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OK, let's face it: Hickeys happen. Whether it's from a hot makeout sesh with your S.O. or even just (not so) playful nibbling, these tell-tale red and purple marks can leave you feeling a lil' self-conscious, especially if they're in a visible area such as your neck. Sure, they can be hot during the moment, but they're not so hot when you realize you'll look like a hormonal teen before an important presentation in front of your boss the next day or meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first (!) time.
Based on personal experience, I've learned that there's no fast-acting magical cure that can literally get rid of your hickeys overnight—except maybe if you use your trusty color correctors and concealers to instantly cover them up (more on that later!). Buuut, there are a few things worth trying out that can help speed up the healing process rather than just leaving it alone.
Below, I've listed down nine things you can try to banish your hickeys. Make sure to bookmark this for next time, too. *wink*
First things first: What exactly is a hickey?
A hickey, a.k.a. a kiss or love mark, is a bruise caused by intense suction on the skin (read: making out). It typically appears on the neck, chest, or shoulders, but it can also happen anywhere on the body.
In scientific terms, a hickey is created from kissing and sucking, which leads to broken blood vessels or capillaries. At first, it looks red and maybe a little swollen, but in a few days, it eventually turns purple or brown, leading to the bruised look we're all familiar with.
Wait, how long do hickeys take to go away?
According to Healthline, a hickey can take anywhere between a few days to a week to completely disappear, depending on how much damage is done beneath the skin's surface. The trapped blood—a.k.a. the bruise you see on the affected area—breaks down and gets reabsorbed by the rest of your body.
Don't have a week to let your body do its thing and trust its process? Here are nine things you can try to speed up the healing process:
How to remove a hickey: 9 things to try out
1. Ice it ASAP.
Once your spicy sesh has concluded and you notice that you have an angry red mark beginning to form, make sure to ice it ASAP. This will reduce your body's inflammatory response and make it so that it doesn't get too red. You can either use a towel wrapped in ice or a cold spoon and press it against the area for a few minutes at a time.
2. Apply aloe vera gel to the affected area.
Aloe vera gel has long been lauded for its ability to soothe inflamed skin—there's a reason why it's a tried-and-tested product for sunburns. While it won't make your hickey disappear, its soothing effect can help in reducing inflammation and redness.
READ MORE: Aloe Vera Gel Products To Try For Flawless Skin
3. Put a warm compress on the bruise.
If your hickey is a little more stubborn and doesn't budge against cold therapy, it's time to bring out the heat—literally. Putting a warm compress on the bruise will hopefully help in letting the new blood circulate in the area. Firmly press it on your hickey for about five minutes two to three times a day.
4. Dab on your eye cream.
Yep, one of the things that can help you from walking around with a sign that says, "I Just Had A Steaming! Hot! Makeout Sesh" is already in your skincare routine. Your eye cream is rich in Vitamin K, which is a brightening ingredient that can help lighten the bruising on your hickey.
Luxe Organix Bright Eyes Eye Cream 80% Galactomyces, P199, Shopee and Lazada
5. Eat food that is rich in Vitamin K.
Alternatively, if you don't have eye cream, you can also load up on foods that are rich in Vitamin K like broccoli, spinach, kale, and brown rice. Might as well get your nutrients in as you wait for your hickey to subside!
6. Gently rub a toothbrush's bristles on the hickey.
This one's a tried-and-tested tip from yours truly, LOL. Grab a clean toothbrush with soft bristles and gently rub it in on your hickey. Knead it in different directions so that the clotted blood can really spread out and repeat it for five to 10 minutes. Make sure not to overdo it, though, as it might cause your skin to tear or peel off, leaving you with a much bigger problem!
7. Use makeup to camouflage the hickey(s).
Makeup is magic, trust me! If you want to cover up your hickey (without resorting to wearing sweaters or turtlenecks), then makeup is the way to go. However, one common mistake that I see people make is going right ahead with concealer on their hickeys. While this can undoubtedly camouflage it, you'll still be able to see some red peeking through, rendering it ineffective.
READ MORE: The Best Concealers To Hide Eye Bags, Dark Spots, And Pimples
Here's what you can do instead:
- Grab a green color corrector. Based on the color theory, green cancels out red, which is why it makes sense to apply a green color corrector before your concealer. This will help neutralize the redness and give you a more balanced canvas to work with.
- Apply your concealer. Time to bring out the big guns and get your trusted, most long-wearing concealer. Start by applying a thin layer and only add on if you can still see some redness peeking through.
- Set the two properly. This step is important—you wouldn't want your hard work to melt off throughout the day! After color correcting and concealing, make sure to set it using a translucent powder and setting spray.
Strokes Beauty Spot Veil Corrector, P398, Shopee and Lazada
8. Book a laser appointment.
If all else fails and you have money to spare, it may be worth booking a laser treatment. It's the most effective way to get rid of your hickey fast if you have an important event coming up. According to Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., dermatologists use a specific kind of laser that targets the blood cells that have pooled underneath the skin. It works to break up these blood cells, therefore starting the healing process for the bruise.
9. Wear a turtleneck.
If you really need your hickey camouflaged ASAP and you don't have makeup on you, the best thing to do is hide it by wearing a turtleneck or maybe a jacket, depending on where the affected area is. Sweating it out is the price to pay for a steamy makeout sesh, LOL!
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