Breakouts are awful on any random day, but when you have a big event? The worst. Whether you woke up with a cluster or just one giant shiner, there are easy ways to reduce redness and inflammation overnight! Here, a 24-hour plan to good skin.

Step One: Wash Your Face
Any type of blemish, whether a pimple or blackhead, is caused by a buildup of bacteria, oil and dirt. But "dirt" can be a combo of makeup, dead skin, oil from your hands, and yes, regular ol' grime. Gentle washing (not too rough! scrubbing further irritates already inflamed skin) with a personalized for-your-skin-type cleanser removes the dirt and much of the oil.

Step Two: Freeze the Puffiness
Zits are red and puffy because they're swollen. You can reduce the swelling like you would for anything else: with ice! Put an ice cube in a paper towel, twist the end, then hold the cube directly on an inflamed blemish. A few minutes should do the trick.

Step Three: Medicate and Moisturize
Dry your face and apply an oil-free, anti-acne moisturizer with a high concentrate of salicylic acid. It helps the skin shed quickly, which keeps pores from clogging and prevents more pimples. Put a bit of acne spot treatment cream containing 10 percent benzoyl peroxide on individual zits to inhibit the main acne-causing bacteria. Tie your hair up to keep pore-clogging oils, dirt and product away from your face.

Step Four: Have a Snack
We interrupt this highly scientific process to address a favorite subject: food! What have you been munching on lately? Some breakouts are a direct result of eating something that made your hormones go wacky or increased oil production on your pretty face. The solution? Cleanse from the inside out. This means drinking water all day (nix the sodas and coffee), noshing on healthful foods (fresh veggies, whole grains, no sugar or greasy foods) and getting a good night’s snooze to slow down hormone-affecting stress.

Step Five: Wake up, Sunshine!
When you get up in the morning, repeat the first three steps before putting on makeup to cover any spots. (Tip: Be sure to use cool -- not hot -- water when cleansing, to reduce redness.) Using a new cosmetics sponge, apply foundation that matches your skin tone, in a light patting motion. Dab a little concealer on individual zits, then touch up with a second pat of foundation. Lightly apply a little blush, mascara and lip gloss. Know what? You look fabulous!

There is a recent rise in girl-on-girl physical violence, but most girl bullies use smack talk to intimidate their victims -- and they even take their smear campaigns online for widespread humiliation.

Here, we point out a bully’s weak spots so you can see straight through that plastic Queen of Mean mask she’s hiding behind.

Secret No. 1: “I don’t like myself nearly as much as I pretend to.”
A bully seems to be rocking so much confidence, but the truth is that she doesn’t feel so great about herself. “Bullies empower themselves by picking on others because they actually may have low self-esteem,” says Kelsey Ann Jackson, 17, founder of Mean Girls Aren’t Cool, a female bullying education and prevention program.

Secret No. 2: “Often, I pick on the girls I envy the most.”
Kelsey was bullied from 9 to 14 years old. “They called me names and started rumors. I never got to eat at the same lunch table or go to sleepover parties. They excluded me, and I think they were jealous. I’m a singer, so maybe they were jealous that I got to sing and go to places where they couldn’t go.”

Secret No. 3: “There’s probably something icky in my life you don’t know about.”
Many girls who bully might have issues at home that cause them to lash out. Says Kelsey: “The main girl who bullied me -- I call her the ‘queen bee’ -- was a popular girl with money and good grades and nice clothes. But maybe she just didn’t really feel special, because she came from a family with a lot of girls, and she was the middle child. I don’t think she should resort to treating other girls the way she did.”

Secret No. 4: “I feel better about my behavior when others girls go along with it.”
“The ‘queen bee’ always got other girls to do her dirty work for her,” says Kelsey. “There were about five of them, and they followed her lead because they wanted to be in the popular clique.” But just as mean girls band together, so can the nice girls. “If you see a friend being bullied, stick up for her,” advises Kelsey. “Put the bully in the spotlight, and make someone aware of what’s going on. Tell a parent or teacher and get help.”

Hello, summer! It’s time to sweat, but that doesn’t have to mean runny makeup or bad hair. From face tanner to turquoise toenails, feeling fine in summer is as cool as our collection of no-sweat strategies for those hot, steamy days when you find yourself really working up a serious ... glow.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Like Zits
The science of a simple blemish is basic: a clogged pore. Finding a sunscreen that doesn’t break you out is no different from finding a moisturizer that works for you. Choose a product that’s designed for faces only, and apply it to clean skin when your hands are clean. (Forget foundation, which clogs your pores when it’s hot!)

After you’ve been in the sun all day, wash your face with a mild cleanser and cool water to temper inflammation before you go to bed. If you do get a zit, put an ice cube in a paper towel and hold it on the blemish to dry and cool it. Oh, and drink lots of water to keep your skin detoxed.

Your Period, 90 Degrees and Shorts
Summer lasts three months, so that’s three periods. If you haven’t been keeping track of your cycle on your phone calendar, start now! When it’s close, wear a panty liner so you’re prepared. When it comes, put away the shorts! Dresses and jumpers are amazing for hiding bloat and staying cool.

A tampon will take care of business if you want to swim; just tuck the string up so it doesn’t accidentally poke out of your swimsuit. Tip: Always keep a good supply of tampons and liners in your bag, just in case!

What to Do About Tee Stains
Why does sweat stain? Most sweat stains are the result of aluminum salts in antiperspirants. The salts don’t completely dissolve, and the sweat stain on your clothes is usually yellow or greenish. Eeeew.

This works: Wash clothes in the hottest temperature and use a minimum amount of detergent. Then, choose a deodorant that doesn’t have aluminum salts. You can also try a gel or non-powder spray, but remember to let it totally dry before you dress.

Your Guide to Goof-proof Self-tanning
Baking out in the sun is a huge no-no, but sometimes a girl still wants a little glow! When you find a self-tanner that works with your natural skin tone, it’s like discovering beauty in a bottle.

Your best bet is to always apply tanner on totally dry skin after you shower. We banish foams to beauty detention for their nearly guaranteed streaking. Tanning moisturizers, on the other hand, give all-over coverage and nourish the skin. Next, try a spray product over your tan moisturizer for a double hit of color. Hold the can at least 6 inches from your skin and lightly apply the spray, like a mist. When you’re done, wash your hands in warm water and soap.

From Bedhead to Wet Head
If you’re all about your hair, summer isn’t always cooperative. To deal with post-swim tress mess, keep a small comb or brush in your bag and, when you get out of the pool, run it through your hair. (If there’s a shower or hose, rinse out the salt water or chlorine before brushing.)

If you like your hair wavy, tousle it with your fingers and let it sun-dry. But if it’s a humid day, your hair may dry frizzy or flat, so pull into a slick low pony. Otherwise, get under a cute straw fedora!

Just because school’s letting out, that doesn’t mean you get to stash your brain in a locker all summer. But keeping your brain cells sharp doesn’t have to be a drag. Right here, we show you how to have fun with it.

1. Play video games.
More and more studies are showing that playing action-based video games results in various levels of enhanced brain functioning, such as speeding up your ability to process information. Need a suggestion? A Game of Thrones: Genesis requires strategic thinking and not so much shooting and splatting. Really challenge your level of thinking by deciphering the symbolism and metaphors in the game’s storyline.

2. Make music.
Research also shows that music helps your brain develop, boosting savvy in language, reading, math and cognition. This includes singing, playing an instrument and even listening to music. So take a lesson this summer … or just crank up your playlist!

3. Read for … pleasure.
Tired of all that required reading? We hear ya! But don’t shy away from your local library or bookstore just because school’s out. Lots have summer programs with fun activities and freebies! Browse the shelves for something you want to read. Try picking up a few comic books. Or delve into something that’s more heavy-duty but still fun, such as The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel six-book series by Michael Scott.

4. Solve puzzles.
While you’re at the bookstore, pick up a few Sudoku or crossword puzzle books to toss into your beach bag. Word and number games are great for keeping yourself in check. Or try other brainteasers, such as search-and-seek games, scrambles and mazes. Old-school board games such as Scrabble and chess keep you on your toes too. And, yes, even jigsaw puzzles!

5. Play a sport.
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, high school girls who play sports get better grades and are more likely to graduate. (Bonus: They also have higher self-esteem, lower levels of depression and more positive body images!) So sign up for a summer league or work on perfecting your swan dive at the swimming pool.

6. Be chill.
Up until now, we’ve talked about exercising the brain, but it’s also important to consistently take time-outs to still the mind for balance. And when school resumes in the fall, if you continue to practice plenty of quiet time, it will reduce test anxiety and improve test performance. (We can see those straight A’s already.) So find a spot in the park or even your backyard and do this exercise, recommended by the Institute of HeartMath, for getting centered:

a) Place your attention around your heart, putting your hand over that area of your chest.
b) Now pretend to breathe in and out of your heart, taking three slow breaths.
c) Think of something that makes you feel happy, and then shine that happy feeling to the whole world. Hold this feeling for as long as you like.

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/danez

Are you desperately in need of advice? You could always bounce it off your BFF. Or your mom. Or your guidance counselor. Or … yourself! Here, we show you some tried-and-true techniques for following your own heart.

TAP INTO YOUR INTUITION: GUT-CHECK TIME

The Sitch: Your cousin is running with the wrong crowd, and she’s invited you to go to the mall with her and the crew this weekend. You miss your cuz; the two of you always have so much fun together! But you didn’t get such a good vibe from these kids the first time you met them.

Check Yourself: No need to answer your cousin on the fly! Thank her for the invite and tell her you’ll get back to her. Then take some quiet time to sort it all out. Sit down, close your eyes, still your mind and feel your truth. Would you like to give her friends a chance, or are you just not getting a good vibe about the whole thing? Follow that hunch.

TAP INTO YOUR INTUITION: WALK IT OFF

The Sitch: You were going after a starter position for the soccer team. You doubled up on practices and worked really hard, but you didn’t make the cut for first string. Coach is offering you a choice: second string for the super-competitive team or captain of intramurals.

Check Yourself: Decision-making can be challenging, especially when a ton of emotions are swirling around the issue. Instead of going into a woe-is-me fit, take a stroll. That’s right, a good walk can help you release negative feelings and shift your mood. Better? Once you’re centered, weigh the issue. Captain or second string? You can’t go wrong either way when it’s all about playing your game and having fun!

TAP INTO YOUR INTUITION: WRITE AWAY!

The Sitch: Your school’s mean girl has posted some pretty snide remarks about you on Facebook. It’s nothing major, but it’s clear she’s trying to rub you. And it’s working; you’re steamed! Ugh, everyone is texting you about it. You want to handle this without creating more drama, but how?

Check Yourself: If you’re looking for a specific answer here, sorry, not happening. Learning to read your intuition is about solving your own problems, especially in situations as sticky as this. When life gets complicated, it’s time to grab your journal and get writing. It’s OK to plan fantasy schemes of revenge, but once you’re done venting that bad juju, jot down as many amicable real-life solutions as possible.

TAP INTO YOUR INTUITION: CATCH YOUR DREAMS

The Sitch: Your two best friends are spatting, and you’re stuck in the middle. And you feel like you and your BF are drifting apart. Oh, and your parents are turning a bedroom into an office and making you double up with your sister. Plus, you’ve got exams coming up! Seems like it can’t get any worse.

Check yourself: Ruh-roh! When things pile on at once, do not go into freak-out mode. Give it a rest, literally, by solving problems in your sleep. Your dreams can be like a whisper from a trusted friend: your subconscious. Decoding your dreams provides clues to cracking your life’s little mysteries.