Beauty 911

OOPS! You picked at a pimple and made it even worse.
Squeezing a blemish may get rid of what's inside, but it can also cause an infection. Plus, pressing against the skin with your nails can cut your skin, leaving the area red, scabby, and swollen.
Fast Fix
"Using a clean cotton swab, dab the pimple with antibacterial ointment, like Neosporin Neo to Go First Aid Antibiotic Ointment pocket-size packets ($5; drugstore.com), to reduce redness and prevent infection," says Somerville, who adds that if the pore is still partially clogged, skip the ointment, as "it will stop what's still in there from coming out." Instead, swipe the area with a hydrogen peroxide–soaked cotton swab to kill bacteria, then hold an ice pack on the spot to reduce swelling. Finish by dabbing an oil-free moisturizer on the blemish to soften any scabbing, then top with foundation.
Best Beauty Advice
If you're still determined to squeeze a pimple, do it right: Apply a warm washcloth to the area to open the pore, making it easier to squeeze, says Somerville. Sterilize a lancet—try the Sephora Complexion Extractor With Lance ($18; sephora.com)—with rubbing alcohol and gently pierce the blemish. Then wrap your pointer fingers in tissue (so your nails don't jab into and cut your skin) and gently squeeze. Stop if nothing comes out, pat with hydrogen peroxide, and leave it alone. If you are able to empty out the pore, treat it with antibacterial ointment. If the blemish is still large and painful, see your dermatologist, who can give you a cortisone injection that should bring down the bump within 24 hours.

OOPS! You went overboard with self-tanner and now you're the same shade as a pumpkin.
"When people goof with self-tanner, it's usually the result of applying the lotion too thick or putting it on too frequently," says Anna Stankiewicz, an aesthetician at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City who specializes in spray tanning.
Fast Fix
Your first line of defense is to jump into a hot shower and immediately and lightly exfoliate with a gentle scrub like St. Tropez Self-Tan Remover ($17; sttropeztan.com), which helps fade streaks. (Next time you buy tanner, it might be a good idea to pick up the scrub at the same time, just in case.) After your shower, slather on a lotion with either glycolic or lactic acid to accelerate your skin's natural sloughing process; we like AmLactin Moisturizing Lotion ($16; drugstore.com), with lactic acid. Your skin should be back to its pre-self-tanner tone within a day or two, depending on the concentration of active ingredients in the formula.
Best Beauty Advice
Always start with a clean slate: When you apply tanner, your skin should be recently exfoliated and free of body lotion and perfume. (Lotion can prevent self-tanner from penetrating, while fragrance can alter the final tint, says Stankiewicz.) Then smooth on tanner in a very light layer and wait 10 minutes before getting dressed, even if the tanner says it's quick-drying. ("Most people put their clothes on too soon and the fabric, not their skin, ends up absorbing the self-tanning ingredients," says Stankiewicz.) Finally, wait 24 hours before applying a second coat (and shower at least once during that period to remove excess pigment). By then the color will have fully developed and you can better judge whether you really need another hit. To guarantee a streak-free, right-for-you color, Stankiewicz swears by these two formulas: Carita Paris Self-Tanning and Contouring Care for Legs and Body SPF 6 ($95; fredsegalbeauty .com), which is lightly tinted so you can ensure an even application, and Dove Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer With Subtle Self Tanners ($8; at drugstores), a self-tanner/ body lotion combo that gradually deepens your tone over the course of several days.