recommend avoiding kettles and suggest taking advantage of your bathroom post-shower. After using a gentle exfoliant to scrub away old cells (so new ones can grow in their place), wrap a tissue around your pointer fingers and press them together to remove embedded impurities. Finally, follow up with a treatment to aid in cell renewal, like Pure + Simple Refining Peach Enzyme Treatment ($45, pureandsimple.ca), which uses fruit extracts to decongest any spots you missed and retinol to stimulate collagen—with a much smaller price tag than a visit to a swishy spa.

In need of an afternoon beauty pick-me-up? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.