How to Navigate a Rough Body Image Day: Pimple Edition

We all have those days — the ones where your body feels like the enemy and your confidence disappears the second you look in the mirror. If you’re wondering how to navigate a rough body image day without letting it ruin your mood, your memories, or your plans… you’re not alone.

In this post, I’m sharing what happened when a surprise breakout almost sabotaged my engagement shoot — and the 3 things that helped me stay grounded, present, and (shockingly) still enjoy the moment.

The Pimple That Tried to Ruin My Engagement Shoot

There it was.

Planted right on my right cheek.

The most in-your-face pimple I had ever seen.

And of course — it showed up on the day of our engagement photoshoot in the city.

I’d already had a meltdown over a damn dress that didn’t fit the way I wanted.
Now my skin decides to betray me too?

Let the spiral begin.

What to Do When Your Body Image Threatens to Steal the Moment

You know that kind of day.
The one you’ve been looking forward to — where you want to feel good, feel beautiful, feel like the best version of yourself.

But instead, you’re fighting the urge to cry in a bathroom because your reflection doesn’t match the moment you imagined.

That was me.

My body image? Hanging by a thread.
My thoughts? Loud.
My skin? Decided to star in its own drama.

It felt like this memory I was supposed to cherish was being hijacked by shame and self-criticism.

And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t new for me.
I’ve done the inner work. I help others with this work.
But healing body image doesn’t mean you never have bad days — it means you’ve got tools to move through them differently.

So that’s what I did.

3 things I leaned on to stay grounded — even with a giant pimple and some seriously negative self-talk trying to take the lead.

1. I Zoomed Out (Mentally, Not with the Camera 😅)

In the heat of the moment, my thoughts narrowed in on everything I hated.
But I paused and asked myself:
What will I actually remember about today?

Not the blemish. Not the dress drama.

I’ll remember laughing with my partner.
Our favorite corners of the city as our backdrop.
The way he looked at me like I was the only one in the frame.

Asking that question helped me see the bigger picture — literally and emotionally.

2. Let the Feeling Exist (But It Doesn’t Get to Drive)

I didn’t pretend I was fine.
I didn’t gaslight myself with “You’re beautiful no matter what!!” (Even though that might be true.)

Instead, I let the discomfort be there. I noticed it. I named it.
But I didn’t give it the wheel.

The spiral slowed down because I didn’t fight it or feed it.
I just… let it pass through.

Sometimes that’s the most powerful thing you can do — let the emotion be a passenger, not the driver.

3. I Got Present — On Purpose

When my brain was trying to pull me out of the moment, I anchored into my senses.

The sound of city traffic in the distance.
The way my fiancé made me laugh between takes.
The feeling of cool air brushing my arms.

This kind of sensory grounding doesn’t fix your body image — but it reminds you that life is happening right now, and you don’t want to miss it.

The Pimple Didn’t Vanish — But the Panic Did

By the end of the shoot, nothing had “fixed” itself.
The pimple was still there.
My dress didn’t magically become my favorite.
But I was in the moment.

And when the photos came back?

I didn’t zoom in on my skin.
Instead, I saw love. I saw laughter. I saw a memory I’ll actually want to keep.

Here’s a sneak peek of the engagement shoot – documented by Sasha Takes Pictures

If You’re Spiraling, Try This:

Next time you feel your body image trying to hijack something important, try these:

• Ask yourself what you’ll remember 10 years from now.
• Let the feeling be there, but don’t let it call the shots.
• Ground into your senses. What’s happening right now?

The moment doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
You get to be in it — fully, messily, and humanly.

Even with a pimple on your cheek.

Want more support? Check out this blog for free body image worksheets!

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