From Our Pages Fall 2008

Q. How do I deal with a last-minute zit?

A. Los Angeles makeup artist Patty Bunch has a fail-proof plan: Dab on a little NeoSporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment to take down swelling. Next, use your concealer brush to dam on a dense formulation—Bunch swears by The Balm timeBalm Concealer ($17, sephora.com). Finally, seal it what Genie Instant Line Smoother, which dries to create a shield over the spot and tighten the skin, further reducing inflammation. "You won’t see that sucker again until you cleanse your face that night," she says.