There's nothing much worse than waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and discovering that a very unwelcome spot has appeared overnight. It happens to all of us, whether from one too many Fruit Pastels the day before, not washing our pillowcases regularly enough or simply because we're tired. Find out more about the surprising causes of spots here.
And the worst part? You just never know when or where they're going to appear. The end of your nose, the top of your back, your chest! To try and avoid unexpected blemishes, we've given you the low-down on what causes breakouts on different areas of your face and body here.
Do spot treatments work?
There are so many myths and tales out there about what the best blemish-busters are. Hands up ladies, how many of us have tried putting toothpaste on a spot? We've debunked some of them for you here as well as picking out the best treatments.
But what if you want a quick fix? What if you've got a hot date or an important work meeting the next day and need to rid that blemish ASAP?
Which spot treatment is the best?
We’ve trialed a range of treatments to bring you our top six at-home breakout-busters, for when you need to shift a spot, fast.
Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel, £15
Just a little dab of this salicylic acid-based blemish treatment takes effect fast. Redness is reduced thanks to calming red algae, while exfoliators prevent excess oils from clogging up your pores, effectively reducing the risk of future spots.
Murad Blemish Control Spot Treatment, £15
You can feel this zingy spot cream working from the second you apply it. The sulphur battles breakouts while zinc soothes and protects the skin. AHAs and BHAs encourage cell turnover, gently exfoliating and helping to prevent future blemishes from developing.
Aveda Outer Peace Blemish Spot Relief, £21
Aveda are masters at utilising the healing powers of plants, especially in this spa-scented spot relief treatment. Tamanu, amla, boswellia and saw palmetto extracts combine to reduce redness and swelling in an instant.
Witch Blemish Stick, £2.59, Boots
Our favourite bargain blemish stick – Witch’s antibacterial stick contains witch hazel and breaks down excess oils that clog pores and cause spots. It’s particularly effective on oily skin.
Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick, £11.49, Feel Unique
This handy pocket-sized blemish stick contains 10 herbal ingredients including tea tree and juniper oils, which are known for their antiseptic properties. Willow bark gently exfoliates skin to prevent further breakouts.
John Masters Organics Bearberry Oily Skin Balancing Face Serum, £25, Feel Unique
This super serum helps your skin to reduce oil production, creating a more balanced complexion for oily, spot-prone skin types. You can either use as a targeted spot treatment or an all-over serum to help minimise pores and clear skin. Hero ingredients include bearberry, willowbark and rice extracts.