Beauty confessions.(tips)(Brief Article)

no-duh dilemma "How do you conceal a pimple? I went on a date, and a zit on my chin was so big, he couldn't stop staring at it."

The first step to camouflaging a complexion pest is to use a concealer that exactly matches your skin tone, says Sonia Kashuk, makeup artist to superb-looking celebs like Ashley Judd and Salma Hayek. "If you use a concealer that's too pale, you'll end up highlighting the problem instead of hiding it," says Kashuk. Her blemish-masking technique: Using your fingertip, repeatedly dab a non-comedogenic cream concealer just on top of the pimple. We like Sonia Kashuk Confidential Concealer, $4.99. This patting action--versus rubbing or brushing--layers the cover-up exactly where needed and enables it to adhere better. Next, sweep a translucent loose powder over the area for long-wearing results. When applying foundation to the rest of your face, avoid the already-tended trouble spot or you'll just rub off the concealer.

cringe-worthy query

"I have dark pigmentation under my armpits, so they always look dirty and hairy. I've tried cream bleaches, but they don't work. What should I do?"

Chances are, your dark underarms aren't caused by hyper-pigmentation but result from a persistent buildup of dry skin, says Colorado dermatologist Richard Asarch, director of the Asarch Center for Dermatology and Laser. The unsightly dark spots are probably tons of dead skin cells trapped in microscopic "hills and valleys" on your skin. To rid yourself of this buildup, apply an OTC moisturizer with exfoliating lactic acid to damp skin morning and night. Try AmLactin 12% Moisturizing Lotion, $10.95, or Stiefel LactiCare Lotion, $11.95. If you don't see improvement after six weeks ( or don't want to wait that long), ask your doctor for a prescription-strength skin-sloughing solution, like Retin-A, which should yield results in only two to three weeks. Warning: If the darkened area is itchy or inflamed, you may have an allergic reaction or bacterial infection, ...