Why does your skin seem to act up and break out just before a big event, like a wedding, a reunion, or a holiday party? That’s easy to answer – big events bring with them anxiety and stress, and stress wreaks havoc on your complexion.

The key to preparing for a big night out is to spend as much time on your skin as you do on your clothes. Start using the best skin care products you can find about a week before the big event.

In the days leading up the party, step up your acne-fighting efforts. Use a cream that contains salicylic acid, and leave it on problem areas overnight. If you have persistent eruptions a few days before your big night, apply tiny round patches containing salicylic acid. These are available in most drug stores that sell the best skin care products.

Many people make the mistake of going for expensive facials, like laser treatments, skin peels, or microdermabrasion, a day or two before they want to look their best. Instead, they end up looking red as beet and feeling raw from these abrasive procedures.

The secret to radiant skin on demand is giving yourself a spa-grade facial in the privacy of your own home a few hours before showtime. The best wrinkle cream for formal affairs is a skincare serum with hyaluronic acid that incorporates all-natural ingredients in an anti-aging cocktail that rivals the finest spa treatments and the best skin care products money can buy.

To complete your special-event treatment, you can use a dermaroller to smooth out creases in your skin, and to help topical serums and moisturizers absorb into the skin more completely. Just before the event, apply an extra dab of moisturizer to make sure your skin stays hydrated, and you’ll be ready for your close-up!