Dazzle While FrazzledThrifty DIY home decor and easy crafts

DIY Holidays & Seasons

20-Minute Retro Tinsel Garland Wreath

Tinsel garland, a wire wreath form and a few shatterproof ornaments. In about 20 minutes you get a wreath with a cheerful, mid-century look. Pick two colors that aren't red and green, like aqua and pink, for the full retro effect.

  • Time About 20 minutes
  • Skill Easy

Before you start. Unroll the tinsel garland and let it hang for an hour before you start; it relaxes and wraps more evenly. Count your ornaments and lay them around the form first, so you know the spacing before any wire goes on. Work on a towel or an old sheet, because tinsel sheds and the bits are easier to gather in one piece of fabric than off the floor.

Drawing of a round tinsel wreath in aqua and pink with small ornaments and a pink bow.
Aqua and pink tinsel with a few shiny ornaments.

What you'll need

  • A 12 inch wire wreath form
  • Two or three strands of tinsel garland
  • 8 to 10 small shatterproof ornaments
  • Floral wire or thin craft wire
  • Wire cutters
  • A wide ribbon for the bow

How to make it

  1. Anchor the garland. Tie the end of the first strand to the wreath form with floral wire.
  2. Wrap. Wind the garland around the form at an angle, keeping the turns tight so no wire shows. Join the next strand with a twist of wire.
  3. Add ornaments. Thread wire through each ornament cap and twist it onto the form, spacing them around the ring.
  4. Add the bow. Tie a big bow and wire it to the top.
  5. Hang it. Twist a wire loop on the back for hanging.

Make it your own

  • Use silver tinsel and blue ornaments for a winter wreath you can leave up into January.
  • Make a small version on a 6 inch form to hang on a cabinet door.
  • Add a felt banner across the middle with a short greeting.

Care and storage. Store it in a large bag or box on its own, hanging if possible, so the tinsel doesn't flatten. Fluff the tinsel by hand when you take it out again.

The wreath on the door, the scarf on your chin

This tinsel wreath hangs on the front door, so it's the last thing you see on the way out into the cold. In December that usually means a scarf wound up over your chin and a heavy coat collar, worn for a long walk or an afternoon of errands.

Fabric that sits tight against warm skin has a known effect. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that fabric or equipment that holds heat and sweat while it rubs the skin can cause acne mechanica, which starts as small, rough bumps (AAD, acne mechanica). NIAMS, at the National Institutes of Health, counts pressure from tight clothes as a possible acne aggravator (NIAMS acne overview).

  • Wear the scarf a bit looser around the chin.
  • Choose soft, breathable fabric next to the face.
  • Wash scarves often over the winter months.

Chin spots that show up anyway? Read on for how to get rid of pimples gently through the winter.

The full guide, from howtogetridofpimples.org

How to get rid of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and acne cysts

How to get rid of pimples depends on the kind: adapalene for clogged pores, benzoyl peroxide for red bumps, a warm compress then a dermatologist for deep lumps. Per the AAD, one product needs 6 to 8 weeks.

Last reviewed · based on 5 dermatology sources

How to get rid of pimples, step by step

  • Whitehead
  • Blackhead
  • Papule
  • Pustule
  • Nodule
  • Cyst
    1. Wash gently

      Wash your face up to twice a day and after sweating, using your fingertips and a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Scrubbing irritates the skin. After sports, wash as soon as you can.

    2. Treat the whole area

      Spread a thin layer of one product over all acne-prone skin, not just the spot: benzoyl peroxide, adapalene or salicylic acid. For adapalene, a pea-sized amount covers your whole face, every other night at first.

    3. Cover it

      Put a hydrocolloid pimple patch on an open pimple. Worn overnight, it can speed up healing and calm irritation.

    1. Hands off

      Don't pick, pop or squeeze. It makes acne take longer to clear and raises the risk of scars and dark spots. If you're asking yourself should you pop pimples, dermatologists say no.

    2. Deep, painful pimple

      Hold a clean, warm, damp washcloth on it for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day, to bring it to the surface. Then use a thin layer of one acne product. If it won't go, a dermatologist can treat it, for example with a steroid injection.

    1. Be patient

      Give one product 6 to 8 weeks. If it works, you should see some improvement in 4 to 6 weeks; clearing can take 2 to 3 months. No change after 6 to 8 weeks? See a dermatologist.

      Once it clears, keep using it. Staying on it is how to get rid of pimples that keep coming back.

What to put on a pimple

An over-the-counter pimple treatment is an acne product you can buy without a prescription. It means you can start tonight with one active ingredient. The strength of each product is printed on the label; use it as often as the label says, since too much dries skin out.

Pimple treatments you can buy without a prescription
IngredientWhat it doesBest forStrengthHow long
Benzoyl peroxideKills acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammationRed, inflamed pimplesWashes and creams6 to 8 weeks
Salicylic acidRemoves dead skin cells, cuts oil, unclogs poresPapules and pustulesWashes and leave-on products; follow the label6 to 8 weeks
AdapaleneA retinoid: unclogs pores and reduces oilinessBlackheads and whiteheadsGel without a prescription; stronger with oneA few months before trying stronger
Azelaic acidOne of four acne-fighting ingredients dermatologists nameA deep pimple once it surfacesSold without a prescription6 to 8 weeks

Using more than one or two products at once can irritate your skin. For a single spot, an acne spot treatment dabbed only on that pimple keeps the rest of your face calm.

How to get rid of pimples by type

A pimple type is the kind of acne blemish you see, from a clogged pore to a deep cyst. It means each type needs a different treatment, so knowing yours tells you how to get rid of pimples of that kind. The depth of a pimple decides whether you can treat it at home, and a full guide to the types of pimples goes deeper on each one.

Whiteheads
Closed, clogged pore
A pore clogged with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells that closed up: a tiny white or flesh-colored bump.Adapalene plus a benzoyl peroxide wash.
Blackheads
Open, clogged pore
A clogged pore that stays open. The dark dot isn't dirt, so don't scrub it.Adapalene plus a benzoyl peroxide wash.
Papules
Small, red, hard bump
Small, red bumps that feel hard. Lots of them can feel like sandpaper.Wash twice a day with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Pustules
Red bump, white center
Like papules, but with a white or yellow center.Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash; don't pop.
Nodules
Deep, hard, painful lump
Deep under the skin. They often leave scars.A warm compress, then a dermatologist.
Cysts
Deep, filled sac
Deep, painful lumps you may feel more than see. They often scar.See a dermatologist early: fewer scars.

What to skip

  • ScrubbingWashcloths, sponges and scrubs irritate acne-prone skin and make acne worse.
  • PoppingIt slows healing and raises the risk of scars and dark spots.
  • Toners and astringentsThey can dry your skin and make acne look worse. Look for "alcohol-free" on the label.
  • Switching every few daysNew products too often irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
  • TanningTanning damages skin and can worsen acne. Use a non-comedogenic SPF 30+ sunscreen.

When to see a dermatologist

A dermatologist is a doctor who treats skin, including acne that home care can't clear. It means you get prescription treatment, such as tretinoin, and procedures like chemical peels, light therapy or steroid injections. Go if you have:

  • Painful lumps under the skin (nodules or cysts)
  • Scarring
  • No change after 6 to 8 weeks of products you bought yourself
  • Acne that hurts your mood or confidence

Your questions, answered

Straight answers to what people search for most.

How do you get rid of a pimple overnight?

You can't make one disappear by tomorrow. Nothing works that fast. What helps tonight: a pimple patch on an open pimple, worn overnight, and keeping your hands off it.

For the full routine by type of spot, see our page on how to get rid of a pimple overnight.

Do pimples heal faster popped or unpopped?

Unpopped. Popping makes acne take longer to clear and raises your risk of scars and dark spots.

Do pimple patches really work?

On an open pimple, yes. The hydrocolloid in them absorbs fluid and forms a protective gel. Worn overnight, they can speed up healing and calm irritation.

What kills pimples best?

There's no single winner. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, adapalene unclogs pores, and salicylic acid unclogs pores and eases inflammation. The best one is the one that fits your pimple type.

What is the #1 cause of acne?

Clogged pores. Extra oil and dead skin cells block a pore, and bacteria grow in it. Hormones, genes and things around you play a part too.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. 6 skin care habits that can clear acne. aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips
  2. American Academy of Dermatology. Treating deep, painful pimples.
  3. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: types of breakouts.
  4. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: tips for clearer skin.
  5. MedlinePlus. Salicylic acid topical. medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607072.html

Last reviewed

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. See a dermatologist if you have painful lumps (nodules or cysts), scarring, no change after 6 to 8 weeks, or if acne affects your mood.