Sometimes we keep on using a product with the hope of it being effective someday but in reality either the product is too mild to work or too irritating for skin, which makes matters worse. The key is to be very cautious and mindful of your skin condition, be proactive in taking suitable measures.
If your acne is mild i.e. blackheads, whiteheads, few pimples and scars you can give these natural remedies a try.
The best natural ingredients for acne prone skin :
- Tea tree oil
- Aloe vera
- Ice cubes
- Lemon juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Mint leaves
- Orange peel
- Honey
- Gram flour
- Fullers earth
- Neem leaves
- Baking soda
- Low fat milk
- Turmeric
- Aspirin for applying topically
1. Green Tea for Acne
The catechins in green tea contain four times more antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants fight oxidative stress in the body, flush out toxins and impurities.
Green tea is not only beneficial for treating and preventing pimples but great for overall health.
Drink 2 cups of green tea daily.
For pimples you can freeze green tea and rub its ice cubes on face for few minutes. Always thaw ice cube or cover it under a wash cloth while applying on skin. Within few hours you will notice reduction in size and redness of pimples. You can do this twice every day to achieve amazing results. (My favorite remedy.)
Another way to use green tea is by adding it to your face mask instead of plain water, or use as a toner before applying moisturizer.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is antiseptic and kills bacteria that reduces pimple size fast.
You can use tea tree oil for spot treatment by applying a drop of it on a pimple overnight.
Pure tea tree oil is quite strong and should be diluted with water, green tea or aloe vera juice.
You can also use readily available tea tree products in the market.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Along with probiotic benefits ACV has antiviral, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties that can fight acne and heal acne scars. Acne is caused when excess sebum (oil) combined with bacteria and hair follicle clog pores. Since apple cider vinegar is antibacterial, if applied cautiously it can definitely reduce acne and improve overall skin condition by controlling oil and reducing pore size.
Also our skin is acidic in nature and has a pH level of 5 but usage of harsh chemicals, over exfoliation, medication and stress etc. can wreck the skin’s natural pH level. ACV is also acidic (but not as much as regular vinegar). After diluting it with water its pH level is around 3 that means it can restore skins natural pH level if used as a toner.
Method 1– Mix a tablespoon of ACV with warm green or white tea in 50:50 ratio and rub on your face (avoid eye areas) with a cotton ball for few minutes then wash it off with cold water.
Method 2– Mix ACV with distilled water in a clean bottle in 50:50 ratio and use as a toner at night after cleansing the face. When it dries apply moisturizer.
Method 3- Mix ACV with baking soda and apply on pimples for spot treatment. Important Note-> if you have sensitive skin do not use baking soda as it has high pH level and is harsh for skin. Apple cider vinegar too may irritate sensitive skin, using it twice or thrice a week as a toner or diluting one fourth part ACV with three fourth part water is a good option for people with low tolerance of strong products. Remember to always use raw unfiltered and organic ACV with the mother.
4. Orange Peel
The high content of Vitamin C in oranges helps in faster removal of acne blemishes.
Dry Orange peels in the sun then grind them in a blender.
Mix with rose water, green tea or few drops of olive oil.
Apply on a clean face for 20-30 minutes thrice a week for amazing results.
You can also use it as a scrub to exfoliate dead skin cells.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera’s rich content of antioxidants and healing properties are used to treat many skin conditions. Just apply fresh aloe vera gel and wash after 30 minutes or add any of the following to it for extra benefits- Lemon juice, rose water, egg white or orange juice. You can also apply it only your blemishes/scars.
6. Yogurt and Turmeric Mask
Yogurt contains lactic acid, turmeric is antiseptic. Together they nourish and repair damaged skin.
Mix one tablespoon yogurt, one tablespoon gram flour and a pinch of turmeric. Let it stay for 20-30 minutes.
Wash with lukewarm water and apply moisturizer.
You can also add few drops of lemon juice and rose water. I prefer using all these ingredients together.
7. Lemon Juice
Dilute lemon juice with warm water and apply on infected areas with a cotton ball, leave it overnight, wash with cold water next morning.
The disinfectant properties will break down bacteria, vitamin C will nourish skin and alpha hydroxy acids will heal skin by speeding up exfoliation. In other words skin is healed faster, as bacteria infected dead skin cells are replaced with new healthy skin cells rapidly.
Ascorbic acid in lemon juice is also used to whiten and bleach skin.
8. Neem (Margosa) for Blemishes
Neem is very commonly used in India to heal various skin ailments due to its antiviral, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It also contains vitamin C and E, minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.
Add neem leaves to water, let it boil for few minutes, when water cools down use it for washing the face.
You can also grind neem leaves and apply the paste directly for 30 minutes every day.
Add neem leaves to bath water to fight body and scalp infections.
9. Mint Leaves and Gramflour
Make a paste by grinding mint leaves and apply on your face for 20 minutes, doing this thrice a week will make your skin glow and blemishes will disappear fast.
Add Gram flour to make consistent paste, it is much easier to apply and you get some extra nourishment! (Try using this paste everyday if it suits you.)
10. Baking Soda
The granules in baking soda help in removing dead and infected skin by exfoliating.
Mix baking soda with water and scrub your face for a minute or two then wash with lukewarm water then apply moisturizer.
Use this method if you have an oily skin with no active pimples and only scars.
For pimples make a thick paste of baking soda with water and apply on pimples and scars overnight. It reduces redness and heals pimple faster.