Dazzle While FrazzledThrifty DIY home decor and easy crafts

Garden and Outdoor Decor

Tin Can Fairy Garden House

A tin can turns into a tiny cottage for a fairy garden or a big planter. Paint a door and windows, add a cone roof, and tuck it among moss and small plants. Kids love planning the little yard around it.

  • Time About 1.5 hours, plus drying
  • Skill Easy, good with kids

Before you start. Choose the can by the size of your garden spot: a soup can for a pot, a large coffee can for a garden bed. File the rim smooth before kids handle it, and do the nail holes yourself. Sketch the door and windows on paper first; it helps kids plan the colors before the paint comes out.

Drawing of a gray tin can cottage with a terracotta cone roof, yellow windows and a wooden door, with flowers and pebbles.
A can, a cone roof, and a pebble path.

What you'll need

  • A clean tin can with a smooth rim
  • Outdoor acrylic or spray paint
  • Sturdy cardboard or thin bark for a cone roof
  • A hot glue gun
  • Pebbles, moss and twigs
  • Outdoor clear sealer
  • A nail and hammer

How to make it

  1. Drain hole. Tap a few nail holes in the bottom of the can so rain can drain if it sits on soil.
  2. Paint the walls. Paint the can a soft color and let it dry.
  3. Add a door and windows. Paint an arched door and two square windows. A twig glued on makes a door handle.
  4. Make the roof. Roll cardboard or bark into a cone wider than the can, glue the seam and glue it on top.
  5. Seal and set. Spray it with clear sealer, then nestle it in the garden with pebbles for a path and moss around the base.

Make it your own

  • Make a row of small cans as a fairy village.
  • Use a bottle cap as a tiny welcome mat.
  • Paint a moon and stars on the roof for a night theme.

Care and storage. Reseal the paint once a year. Bring the house in for winter if your garden freezes hard.

Little gardens, long sunny afternoons

Fairy gardens are a reason to spend the afternoon outside, and that means sun and sweat. Mayo Clinic notes that acne can form where skin touches oily lotions and creams, and the pimples guide recommends a non-comedogenic sunscreen over tanning. Get rid of pimples with steps that fit a busy day.

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.

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.