Pimples 101: What You Need to Know

After enjoying juicy fried chicken and spicy ramen in the middle of the night—because many of us have our guilty pleasures for comfort food—an annoying pimple often appears the next morning! It’s tempting to squeeze it and remove the pus, but please don’t do it; this can leave a prolonged scar that will annoy you even longer. Instead, let’s understand why these pimples are showing up and how to tackle them with the right skincare routine to get rid of them quickly and keep them off your beautiful face!

How Pimples Are Formed?

These annoying pimples show up when pores get clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells. Hormonal changes or stress can increase oil production, leading to clogged pores if not properly cleansed. These clogged pores become inflamed and swell up, creating red bumps— hello, pimples! When pores are clogged, bacteria on the skin can also get trapped and grow, leading to pus-filled pimples.

Healing and Recovery Phase

When pimples form, your body's immune system detects them and attempts to address the infection by breaking down bacteria and dead skin cells. This is when your defending white blood cells take centre stage, battling the infection and restoring health. As a result, the pimple may come to a head and release pus.

If you notice the pus being naturally drained or absorbed, it indicates that the white blood cells have successfully fought off the infection. At this point, your skin begins repairing itself, producing collagen to heal the affected area. Initially, this may manifest as red or dark spots. Over time, these discolourations fade, and the skin returns to its normal texture and colour.

Cupid’s 2-pillar Strategy: Prevention and Healing

To keep pimples at bay and address emergency spots as soon as they appear on your skin, try our 2-pillar strategy. This approach involves implementing a preventive routine and preparing a healing tactic for when it's needed!

Preventing Pimples with Daily Skincare

Introduce an easy yet effective skincare ritual to your everyday routine and give future pimples a polite "No thanks!" when they try to say hi!

Always Double Cleanse

To keep your skin clean and free from impurities, double cleansing is the name of the game. Get an oil-based cleanser in hand and gently massage it onto the dry skin as a first step - it removes oil-based impurities like excess oil, whiteheads and blackheads. Then follow up with the water-based cleanser to remove any residue on the skin, setting the stage for your skincare routine to shine. Come morning, a gentle water-based cleanser is all you need to start the day fresh-faced - no need to use an oil cleanser this time around. Feel free to use a water cleanser to wash off dirt and bacteria during the day after exercising.

Try: ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil (200ml) - £18.00

Trending worldwide for all the right reasons, this lightweight cleansing oil dives deep into your pores, banishing those stubborn gunk to keep your skin clear. You can actually see those impurities making their grand exit while you massage it in—talk about satisfying!

Try: HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel (100ml) - £14.95

Perfect for sensitive skin and young teens, this gel-type cleanser gently cleanses the skin with its pH-balanced formula. After rinsing it off, your skin feels soft and hydrated without irritation.

Exfoliate 2-3 Times A Week

Regular exfoliation is like giving your skin a much-needed spring cleaning. It sweeps away those impurities that love to clog up pores and cause chaos, bidding farewell to excess oils and dead skin cells and saying hello to fresher, baby-soft skin. But here's the kicker: don't go overboard! Over-exfoliating can leave your skin feeling sensitive and irritated – and that's definitely not the vibe we're going for, right?

Try: SOME BY MI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Truecica Clear Pad (70pcs) - £22.00

Formulated with 3 exfoliants to banish impurities from both the skin's surface and deep within pores, this toner pad gently exfoliates the skin and smooths out the texture. Just give them a gentle swipe across your skin—no need to break a sweat over hassles!

Keep the Skin Hydrated

In fact, thirsty skin ends up producing more oils to create a moisture shield on top of the skin - but it's not a real solution we would love, as those excess oil can eventually clog pores, laying the groundwork for future pimples. To maintain a healthy oil balance, treat your skin with a lightweight moisturiser. Not only will it keep your skin hydrated and silky-smooth, but it'll also help maintain a natural skin barrier for a healthier complexion.

Try: DR. ALTHEA 345 Relief Cream (50ml) - £28.00

Meet the best-selling multitasker from our trendy brand! This moisturiser delivers deep hydration and nourishment while boosting your skin's natural barrier. With its calming and brightening formula, it absorbs lightning-fast, leaving behind zero greasy residue.

Promoting the Skin Healing

Need some emergency pimple care? Don't sweat it, we've got your back!

Add in Pimple Patches

Pimple patches are the latest addition to your skin's rescue squad, ensuring targets are sorted quicker than ever. After cleansing, slap on a patch over the affected area and let it work its magic for a few hours - watch as it sucks up those pesky zits, fast-tracking the healing process.

Try: SOME BY MI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Clear Spot Patch (18 pcs) - £3.90

Give this innovative pimple patch from our acne-busting skincare line a whirl! It's like a vacuum for pus, oil, and dirt, while also soothing and shielding the affected area. Plus, it's thin enough to leave on your face while you're out and about during the day!

Invest in A Brightening Serum

If the pimple decides to peace out but leaves behind an annoying dark spot like an unwanted parting gift, introduce a brightening serum into your skincare routine to tackle it head-on with its potent power. It can take some time to get them completely away, but with brightening agents like Vitamin C and Niacinamide on your side, you can help the skin heal the areas effectively.

Try: PURITO Pure Vitamin C Serum (60ml) - £16.99

Formulated with potent brightening agents 5% Vitamin C and Niacinamide, this functional serum tackles dark spots and uneven skin tone, resulting in a clearer, brighter complexion. Bonus: Applying it in the morning also gives your sunscreen an extra boost in sun protection, as studies have found.