Don't Panic: 10 Solutions for the Most Common Skin Emergencies

If you have oily skin, you know how disconcerting it can be to wake up with a face that kind of feels like an oil slick. Levin advises using a good oil-free cleanser, like a salicylic wash or alpha-hydroxy acid wash, but take heed: don’t go overboard by washing and toning and slathering on acne medicine. One of the great misconceptions of oil-prone skin is that the skin is “dirty,” so that tendency to overclean kicks in but that can further irritate your skin, which just sends your oil glands into overdrive. “Just use an appropriate acne-appropriate cleanser along with a light moisturizer and you’re good to go,” Levin says. We’re fans of Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash, $38.