When you think about NYFW models, visions of perfect hair and flawless skin may come to mind. The truth is that while it’s literally their job to look beautiful, models are as human as the rest of us. They get frizzy hair, they gain weight around the holidays and, yep, they get zits like the rest of us. Curious about how they deal with pimples — especially when they’ve got a casting call or catwalk to strut down — we asked them straight up. Read on for the best acne treatments these models swear by.
Image via Imaxtree
Skyn Iceland Blemish Dots and Urban Decay Concealer
“My routine is actually very interesting. First, I take hydrogen peroxide and make sure there is no bacteria around the area. Then, Skyn Iceland sells these little stickers that you put directly on top of the pimple and I will wear it overnight,” says Julia Belyakova, who we talked to at Badgley Mischka. “I also make sure that I do a lot of clay masks that clean deeply, and sometimes I’ll put the mask just on the spot and let it dry out. For concealer, I like Urban Decay's Naked Concealer. It’s very light, but it conceals really well and it still keeps my skin moisturized.”
Image courtesy Wendy Gould
Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Formula
Rachel Sklar says that it’s taken her some time to find the right products since her skin is really sensitive and tends to react quickly. After some experimentation, she discovered that her tried-and-true go-to is Cortizone 10. “They have a stick tube — it almost looks like a Chapstick — and it goes right on really easy. I put it on overnight and in the morning the zit is usually less red and smaller,” she says. I don’t do a lot of concealing but if I absolutely have to, then I really like Chantecaille’s products because they’re super natural and really gentle.”
Image courtesy Wendy Gould
Budget-Friendly Charcoal Cleansers
For Jay Jankowska, who we spoke with at Tadashi Shoji, treating zits is all about finding inexpensive products that actually work. “Honestly, I just use the cheapest charcoal cleanser from Target that I can find and it really cleans my face and helps keep my skin clear,” she says. “In the day, I just dab some concealer and foundation over it. I don’t have a favorite brand — I just use whatever is inexpensive.”
Try Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, $5.99
Image courtesy Wendy Gould
La Mer The Intensive Revitalizing Mask
“What I usually do is put on a little mask at night that dries out the pimple,” says Olivia Anakwe. “I sleep with it on and in the morning, I get a warm cloth and massage it and it brings the gunk to the surface so it’s easy to push out." Her favorite brand to use is La Mer — try The Intensive Revitalizing Mask, $165.
Image courtesy Wendy Gould
