BEAUTY MARK

Few things are more guaranteed to ruin your day than waking to find an obvious spot on your face. Here are some of the newest ways to zap those zits.

Kellie Ann Zupet reports on beauty for The Hamilton Spectator. gostyle@thespec.com

Clarins Stop Blemish Control

$28 for 2x 5 mL

Cute and convenient, this Clarins roll-on blemish beater calms and clears with impressive speed.

It contains three of the tried and tested natural acne combatants and skin soothers -- Witch Hazel, White Dead Nettle and Wintergreen extracts -- so your zits barely stand a chance of survival.

The two convenient purse-sized flasks allow you to keep one in your handbag and one at home.

Available at department stores.

Noxzema Acne Blackhead Cleanser

$7.99 for 147 mL

The best form of defence is attack, so a good cleanser is essential: Noxzema's Acne Blackhead Cleanser fights acne breakout before it starts.

It's a modern version of a good old-fashioned clay scrub, containing salicylic acid as well as natural extracts. This stuff will clear up and rebalance oily patches without drying your skin, as many scrubs do. It works in just a few minutes, so it's not a huge palaver to use several times a week.

It is available almost everywhere.

Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Gel

$37 for 250 mL

The best policy is to treat an oncoming spot as soon as you get the first inkling of an unhappy pore -- most of us know the telltale itch of a zit being born well before there are visible signs.

If you catch the "imperfection" early enough with this magic lotion, applying a couple of times a day, it won't rear its ugly head at all.

Perfect for the guys, this is the after-shaving answer to calming flare-ups while being kind to your skin. Feels great, smells good.

Available at Kiehl's, 407 Queen St. W. or 2518 Yonge St., Toronto at Holt Renfrew and by mail order at 416-977-3588.

Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging, Anti-Blemish Daily Moisturizer

$24.99 for 50 mL

Skin that's prone to breakouts still needs to fight the signs of aging. This Olay moisture miracle is both kind to skin, encouraging it to stay youthful and plump, while being cruel to zits. It will calm the angriest of scarlet outbreaks and help deal with the scar afterwards.

The cream, which goes on under makeup and contains powerful anti-aging ingredients from VitaNiacin to Pro-Vitamin B5, gives immediate perkiness and long-term glow.

It is available in drug stores and select grocery stores.