Cover Ups
To a Head
There's nothing like a white-headed pimple to tempt you into breaking Fuller's "no pick" rule. So when you're having trouble fighting the urge, do this instead. Apply a drying lotion, such as one by Mario Badescu, suggests Dee Rouzan, owner and lead makeup artist of New Orleans based Faces of Virtue Makeup Studio. If you can, leave it on overnight and it will dry out even the most stubborn white heads, she says. In the morning, follow it up with a sudsy cleanser, toner and moisturizer (her favorite is Embryolisse) and cover with a concealer that doesn't appear cakey, like Smashbox High Definition Concealer, she suggests.
Add Highlights
After applying a hydrating cream under the eyes, Fuller recommends mixing a highlighter and a concealer together to lighten up any dark areas. Her favorite combo is mixing NARS Cream Concealer with Elf's Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal. Once mixed, dot under the eye area in an inverted triangle shape and then blend well. "The highlighter will bring light to the area, while the concealer will hide the circles and bags," she says.
Unwelcome Reaction
Any skin treatments—facials, wraps and even massages—may sound like the ideal way to unwind prior to a big event. But Fuller urges not to book any skin treatments within a week. The reason? Your treatment may involve products that you could be unknowingly allergic to, even if it claims to be all natural. (Fuller herself had an allergic reaction to an all-natural, fruit-enzyme facial.) If you do have a reaction, wash immediately with your usual face cleanser and take Benadryl or apply hydrocortisone cream to stop any itching and bring down any welts.
Facial Flub
Another reason to book facials well in advance of the big day? More pimples (yes, more)! "A facial draws out the impurities in the skin and can lead to some big blemishes the day after," says Fuller. If you have a couple of days before the event, she highly recommends giving Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment a try. "This is a miracle worker," she says. "Apply this gel to each pimple morning and night and your pimple will be history within two days."
Bronzed Blunders
Like facials, spray tanning is another service you'll want to book well in advance of your big event, should anything go awry. But no matter well you plan ahead, self-tanner or spray tanning can still concentrate in certain areas more than others, especially around the elbows, knees, ankles and hands. If this is the case, Fuller suggests using fresh lemons. "It might take five or six lemons, but it will do the trick," she says. "Cut a lemon in half and start rubbing the flesh in a circular motion over the area that you want to remove the tanner." Once removed, use powdered bronzer to prevent being left with white circles where the tanner used to be, notes Fuller.
Lip Service
Flaky lips are the last thing you want if you'll be talking to (or kissing) anyone at your next event. To slough away dry skin, Rouzan suggests using brown sugar. Sugar contains glycolic acid to help make your skin more vibrant, and brown sugar is a softer, more natural alternative to using regular sugar, she explains. Mix with honey or olive oil to make a scrub (which can be used as a full-body scrub in addition to the lips). Follow it up with Yu-Be LipTherapy—Rouzan's top pick for softening and moisturizing dehydrated lips.
