What is a good spot treatment for when blemishes pop up?

A good spot treatment for when blemishes pop up is Clean and Clear PersaGel. It contains 10% Benzoil Peroxide, which is the strongest concentration you can get without a prescription.

Another great spot treatment is this home remedy:

Take a few uncoated aspirin. Crush them up and add water (preferably distilled or purified). Make a paste. Apply paste to blemish. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Remove with a damp towel.

This works because aspirin is salicylic acid. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it will reduce the swelling and redness.

If you are just dealing with a red splotch on your face, you can also apply a few drops of Visine to the area. Visine is a vasoconstrictor, so it will reduce blood flow to the area.

            How do I get rid of blackheads?

Beta Hydroxy Acid (salicylic acid)  is really the only thing that will help blackheads. Look for moisturizers, exfoliants or serums with at least 2% BHA in them. The salicylic acid (unlike AHAs) gets into the pores and softens and breaks up the blackhead.

Incidentally, blackheads are a combination of sebum (oil), debris (usually tiny hairs) and keratinized skin cells. When it reaches the top, the combination oxidizes, giving that black color.

            How can I deal with skin freak-outs when switching birth control pills?

Unfortunately, you have to ride the storm a little when switching birth control pills. When your hormones are in flux, that can often result in an overproduction of the sebaceous (oil) glands. This, of course, ends up making your face look like an oil slick or having acne.

About a month before going off of the pill or switching the pill, start using gel-based face wash. Follow up with an exfoliant (like the one made by Aveda) and a vitamin C serum. Finally, add a water based moisturizer (very light). If you need additional moisture in spots, add a drop of olive oil to those areas.

When you do switch, reduce your dairy intake (it can increase oil production) and drink green tea (cuts oil and grease in the body and skin).

            What’s the correct way to apply eye cream?

The best way to apply eye cream is to place 3 small dots under the eye and pat. When you apply it above they eye, carefully move the product across the brow bone. The heat of your body will move it south. Be very careful not to tug or pull at the skin. The skin under your eyes is the most delicate and thin on the entire body. Constant tugging, pulling and rubbing will stretch the skin, causing sagging.