Your skin is your friend. You like your skin. Your skin likes you. It protects you from the elements and literally keeps you together. You in turn do your best to protect it from any kind of damage. Then, one day, acne rears its ugly head, and you suddenly hate your skin. What do you do then? Turn to harsh chemicals, and expensive scrubs? That’s a fine way to thank a friend who’s been there for you since day one. Your epidermis isn’t at fault here-it can’t help that your hormones are causing all that extra sebum to clog up your pores, or the fact that bacteria is running rampant. If your skin could talk it would say something along the lines of “patience, grasshopper. Treat me right and I shall repay you in kind.”
That’s just a guess, anyways. The point is, natural acne remedies are a good way to get rid of it, or at least hold it at bay. They make you step back and really figure out what’s going on with your skin, and how to work with it. Chances are, your skin will repay you in kind for not simply ravaging it with strange chemicals-and your wallet will probably thank you too.
1. Apply some apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a powerhouse when it comes to acting as an acne remedy. Why? It kills off the bacteria that may be causing all the trouble in the first place. It also becomes alkaline, and balances the pH of your skin, which in turn makes it harder for bacteria to thrive.
To top it off it’s an astringent, like lemon juice, and will help dry up excess oil. Keeping that in mind, don’t overdo and dry out your skin too much. This could cause the sebaceous glands overproduce to compensate, therefore triggering an outbreak.
You will need…
-Pure unfiltered apple cider vinegar
-Fresh water
Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Using a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, dip a cotton ball into vinegar and apply it directly to the blemish.
Leave on for at least 10 minutes, or overnight. Reapply several times a day, washing face thoroughly after each time. Make sure to use a moisturizer afterwards as well if you feel like your skin is getting dry.
2. Make a cinnamon and honey mask
Honey is sticky, and cinnamon is spicy, and it seems like they’re both things you’d want to avoid getting near your skin. Surprisingly, while it may sound strange, honey and cinnamon make a (literally) killer combo when it comes to acne. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties, so it can help stop bacteria from getting out of hand. If it does, the honey is a natural anti-biotic, ready and waiting to wipe the little buggers out.
You will need…
-2 tablespoons of honey
-1 teaspoon of cinnamon
– paper towels
Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon together until they are thoroughly blended and have formed a sort of paste. Apply the mask to your face (or spot treat) and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off completely, and pat your face dry. This is a sticky mixture, so make sure you have some paper towels at on hand.
3. The land of milk and honey (or yogurt)
While there is quite a bit of hub bub around dairy products causing acne, applied topically it seems that milk can improve your outbreaks and skin tone. The reason it is suggested that milk would cause acne is because of the extra hormones in it-but unless it’s ingested, this doesn’t really do much. For the most part, it just soothes the irritated skin, and helps tone down the redness. Cleopatra swore on the milk baths she took, and well, she was Cleopatra. You could also use yogurt. The acids in it are antibacterial while the fat provides moisture, making it quite nourishing for skin.
You will need…
– 1 tablespoon plain low-fat or full-fat yogurt or milk, anything but skim
– 1 tablespoon of natural, raw, honey
Directions
Let yogurt or milk come to room temperature (or close to) so you don’t get a chilly shock when you put it on your skin. Mix 1 tablespoon of milk or yogurt thoroughly with 1 tablespoon of honey. You can apply the mixture with a cotton pad, but scooping it up and patting it on works just fine as well. Let each layer dry before adding a new one, until the mask is the thickness you want. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash your mask off and use a washcloth to gently scrub in a circular motion, getting rid of loosened dead skin. Once you’re finished, moisturize as usual.
4. Whip up some ‘whites
Egg whites are an easy and affordable way to help reduce acne and fade scars left by unfortunate blemishes. The reason people have found egg whites to be helpful for their skin is because they’re chock full of proteins and vitamins that both combat acne, and help to rebuild your skin cells. They also soak up excess oil, which means excess sebum, (exactly what you were thinking right?) which means less stuff for bacteria to feed on. Hooray! Just make sure to use a good moisturizer afterwards, as they can dry your skin out a bit.
You will need…
-2 to 3 egg whites, separated from yolks
-Bowl
-Washcloth
Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Separate the whites from the yolks. You can use as many as you like, but normally 2 to 3 is enough. Whisk the whites until they’re frothy, and let them sit for a few minutes. Cover your face with the mixture (applying with fingertips is easy) focusing on problem spots. 3 to 4 layers is usually enough, but make sure to wait the first has dried before applying more. Allow the mask to sit and dry for about 20 minutes before rinsing off completely with warm water and a patting dry with a soft washcloth. Apply moisturizer appropriate for your skin type.
5. Papaya for the pimple prone
Papaya is an essential ingredient in a lot of beauty products on the market today, but theres no need to go out of your way to gain its benefits? Plain raw papaya is an all-natural acne remedy that removes dead skin cells and excess lipids from the surface of the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Lipids are a general term for fats, of which oil is a form of. Papaya also contains an enzyme called papain, which reduces inflammation and helps prevent the pus from forming.
You will need…
-1 fresh papaya
Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Mash up the flesh of the papaya well, until it is of a consistency that can be easily applied to your skin. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off completely with warm water. If your skin has a tendency to get dry after you cleanse it, use a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type afterwards.
6. Make an orange peel paste
Ah, oranges. They taste rejuvenating and refreshing, and our skin may find them just as appealing as our taste buds do. Acne that is caused by bacteria and extra oil/dead skin cells clogging up pores may improve with the use of an orange peel face mask of sorts, thanks to the vitamin C, citric acid, and it’s astringent properties. The vitamin C is particularly helpful because it promotes the growth of new healthy cells, keeping your skin in better condition overall.
You will need…
-2 Orange peels
-Clean, fresh water
Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Grind/pound up your orange peels (you could use a blender, mortar and pestle, whatever gets the job done) and add a little water to create a paste. Add a little at a time, as too much will make it too thin and runny. Once you have the right consistency, apply it to your face and/or problem areas. Wait for 20-25 minutes. Ideally the mask should be firm, but it can still work if it isn’t. Rinse off completely with water, pat your face dry, and apply a good moisturize.
7. Tap into tea tree oil
You’ll read about tea tree oil for a lot of home remedies, but will most likely see it mentioned the most when comes to skin care, specifically, acne. But why, when too much oil is clogging the pores and making you break out, would you want to use more oil? Tea tree oil isn’t like the oil your skin naturally produces, rather it is more like a solvent that cuts through the extra sebum and dead skin cells, and unblocks the pores. Its antibacterial properties also kill off the acne causing bacteria, and prevent further outbreaks.
Note: Tea tree oil is ok for topical use, but should never be ingested. It should also always be diluted before use.
You will need…
-Tea tree oil (a small bottle will do)
-Clean water
-Q-tips or cotton balls
Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Dilute tea tree oil by mixing 1 part oil to 9 parts water. Dip a Q-tip or cotton swab in mixture, and apply to problem areas. If you decide you want a stronger dilution after a while, you can slowly (slowly!) begin to increase the strength, making sure to use each new mixture for at least a week for making it any stronger. Again, it should never be applied undiluted. You can apply a light moisturizer afterwards if you wish.
Another option, especially if you have sensitive skin, is to dilute it with aloe vera gel instead of water.
8. Mix strawberries and honey
Honey and strawberries make a home remedy for acne that sounds pretty sweet (pun intended) and it combines two things that are used commonly in pricey, often time’s harsh, facial scrubs and cleansers. Strawberries may seem random, but consider the fact that they’re high in salicylic acid. Salicylic acid-a primary ingredient in many commercial acne treatments- encourages the epidermis to shed its cells more readily, opening up clogged pores, and neutralizing bacteria. It also shrinks up the pores a little bit, which prevents them from clogging up as much in the future, and encourages new cell growth. Honey also works against bacteria that may be behind your acne, and is an anti-inflammatory.
You will need…
-3 fresh strawberries, washed well
-2 teaspoons of good honey-raw is best
Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Rinse 3 strawberries and mash them up well, taking care that they don’t get over-mashed and runny. Add the strawberries to two teaspoons of honey, and thoroughly blend them together. Apply to your face and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off completely with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize if your skin has a tendency to dry out. Use twice a week for at least a month.
9. Utilize a banana peel
Bananas are full of all sorts of goodness-even the part we don’t eat. Their peels contain something called lutein, an extremely powerful antioxidant that reduces swelling and inflammation, and encourages healthy cell growth. So…rubbing a banana peel on your face can reduce the redness, obviousness, and discomfort of acne. It’s (debatably) a better use than using it to trip your friend.
You will need…
-1 banana peel
Directions
Peel your banana and eat it- it’s not cool to waste, and they’re good for you. Take the peel, and rub in a circular motion all over your face. When you feel as though you’ve covered all of your face, let it sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off.
10. Aloe for acne
Aloe vera gel can be used with other things to fight acne, but it’s a good thing on its own as well. If it’s going to be used on its own, the best is to have a little aloe plant floating around in your house, otherwise a good gel that’s sold in stores may work as well-just do some research on which ones have the least amount of additives. Not only is the aloe soothing, it works as an anti-inflammatory, decreasing redness and swelling. It also has antibacterial properties.
You will need…
-Enough aloe vera gel to spot treat or cover your problem areas
Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Using your fingertips or a Q-tip, apply the aloe directly to your problem areas.
11. The wonders of sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate, glorious sodium bicarbonate, swoops in and makes itself useful in too many ways to count. In the case of acne remedies, this fabulous substance (also known as baking soda) is useful thanks to its mild antiseptic properties, as well as its uncanny ability to fight off fungus and bacteria and dry up excess oil, all while exfoliating your skin via microdermabrasion and making it soft and beautiful. I know-I get star struck too now whenever I see a box of baking soda.
You will need…
-a box of baking soda
-fresh water
Directions
There are two ways to go about this-making a facial mask, or a straightforward scrub. For a facial mask, mix equal parts baking soda to water to form a thick paste. Massage the paste on in slow circular motions for a 2 minutes. Leave the mask on for around 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize.
For a scrub, mix a half a cup of baking soda with one eighth a cup of water. Apply the paste to your face, massaging it in well. After 5-6 minutes of this, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize.
12. Dab some lemon juice on it
Lemon juice can help get rid of breakouts for a number of reasons. It is rich in vitamin C, which is good for all types of skin, and it’s a citric acid, so it helps ‘exfoliate’ the skin as well. Most importantly though, it is an astringent. An astringent will cause a contraction of body tissues, and will therefore dry out the blemish itself. It is also a natural skin whitener, which helps reduce redness. If you misplace a dab you may get a little white spot, but don’t panic- it will go away on its own accord. Rinse off any lemon juice before going out in the sun, as it may make you more sensitive to it.
You will need…
-1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately)
-Q-tips or cotton balls (optional)
-Yogurt (optional)
Directions
Rinse face gently with water and pat dry. Dab fingers, a cotton ball, or a Q-tip in lemon juice and apply to pimple. If it stings, try mixing it first with a bit of yogurt.
13. Make it steamy
Steam can help soothe a number of minor maladies, acne being one of them. It helps reduce acne, and its glaring appearance, by opening up the pores and flushing out impurities lurking deep within your skin. You can choose to only steam, or you can use something afterwards. If you use it with something else, you’ve cleared a sort of path for whatever you’re using to really do its job.
You will need…
-1 pot of boiling water
-1 towel
-A large bowl
Directions
Boil a pot of water, pour into a large bowl, and let it cool for a few minutes. After its temperature has lowered slightly, place your face above the bowl, and drape the towel over your head to trap the steam. After 10-15 minutes, remove the towel and pat your face dry. Do this once a day or as needed.
14. The wonders of garlic
Garlic is thought to be a good natural remedy for acne because of its supposed antibacterial properties. You can either ingest it, or apply it topically to help reduce the severity of your breakouts and prevent them in the future. If you can get the juice from the garlic, great, if you can’t, mashing it up and putting it in some water is fine. Never, ever, ever, apply garlic to your skin without diluting it first. If you’re hesitant about the garlic smell, look at the silver lining-others may be a bit taken aback, but you won’t have to worry about Dracula creeping around either.
You will need…
-2-3 cloves of garlic
-water OR aloe vera gel
Directions
Either extract the garlic juice and mix it with 1 teaspoons or so of water, or mash up 2-3 cloves and let sit in water for about 10 minutes. Using a cotton pad, soak up the juice or garlic water and cover problem spots. If you don’t have a cotton pad or something similar to apply it with, the mixture can be a bit runny and hard to work with. In this case, substitute aloe vera gel for water. If you choose to ingest garlic, a clove or two a day should be enough. Prepare it however you like.
15. Oatmeal boost
Oatmeal can power you up from the inside out-and the outside in. If you soak/cook your oats and use them in mask, they can reduce the inflammation and unsightly redness that accompanies breakouts. Add some honey to your mask and you have a great recipe for a rather tasty sounding acne remedy. Keep in mind that oatmeal on its own will not cure your acne, and should be used as part of a sensible routine acne treatment. However, it may very well reduce the blatant, painful, appearance of the breakouts.
You will need…
-One serving of oatmeal-steel cut seems to work well
-Water
-Two tablespoons raw honey
Directions
Whip up a batch of oatmeal as usual, or by following the directions on the box. When it is finished and still hot, add two tablespoons of honey. Let mixture cool to room temperature. Keep in mind it retains quite a bit of heat, so really make sure it’s a comfortable temperature before applying it to your skin-the last thing you need is a burn! Leave it on for 20-30 minutes. When it has set, rinse off with warm water and pat your skin dry.
16. Sugar scrub
Sugar, white or brown, helps get rid of the excess skin cells clogging up your pores by acting as gentle exfoliator. Mix it up with honey, olive oil, or just plain water, and you have a sweet scrub to help rid you of your acne woes. There are plenty of different recipes out there, but we found this one to be particularly delightful (courtesy of cjanecreate.com-thank you for sharing this!)
You will need…
-1 ½ cups of white sugar
-1 ½ cups brown sugar, light or dark
-2-3 tablespoons coarse sea salt
-Roughly 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
-10 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract
-1 whole vanilla bean (totally optional)
Directions
Mix 1 ½ cups of brown sugar and 1 ½ cups of brown sugar, adding in a few tablespoons of coarse sea salt for extra exfoliation, and mix. If you’re using the vanilla bean, scrap out the caviar (the inside stuff) and mix it in at this point as well. Put about 2 cups of this sugar/salt/vanilla mixture into a liquid measuring cup and pack it down nice and snug. Pour the extra virgin olive oil over the top, and let it soak through half the mixture, leaving a little layer on top. Mix this up in the measuring cup, and then add it to the rest of the sugar/salt/vanilla mix. Add 4-5 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract and mix it in. Now you can spoon your scrub into whatever containers you wish to store it, making sure to pack it down. If you like, drizzle one tablespoon of vanilla extract on top to ensure that you’ll get the delicious scent when you open it up. This will fill 4 half-pint jars.
17. Avocado & honey mask
There are so many rumors surrounding diet and acne, it’s hard to know what’s right and what’s wrong. Amongst these rumors is the claim that avocado (eating it and sometimes applying it topically) will make you breakout, because it’s higher in fat. As far as I am concerned, there’s no concrete evidence to prove this, and far more people seem to have success using it than not. It’s so full of good vitamins and nutrients it seems it can really help tone down the acne. If you have sensitive skin, too, it’s quite mild. There are different combinations you can try, as with most home remedies, but this one blends together avocado and honey.
You will need…
-1 avocado
-1 tablespoon of honey
Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat it dry. Scrap out the inside of the avocado and mash it up, then stir in the honey. Continuing mashing/stirring until it turns into a paste. Apply it to your skin and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. When you’re done, wash off the mixture with lukewarm water and pat your face dry. Depending on your skin type, apply moisturizer.
18. Wash your pillowcase
Technically, a pillowcase should be washed at the very least once a week. While most of us don’t practice this, when it comes to keeping your skin fresh and healthy, it might help to get a little picky about your pillowcase. If you never wash it, all the stuff that gets rubbed onto it then comes in contact with your face for around 6-8 hours every night, and can exacerbate your acne. Keeping a clean, comfy place to rest your weary head is worth the hassle of stuffing your pillow back into its case-the real reason we avoid washing it-if it could prevent future breakouts.
19. Don’t touch your face (more specifically, your breakouts)
This doesn’t mean you can rest you chin in your hands or anything-it means don’t itch, scratch, pick, peel, pop, or rub at your skin. I distinctly recall the constant discomfort of acne, especially when treating it with irritating topical stuff. Almost subconsciously I would touch my face-probably every 2-3 minutes on average-and pick at my breakouts. Of course, this just made things go from bad to worse. While touching your face with your hands now and then won’t cause acne, if you suffer from it, resisting the urge to bug it will help the healing process go smoother and more efficiently.
You will need…
– self control
20. Freshen up with mint
Mint contains menthol, which works as a natural anti-inflammatory and pain killer. It won’t cure your acne per say, but it may help the redness fade and ease up some of the discomfort cause by painful swelling.
You will need…
-A decent handful of fresh mint leaves
Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat it dry. Crush up the leaves thoroughly, you can use a blender but a mortar and pestle works quite well if you happen to have one lying around. Rub the juice and crushed leaves on your face and leave for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly with cold water.
21. Put a potato on it
Potato is a wonderful vegetable, to be sure, but one of its benefits may not be something you’ve heard of before. That benefit would be taming acne, as potatoes are full of potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, and chloride-all components that can help reduce bothersome blemishes. They also have antioxidants to nourish your skin and encourage the healthy growth of new skin cells.
You will need…
-1 potato
Directions
Wash your face with water and pat almost dry, leaving it a bit damp. Grate 1 raw potato and rub the pulp and juice onto your face for a few minutes in a circular motion. Let it dry for 15-30 minutes, and then rinse off completely with warm water.
22. Tea Time
There have been some promising studies recently (namely in 2011, 2012, Journal of Investigative Dermatology) in which green tea was shown to have a noticeable impact on acne when used externally. Internally, there is theory it helps as well, but less concrete evidence. To sum up the findings briefly, there is an antioxidant in green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG. ECGC was shown to reduce sebum production, inflammation, and bacterial growth in acne-prone skin-basically the main causes behind breakouts. It’s exciting for the future of acne, or rather, a future without acne. Here’s how to use it topically-you can also try drinking a cup or two a day to detoxify.
You will need…
-1/2 cup fresh water
-2 teaspoons loose organic tea leaves OR 1 green tea bag
Directions
Wash your face with water, and pat dry with a soft clean towel. Place your leaves in a clean bowl and pour boiling water over them. Steep for 4-5 minutes before straining the leaves and letting the liquid cool to a comfortable temperature. You can then pour into a spray bottle and spritz your face lightly, soak a cotton pad/soft cloth and apply, or simply use a teabag steeped for 2-3 minutes, patting it onto your face or problem areas. Some people find more success just leaving the refreshing liquid on, while others rinse it off with cool water.
Now what?
Have patience. The desperate urge to find a speedy solution to acne, preferably something that takes minimal effort, is a strong one. In all reality though, and like so many other aspects in life, one really doesn’t exist. Having a regular skin care routine and adding a good, natural, acne remedy to it may take extra work, but stay committed, do things right, and give your treatment time to have an effect. Remember, you live in your skin and that’s not ever going to change. Taking the effort to really care for it will make all the difference in terms of your comfort, happiness, and confidence.
Debunking 5 Myths About Acne
Acne is shrouded in misconception, and covered up with conflicting information. Knowing what’s true and what’s not true can help you figure out how best to treat your skin.
1. Acne is caused by dirt/dirty skin– Acne is not caused by dirt, poor hygiene, not washing your face and so on. Too much scrubbing or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals can actually irritate your skin and make the acne worse. If you “over clean” you can end up drying out your skin, which will then try and compensate by making that much more oil. A simple cleansing of the skin to get rid of excess oil and dead skin cells is all that is needed.
2. Greasy food/chocolate makes you breakout-Greasy food and chocolate have been shown to have little to no effect on the development of acne. Diet can still have an impact, as some dairy products or carbs increase blood sugar or have added hormones and trigger acne, but it’s not usually the case.
3. Stress causes acne– In theory, stress can affect hormones, and therefore promote acne. It’s hard to quantify this though, and when you think about the stress most of us deal with in day to day to life, there wouldnt be an acne free face in sight. An effective acne treatment regime will override a bit of everyday stress anytime.
4. Having acne means you can’t use a moisturizer– Look for a good noncomedogenic (meaning less likely to clog pores) moisturizer to use. After treating your acne, be it with banana peels or over the counter creams, a moisturizer can help balance out your skin, ensuring that it doesn’t create excess oil to compensate for all that you dried up.
5. Sunlight/tanning clears up acne– In the short term getting a tan, or even slight sunburn, will seemingly clear up your acne. Long term, it’s not a solution. It’s just hiding the redness, and while it does dry up your skin, it can make it too dry, and do more harm than good.
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Awesome list of acne remedies. Thanks so much for putting it together. I am definitely going to try the avocado mask.
Here’s a tip… if you haven’t tried hot yoga, you should. The sweating does WONDERS for your skin & it is one of the hardest workouts you can do. Sure, it kinda sucks to get started. But once you get better, you will be hooked!
I’ve never heard of “hot yoga”, but I’ll have to try it!
But hot yoga is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, the heat actually helps them to grow. I remember about a year ago my friend got an illness though she had a very strong immune system (she was 27 at the time). After her first session she caught something and yes, though she may of caught it from another source, I find that unlikely. She went back about a month after she was better and once again caught an illness. She didn’t go back, and avoids them like the plague.
While heat may be a breeding ground for bacteria, sweating is a great way to help open and clean out your pores!! The reason some people falsely believe that sweating in something like Hot Yoga is bad for your skin is because they make the mistake of not washing their face immediately after! The dried sweat will clog your pores and make any skin problems you have worse! While I don’t doubt that your friend caught something from her hot yoga class, that is not from the hot yoga itself! It’s from the lack of cleaning done by the establishment after each session!! So weather it is hot yoga or just going for a run, sweating is great for your skin!! Just remember to wash it all away once your exercise is done!
Hot yoga is terrible for your health. As mentioned before, heat helps bacteria grow but also note: sweat that goes from your scalp to your face spreads extra oil and when sweat combines with rubbing of hands or clothing, this will further increase irritation. Heat also dries out your skin even if you’re are sweating and also causes more sebum production to compensate.
This is just the bad news it means for skin, not even going into how completely unnecessary it is altogether. Hot yoga dehydrates you to dangerous levels(even if you DO drink water constantly because it takes time for it to reach your system fully. If anything, ice cold water while being very dehydrated can put you into shock or make you nauseated if you drink too quickly) which is very bad for your body and especially your muscles. It doesn’t burn ANY extra calories or help you become more flexible.(as your body needs internally produced heat to stretch, not external) Plus it makes most people absolutely miserable and causes you to have a mental block towards exercise.(unless you really really like to sweat in severe heat which most sane people do not have a natural propensity for)
All around, it is the worst trend I have seen in a while, on par with the atkins diet.(did anyone actually enjoy that diet?Because a truly healthy diet is SUPPOSED to be enjoyable.) I suppose if you get a high from putting your body through hell then by all means, sweat away in your formfitting yoga pants but if you’re doing it for the health benefits alone then you are a damn fool.
-a Dietitian and MD
That is false. Hot yoga is NOT bad for your skin.
It releases toxins through sweat, loosens your muscles and much more.
I personally believe hot yoga to be a breeding ground for bacteria, I’m sure it does loosen your muscles, but I still don’t want to take the chance and get sick. that’s just my opinion.
This is not true at all. You literally sweat out impurities and it is very relaxing. Why would it be such a big deal if it was as terrible as you say? Why would so many people do hot yoga? Or go to saunas?
You do not “sweat out” impurities. Your liver and kidneys detox your body and toxins comes out in your urine and stool. The skin is a protective organ not a detoxification organ. Heat and yoga help many things and you might smell toxins through sweat because they are in the blood stream but you aren’t detoxing the body because you are sweating.
Hot Yoga is not bad for your health. I can see how it may be bad for acne (if you have overly sensitive skin). Hot yoga helps your digestive system, your internal organs, your muscles, helps breathing, helps mental concentration, and helps flush toxins from your body. Out of personal experience, eat a Mcdonalds hamburger and go to yoga and you smell like a boy’s locker room. Eat healthy, sweat it out in yoga, and your sweat is tolerable with less stink. Of course I do recommend you go to a CLEAN yoga studio and use your own mat, towel, etc. Sorry, but I can get sick at school, the store, the gym, the mall and at work. But hey, we are all entitled to our own opinion.
This is an awesome list of acne remedies! I would like to share some of mine as well, some of those mentioned above are part of them but I would like to add little tips of my own:
Honey and cinnamon mask – This is great for preventing breakouts as they both have anti-inflammatory properties and for lightening scars. You will have to look for different guides on how to mix them though as cinnamon can be harsh on the skin if applied too much, even with the honey! My mixture was 1:3, so you can try that too.
Lemon juice – Also extremely harsh on the skin if used alone so dilute it in water first.
Apple cider vinegar – Dilute it well in water. The more sensitive your skin is, the higher the ratio should be so as not to irritate it any further. You can use this as a toner or simply as a drink! It will help fight acne from the inside.
I would recommend checking out easyacneguide.com as its a great resource and has a really high quality guide for how to clear up acne. It’s just a matter of figuring out what works more for you.
Also.. ice, ice, ice, ice. I always rub ice on my face before washing my face (both morning and night). It feels great and is a wonder for redness as well. It’s important to get a lot of Vitamin C intake in your diet as well because what you put inside your body greatly affects your skin. Drink a lot of water too.
Sweet thanks for the list i’ll be trying some of these for sure. I am an adult with acne and I haven’t heard of all of these remedies-gives an old man some hope!
Also…does this mean I can eat a bunch of sweets now?? :p
I have struggled with acne for the past year and im getting really frustrated that nothing i use seems to help clear it. Everytime it starts getting better i start breaking out again. I will be trying some of these methods in hope they will work. They seem very easy to do. Very helpful!! Thanks!
I like your post. My grandson has acne, I’ll show this to him.
i like yr post, thanks so much. But pls i wil need some remedies for black dark spots on my legs and am very fair in complexion, dis spots embarrasses me and also breast enlargement, i have a very embarrassing small breast, pls help
I think the thing with your legs is Keratosis pilaris, a.k.a. “chicken skin”. I have the same thing on my legs and the backs of my arms. I did a bit of research, and I’ve heard that applying coconut oil to helps A LOT to clear it up. You should look into it!
Thanks, I like your post a lot. n I will make sure I try this cos I have pimples.
I have struggled with acne since I was in 5th grade (I am 28). I have used many prescriptions, only to have the acne come back with a vengeance after I stopped using the medication.
I have tried just about everything and I finally have found what works for me.
I had a horrible overgrowth of candida in my intestines and I have a dairy allergy. The candida was a result of years of antibiotic use since childhood.
I changed my diet to a whole foods plant based diet with a high amount of raw foods.
I avoid all processed food – white flour, white sugar, all chemical additives.
I take a hormone balancing herbal supplement suggested to me by my midwife. I also take maca root.
I have been receiving hydrocolon therapy for the last couple of months.
I no longer use soap on my face. I only use a homemade coconut oil & sugar scrub on my face at least twice a day. (Be sure to wipe off the excess oil with a cloth!)
I use a face mask of french green clay. When my face was really bad I would use it twice a day to dry up the pimples. This really helped.
While the above changes helped, I was still breaking out. I finally saw a complete change in my face (everything drying up, no new breakouts) when I added oregano oil and candidase to my supplement regimen. I took the highest dose on the bottle of oregano oil and went through two bottles of candidase.
I can finally say my acne is gone! And I feel as good as I did when I was a teenager!
One final important step in getting rid of acne is SELF LOVE! I had to do a lot of emotional house cleaning during the process of basically changing my lifestyle. Love yourself! Every single inch! Inside and Out. Only then can true healing begin!
Thank you for sharing your story and advice with us! I too struggled for many years with acne and it took me quite some time to feel comfortable looking at myself in the mirror for any extended amount of time. Totally agree with the self-love…especially since society always seems to be telling us to change or “improve” our bodies or appearances in ridiculous ways that just make people feel uncomfortable and insecure (nobody is going to have perfect skin, ever!) I am glad you found what worked for you 🙂
can i use raw termerric on my face for pimples and scars cure
hi,i could not understand what is candidase..i have a pimple prone oily skin since i was 13 and i am now 3…..getting married in nov this year…want to get rid of the pimple marks altogether….
Hi Pooja
I’ll advice you to try apple cider vinegar. I researched a lot about ACV when i came to know about this and i think there is nothing better than ACV to add in your everyday life. You can research to know more about it. Hope you’ll get rid of pimple marks or scars.
Hey Cassie, thanks for all the tips!
I never really thought about the “self love” and emotional aspect for controlling acne. I knew stress can cause acne, but I never really thought about it too much. Good stuff!
Love your story!
Hi Cassie, i too suffered from the excess candida issue. I had some debilitating issues in addition to the “acne”. Keep up the good work w/your candida program. I know from experience how AMAZING the difference is but also how difficult & expensive it is to follow the food program. It is a total lifestyle change.
Dear cassie,
Thank you for such inspiration…i have also been fighting acne since my teenage till now.
can u please suggest a test i might take to see if im also not going through any allergy of this sort because i ve also consumed many antibiotics since i was a child.I live in Pakistan where doctors just misguide u.
hey rukiaya, i’m from pakistan too and have acne issues, it is very true, doctors here dont know much about this they just give you antibiotic medicines which in either dries up your skin to much or heats you up from the inside, i’ll be trying some of these remidies surely hopefull it will work
Wow! Thank you SO much Cassie for sharing your story! I am inspired. It sounds like my story. I have been wondering about the link between colon health and skin health, and I am *blown away* to have it confirmed. Thank you!
Great post! But something is missing. Zinc supplements in the correct form. Zinc ointment. Youngivity by doctor Wallach will sure help!!! Lavender oil for the skin, undiluted also gets red of acne! But acne is also a zinc deficiency!! I cured my acne of 7 years with zinc liquid syrup!!
Hi , how long did the zinc liquid syrup take to work? I’ve been usiong it for few months now, 5 drops mixed with water and my acne still isn’t clearing. I take a clear skin supplement aswell which contains zinc. Thanks:)
Thanx for posting it seems I’ve tried everything to get rid of my acne & nothing seemed to help I even tried the pro activ that they are announcing on t.v that didn’t do me any good it just made me breakout even more..grr I will definitely try the the avacado&honey mask it sounds intresting!:-D
Ugh I feel your pain…stubborn acne is just the worst, and there are so many products that claim to cure it that just make the whole thing that much more frustrating! I hope some of these help 🙂
thanks for suggestion..ok will going for apply
Hello,
Just want to know if you could really help me with my black heads. its so annoying that nothing works on it. And its even scarier that i have almost tried everything, and its just running my skin crazy with pimples and and scars. And now its sort of controlled, and i really want to get rid of it..Help me please =)
Hi Manee,
Blackheads are the result of hair follicles becoming clogged with dead skin cells, oil, and sometimes bacteria. The oil has ‘oxidized’ as it reacts with air, which gives it the appearance of being black. A lot of various factors can play into whats causing the openings to become so clogged, so its a good idea to double check anything you’re using on your face (like make-up, foundation, sunscreen, moisturizer, etc.) and maybe experiment with a gentler method/product.
You should wash your face daily to help keep those follicles clean, but a rinse with warm water once or twice a day should be fine. The last thing you want to do is over-cleanse your face, which will dry it out too much. In this case your body will react by just making more oil, and it becomes a viscous cycle. A moisturizer labeled as noncomedogenic might be helpful as well. To sum it up…
-Wash your face ‘minimally’ (once a day) followed by a good moisturizer
-Double check and maybe switch any products you are using on your skin, such as make-up or sunscreen.
-Use any of the above remedies 🙂
Those are probably things you already knew to do, but its really the best way sometimes. It takes diligence to see the results, but its worth it! Let me know if you have anymore questions, I know what a bummer breakouts are!
your post is just awesome… my boyfriend has acne…. i’ve found the perfect answer…. thank you!
Hello! Great advice n tips u gave. Ve neva hd pimples until recently. Am 21 and in d university,i feel so shy anytime i walk into d class n evry one start askin me what happened 2 my pretty face,sometimes i evn skip class cos of this,mine isnt so much but d dark spot and scars has created a whole in my wallet. Have made up my mind to stop using anything except d aloe vera which my mum planted some yrs ago. But i want to knw if i can mix d gel in my body cream and start usin it as mosturizer on my face before applyin makeup? Does d gel get bad if mixed with cream since i cant finish d cream in one day? Can i buy honey and mix it wt d aloe vera gel as mosturizer? Pls i ll appreciate a urgent response cos am leavin for sch in few days.thank u!
I get rid of my pimples from face with honey and cinnamon masks. You need to mix 2 spoons of honey with a pinch of cinnamon. Then grease your face with it and leave for 20 minutes. After that, the mask should be washed with warm water. I used to do this procedure twice or 3 times a week. Of course, you can do it more often, depends on how much time do you have and how often do you remember this.
Hello I tried this mask and now my face is sort of red but not burning. Is this normal? And how long will it stay red?
What honey should i use? The natural one or the processed already?
I would use natural, but I don’t recomend doing the cinnomon and honey mask- I just did it and my face felt like it was burning when I washed it off- I looked in the mirror and my entire face was red, swollen and puffy! A huge rash and a horrible thanksgiving week is sure to come. DO NOT USE THAT MASK!!
OMG that sounds sucky. Thanks for the warning, I was gonna use that to get ready for Christmas Eve. Also, for any who want to know my usurer has a sugar scrub with mint syrups and I thought it was just scented so I used it. Worked wonders for my skin!!
hi Hannah, I would say to use natural honey as its better than any processed honey
very nice article good tips for skin care thanks
If I have left over egg whites can I store them in the fridge and use them again??
Hi Claire,
I am 18..and I have oily skin which is very prone to pimples.Generally they go off naturally.But recently I had a pimple which got squeezed while sleeping.Now it had turned dark black with 3 heads.The spot had also swollen though it does not pain.I have been using sandalwood paste and some antiseptic creams to remove the mark.But all in vain.It has remained all the same.Its been a long time, almost 2-3weeks and now I have started to fear that the mark has become permanent.Its on the right cheek just under my eyes and it looks more horrible since I have white skin.
Can you please suggest me some measures to get rid of this embarrassing thing?
I know this is a late reply, but I *had* to say something, because this condition sounds really painful and someone else reading these might have the same problem!
To me this sounds like an infection. I would say two things.
(1) Try and get hold of an antiseptic cream based on sulphur (they used to make a great one for eyes called sulphaecetamide; but I think it’s off the market now).
(2) Try lemon-grass essential oil applied on the spot (unless you have a really bad reaction to it). Lemon grass oil can kill staphylococcus bacteria that cause this sort of skin infection.
Best of luck!
I use toothpaste to dry out acne! You should try it. But DO NOT try it if when u brush u teeth and toothpaste makes u break out.
My granddaughter is soon to be 14 and autistic. This means, trying to leave something on for more than a minute, if that long, is almost impossible 🙁 She does have a few pimples but her worst problem is white heads! Her face and shoulders and back feel like someone covered her with sand! Which of these, or what other suggestion would anyone make for us to use on her.
This sounds more like eczema with the “sand” description. My son who’s 2 has suffered since birth with the sand feeling. I found chilled fresh cut cucumbers rubbed on the worse spots helps tremendously. Also unscented lotions such as baby aveeno anytime you notice the “sand” feeling.
If it is eczema the best thing we found for our son was we switched to a plain bar of dove soap in the shower and coconut oil (found in baking isle) after showering everyday. He has had no out breaks since we started this routine and were able to stop using his prescription cream. First time since birth he had not had exempt.
i have a lot of pimple marks and i am aged 30..i had them since i was 13.please clarify regarding candidase…i couldnot find it in google translator.
pooja,dear i dont no where to start bt d litl i can say is dat i always feel ashame whenever am with my friends or when am going out bcus my whole body is painted with spots and pimples.i’ve tried alot of products on it bt al to no avail.plz wot sud i do?d worse of it is dat my skin is too sensitive dat any kind of cream or product can cahnge my colour.plzzzzz…i nid ur advice
heena
my chin is get black according to my complexion i can’t understand what i do
i have consulted so many doctors but found no result please give me some suggestions .
Hi Claire, I have been having problems with un-controlable acne, usually my face doesn’t break out this bad as it has been doing for the last few weeks, I need some help, I read your article on 22 remedies for clearing up acne/ blemishes. It was helpful!! But do you have any remedies for if I am going to bed? Do you think olive oil would work? Should i just rub that into my face then go to sleep? I also have a problem with picking at/ popping my pimples. I can’t help it though, I want my blemishes to whine down for awhile. My peers at school always talk about how “jacked” up my face is (referring to my blemishes/acne) do you have any advice for keeping myself under-control form touching and picking at my acne? I left my mom’s email so you can get back to me if i’m not around, P.S You sound like an INSPIRING soul! 🙂 Sanaa 11 yrs. old M.O
Hi Claire, thank you so much for all the advice. I am 18 years old and have suffered from acne for quite a while now. I have tried so many products and nothing seems to be working for me, I’m also very health conscious and therefore do not want to take any medication for it. The places i suffer mostly are my back, chest, neck and face, will these home remedies help for all those areas? and what else can i do to reduce the oil and blackheads on my face? I would love it if you could email me with some advice.
Thanks a lot.
Courtney
Thanks you so much.i will definitely try the remedies and hope they clear up my skin.
hi, i hav pimple and acne on cheeks its been 1 year .. can any1 suggest me effectv tips?? mine s oily skin… i consultd doctr but still i suffr alot! help ..?!
Use lemon juice to dry out your skin or soaps like dove. Chow :*
Wow, awesome post (really in-depth stuff) about treatments for acne! I really like the avocado paste and I will definitely try this and if I like it I will be using it on a weekly basis to control my acne and have healthier skin!
Thanks again!
Wonderful list thanks….I’m the Author of The Complete Acne Book (Guide To Natural (And Other) Acne Treatments From Homemade Face Masks For Acne To Pimple Cleansers & Steams) and these ingredients are great. Tea tree is perfect for acne and you also add potent antimicrobial soothing essential oils like lavender, neem and and UMF honey to beef them up (or spices like Turmeric for its healing and antibacterial properties). Other oils can eliminate acne scars too and close pores if you know how to combine them 🙂 Really enjoyed reading your happy helpful post!
hi could you tell me which oils can eliminate acne scars?
thank you!!
vit E oil helps, i use the capsule and simply pierce a small hole in it and apply it at night
hi Mia, I have been having bad acne lately and use a diluted tea tree oil and when they have gone I use rosehip oil for scarring. Do you know what oils best to use with the Rosehip to reduce the scarring quicker? Thanks :)!
Baking soda is not good for the skin. It’s not ph balanced for the skin. Alkalinity does not fight incoming microbes.
I tried the baking soda as a face mask and I would apply moisturizer and it would leave my skin soft but the next day I would wake up it would be so oily!! Right now, the break out are starting again and I’m really battling with blackheads, I’ve tried almost everything, I dunno what to do now. Pls E-mail for any soutions
Thank you for sharing this awesome list for acne treatment. I am just wondering how you think coconut oil. It should be good too.
Great call on recommending Melaleuca (tea tree oil)…it’s the BEST in my opinion!
Heloo.thax for the advice i will definetely try them coz ma the pimples on my face makes mi really sad.
well done
nice tx for ur advice i try its:)
Great list!
The baking soda trick works so well! I had crazy acne, but when i started applying this once or twice a day, it was gone in a flash!
I really appreciated this list because my daughter who has acne, has been resistant to using medications or OTC remedies. We both prefer natural remedies. However, when I got to #18 and read your remarks about the pillowcase and how “most of us” aren’t washing them weekly, I was horrified. Changing your bedding – pillowcases included should be a weekly must for the sake of basic hygiene and health. As you sleep, you sweat and if you are a sexually active adult, well, you can fill in the blank on what else happens between your sheets. Cleanliness will enhance your health and happiness in so many ways…if for no other reason than you aren’t wallowing in funk.
Hi. I could really use your help!
I’ve been getting acne for about 4 years now. And it kills.
I’ve tried proactive and am about to try out a tree-tree oil type of scrub.
I also tried the honey-cinnamon combination but it just seemed to make my skin break out more and I’m scared to try anything that may do the same. In your opinion which one would be suited more for me?
thank you!!!
I used fresh lemon for 2 day n all the ances dried up.just like that. .u can try it also
thank you i had school and this pimple wont go away.the honey and cinimon face mask really work.some people will ask how i got rid of pimples and i told them to come here :):):):););)
thanks for your help.i would also like to know how to treat rashes at home
Hi Claire
Great information. Interested in making the tea tree with aloe gel. I Would like to know how you recommend to make it? I would rather make it that way instead of diluting.
Thanks again!
Sandra
Point number 19 is the EPIC ever ~ haha.
BTW, thanks 4 sharing =)
Thank you so much. I have four new classes starting in three days and while I don’t expect to be rid of all my acne by then, I think that this will definitely help. I’m trying the egg whites, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey and cinnamon, baking soda, and perhaps oatmeal. Not all at once but I’ll test them put and see what I like best. Also, I heard that mixing milk and nutmeg worked well too. Is this true?
This is a great list!! Exactly what I was looking for! Just one question regarding the sugar scrub, how often are we supposed use that? Thanks
I just want to try cause I have blemishes, blackheads and dark marks.
I don’t know about the others but the cinnamon and honey mask really works!
I have a very difficult acne problem that only had been resolved with the pill, but when I stop the pill the acne came back again :/
I started applying this mask about 6 days ago and no sign of new pimples! It’s wonderful how natural and homemade remedies work so well!
Can these treatments be done daily? Or is that too much? Would weekly be enough to take effect?
Hi everyday roots! I am so happy I clicked this website. I am going to try “whip up some whites” tonight because my face has a couple of little holes ( you know the ones you get from pimples). It makes me sad because I don’t want to have a face that has a bunch of holes :O. So, will this recipe help with the holes? Also, should I use the recipe once a day? I don’t know how many times a week?
Natalia
-Thanks for your help. I would also like to know how to treat rashes at home
-Thank you for sharing this awesome list for acne treatment.
-Definitely I try this treatment at home,Bcoz I am very upset with my pimples….:):):)
Hi Claire!
Im 18 years old and ive been suffering from really bad acne just since a few months. My face was perfectly clear till November and then after that it started to break out all of a sudden. I have fair skin, and the acne has left dark blemishes on my face. As my face is sensitive, face washes that i buy from thr stores have all failed as they only aggravate the acne on my face and induce redness. Please help me find a solution 🙁
I will get back to you, I am trying cucumber slices soaked in all natural green tea.
it’a amazing! good idea.. i will try them all… i was longing for been a long period of times… about the home remedies of my iritating pimples….ma face looks so weird……thanks once again..more power
I have a big event coming up! I have two very big pimples that stand out. I just tried the honey with cinnamon. But, is there a way to get rid of acne the fastest?! Please, I need help! I have 4 days… I know, but they just came out out of nowhere. Someone help? 🙁
So I’ve been struggling with acne for years. I got it to calm down to where I just have black heads and underlying pimples during the month but right around my menstral cycle my face gets really oily and I break out on my chin and line of my face (where the oil settles at the end of the day). I don’t use anything on my face make up wise or in the line of lotions. I use st Ives apricot scrub and witch hazel as my face wash and astringent. I’ve used many things over the years and these work better than proactive did for me. But I still break out. I’m going to try the potatoes suggested in this article first but I’m really hopeful that I find something to just tone down my skin oil… I have a similar problem with my hair, but I’ve found a solution for that. ( I have greasy hair and a dry scalp, shampoos with a combination of tea tree oil, eucilyptus oil, and peppermint oil work really well. And since its healthier to switch brands and stuff like that for ur hair I use this when it get bad and finish te bottles and go to another brand and another type, then when it’s no longer balanced out I go back and treat it again.) I really hope one of these regemines is the one that finishes the cycle for me!
Do not try the orange peel face mask! I was looking up easy DIY acne spot treatments and came across this one and didn’t think much of it as I had used lemon juice on pimples before and my skin had been fine. However I just tried this mask, I even added a little honey to make sure the mask wouldn’t be too strong, and it burned my skin! I noticed it was burning more than treatments usually do but didn’t think much of it. After about ten minutes it became too much to bare so I rinsed with warm water and was surprised to see large bright red patches all over my cheeks. Thankfully they only appeared in the areas I applied the mask to, which was only a few. But still my face is burning and tomato red. Lotion seemed to calm the areas but the color is persisting half an hour after the fact. Please for your sake do not use this mask, at least if you have never used an orange peel mask before. At the very least a disclaimer should be put on this recipe!!
I didn’t see your posting before…. I tried it and I also couldn’t bear the burns after 10mins….. It was a terrible experience
LOVE LOVE LOVE the cinnamon and honey! I have always had horrible breakouts here and there, now I just get around 3 or 4 pimples
I find that my skin is so much healthier since I started using coconut oil – it keeps the pimples away and it smells yummy too!
This is going to work I have a good feeling about it!!!!!!!! THANKS A MILLION
I love these acne treatments but I tried the cinnamon and honey treatment and to anyone using I would suggest using extreme caution and moderation because after leaving on the mask and removing it my skin began to sting and burn and red splotches appeared and as of now my skin is still hot and irritated so my suggestion is to do the spot treatment and not the entire mask if you have sensitive skin like mine
I have hole on my face, could someone suggest me best home remedies.
Claire, i stumbled upon your website while looking for natural remedies for migrains. I ended up here as i had sufferd so badly, my face had places that looked like raw hamburger. I finally found out the cause of mine (excess candida) & pretty much have it under control now but i was left w/lots of scarring & am always looking for natural ways to help my skin & body in general. Thank you for all the great ideas.
Tea tree oil is the best for reducing pimples and making my skin feel fresh. I love the cooling effect that it has. I actually buy tea tree pads from amazon and use them after I play tennis.
I also use apple cider vinegar every day as a toner to help reduce redness that I get sometimes from rosacea as well as drink it to help regulate my blood sugar.
I tried the 2nd one/honey cinnamon acne remedy. I used it as a mask on my whole face and it was amazing!!! I wouldn’t use this if you have oily skin, however, because this makes your skin very moisturized. I recommend this remedy for dry skin and mild acne. If that’s you go ahead and use this it was awesome and made my skin soft as well as glowing!
I tried the aloe vera one and it is the BOMB. It made it less red and the pimple went down. And aloe vera smells good too.
Hi,
I have a really bad acne problem at the moment (well I have since I was about 14 and I’m now 19), and it seems like I can’t get anything to work. I’ve tried numerous face washes, which all worked for about the first week of using them (mind you I was still a little bit bumpy on my forehead) but then I began to break out with more pimples.
Yet what probably doesn’t help very much is that I have sensitive and pale skin so you can just image, how bad I look when my pimples do show!!
It wasn’t until today, that I stumbled across this and to tell you the truth. I am actually going to try these!! Give me about a week or two and I will definitely let you know how it goes.
But if anyone knows of anything that can help fight the battle against acne and pimples for people with sensitive skin, please let me know!
Hi, I totally understand your problem…. one of the best ways to get rid of acne and pimples for sensitive skin is to go “naked” with your skin for a few days… try the aleo vera and apple cider remedies from this list and you will surely see results.. also resist the urge to touch your face..
For sensitive skin, you’d rather should use yoghurt, honey and cucumber. It’s safer than other methods.
Oops, I forgot to mention ice, which is also good 🙂
I will be a teenager soon, and I have a similar problem. I have acne and sensitive pale skin. I can tell you how sensitive. I can only wear gold or hypo-allergenic earrings. I heard ice, oatmeal, cucumbers, mint, yogurt, tea, (mostly anything on the list above!) separately work amazingly! I have only had acne since a few months ago. Someone please help us with pale and sensitive skin!
Thanks for the list… I am loving the apple cider vinegar! it helps so much. You can try the acne no more book as well that helps a lot and has totally helped me clear up mine. I have only had acne once in my life and that is right now … much this list is totally helping. 🙂
Ack! Please don’t use baking soda without rebalancing your skin’s pH level afterward! Baking soda is more alkaline than harsh detergent soaps, and destroys your skin’s acid mantle, which is a natural defense against bacteria entering pores.
If using baking soda as a scrub or mask, rinse with plain water, then rebalance pH by using an acidic (like salicylic, for example) commercial toner, or a diluted preparation of other suggestions on this list, such as apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
This is why you “condition” with vinegar in the “no-poo” method. Harsh alkalines ruin skin and scalp over time.
Just always remember to finish with an acid and moisturize.
hey Claire,
how are u, iam 25 yr old, last 7 to 8 yr i have a pimple problem in my face, and these day i have a reddish face and very oily skin as well , tell me Claire what can i do, you have 22 tips in your website. iam waiting for your reply.
At least you haven’t had it since 1st grade (I’m now 15) 🙁 Sorry for the grumbles, its just that I play sports, have naturally greasy hair and skin, and, however embarrassing it is to say, have a serious bad habit of popping and picking. I’ve tried sooooooooooooo many things, like tomatoes/tomato paste, which was a grin, and apple cider vinegar, which stung intensely and gave me a serious reaction, and many more, of course also including probably every store-bought wash/treatment. ACNE IS JUST SOOOO STUBBORN!!!
Oh yeah, and I just had to put this as a seperate, short, post, so more people would see it. My aunt told this to me:
INGREDIENTS
-A piece of bread (whatever kind you have handy)
-Some honey
1. Put the piece of bread in the toaster
2. Toast the bread until it is so burnt that it is completely black all through the middle.
a. The smell can get pretty overwhelming, but it’s absolutely worth it! 🙂
3. Crush up the toast into a grainy powder – as much as you can – and set it aside.
4. Mix with the honey until it’s kind of pasty.
5. Now, I know this may sound absolutely disgusting, but, finally, brush your teeth with it. After just one time, your teeth will be visibly whiter! The burnt toast acts as a bunch of miniature, heavy-duty, toothbrushes, and I’m not quite sure what the honey does, other than the two facts that honey is sticky, and will hold the paste together, and that it’s so natural, but I guarantee that this works!
Does tomato is effective treatment also for pimples? How to apply this on my face
Of course tomatoes can treat pimples.
You can slice a tomato in half and rub it on the acne areas on your face (or chest or back). Leave the juice on your skin for 15-20 minutes and then wash with warm water.
Take the pulp from the tomato and mash it into mask that they apply to the affected area for about 20 minutes
Thank my sister has pimples I know how to cure it now.
I’m feed up this stupid pimples plz help me how it’s possible
This will help me so much. My acne is so bad that my forehead is red. No kidding!!
I’m sorry to hear this Zoe, but LISTEN EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS. I have made a discovery on how to get rid of acne! You gotta use dish-washing soap. You know the soap that you use to wash your dishes, they really do break down the grease on the dishes and your face! Side-affects may include itching. Try it, it ABSOLUTELY WORKS!
What works for Cystic Acne? I read something about using essential oils but have forgotten which ones.
I have an oily face with pimples, how do I cure that ?
The aloe treatment works perfectly
thank you
Dear Claire,
I’m very glad to have met you through your website.
So I tried the orange paste and you didn’t say how burning it would be……
Charlotte is right about baking soda leaving your skins acid mantle exposed. I’m an Esthetician and utilize many of these myself, but some things need warnings. Such as using lemon juice. It makes your skin very photosensitive , likely resulting with hyperpigmentation(dark spots) if exposed to the sun. So it’s not the best in summer…and use some spf (there are natural sources as well) when using lemon juice on your skin. Also, coarse ground salt is waaaay too abrasive for your face. AND anybody with acne that is inflammed especially pustules (whiteheads) should not be scrubbing with most mechanical exfoliators! It causes more irritation and can spread bacteria from breaking open the pustule. Blackheads are okay to scrub! Use a chemical form when broken out with inflammed/pustule lesions . Lactic acid in milk….citric acid in citrus fruits….salicylic like in wintergreen. Chemical exfoliating just means the ingredients do the work instead of an abrasive material scrubbing! Overall, great tips….some just need precautions!
In addition to washing your pillows, if you use make-up brushes to apply your foundation, eyeshadow, etc. these should also be washed once a week. Mix a little dawn dish soap with olive oil which will not only clean your brush and make them good for your face, but they will also condition the bristles and lead to a longer brush life. This will prevent excess oil build up on a tool that comes directly in contact with your face. (Yuck)
I love the orange peel face mask. As soon as I washed the masked off my face was literally shining and it looked so different; my little brother even saw the difference!!! Thanks a lot xx 😀 🙂
Thanx claire i wil use your remedy i love every bit of them
thanks claire that was really helpfull 🙂
I think lemon juice is only effective on mild breakouts only. But for severe conditions it renders ineffective. We used to apply this method to my little brother’s breakouts and showed little improvement. Thanks for these informative articles on home remedies for acne.
the remedies for the acne cleaning are so easy to use and i liked them sooooo much… i’ll use one of them definately, but i want the home made remedies for the dark spots observed after the acne have removed so plz suggest me the remedies plz plz plz….
Thanks for this. The Apple cider vinegar rwally worked for me and I am loving the egg whites.
Warning!! Beware of method 1 – Apple Cider Vinegar! I diluted 1:3 and used on my pimples and in a few minutes my face started burning and went bright red. I quickly washed it off in a panic and applied aloe vera plant to my face. ACV is a very strong acid and will BURN your face! Please avoid this method for your skins safety.
Is the cinnamon and honey supposed to itch my nose is really itchy
Hi Friends!
if you want to get rid of pimples and acne than i have a best home remedy to remove it.their is no need of heavy investment on medicines. you just need a Gram flour, also known as garbanzo bean flour, chickpea flour, or besan, is a pulse flour made from ground chickpeas.take 3 tablespoon of it and mix with rose water or milk,than apply it on affected areas of face.now wash your face,after 4-5 hours. you will see magic. its the best home remedies ever. just try iy frndssssss
With some of the methods in the acne and blackhead remedies it says to moisturize with a moisturizer and i’m not sure what to use. What do you use? Do you have a recipe in the Everyday Roots or on this site because I can’t find it on here. Please help. Love your site very cool and modern, love the remedies also.
the Honey and cinnoman treatment makes your face burn CAUTION!!
its really amazing … but it would be more easier to use yogurt with 1-3 tbl spoon of lemon juice for both acne and dullness
Thank for the info. Can you give me the right medication for my 10y/o daughter having plenty of acne on her forehead. At young age i dont know is fit for her to gone her acne. Please help. Thanks
i don”t know if it is just me but i feel as though the honey cinnimon made my skin worse. i used the mask for 15 mins and after i took it off my skin was red and blotchy. also i noticed my acne was more noticeable. i will see if this changes, but can someone please please please help me with this!!
You have to use it for a good while, like do it everyday for about 2-3 weeks, you will notice a difference. Everyones skin is different though, but ive been using the honey and cinnamon for about a week and it seems to be working. And i have really bad acne. Make sure youre using raw organic honey and good cinnamon, and be consistant with it. Dont skip a day and make sure you keep your face clean throughout the day, like dont touch it. I have deep acne and its getting better with this, but then again everyones skin is different so maybe if it doesnt work in a month or two, try a different method and do the same as this one.
Hi. I love your post but I’m wondering if I can try several of them. Like different mixture everyday? Will that be good or bad? Reply please. Thanks 🙂
The best honey to use is manuka . Manuka has much more healing property than regular honey, to get the best results must contain at least 550mg/kg of Methylglyoxal compound
I still suffer from acne but years ago I tried the baking soda and warm water mask and got rid of it then it came back. Nozema also works for acne. It also leaves your skin feeling smooth.
I am going home and try the Vinegar one….. HOPEFULLY IT WORKS
can i mix honey cinamon and oats in one mask.
Hello, I’m 13(8th grade) and have struggled with acne since I was 7. I’ve used multiple face washes, moisturizers,etc. and nothing seems to work. I have glasses and clean then everyday to avoid dirt or oil rubbing onto my skin I also use a pore refining toner and moisturizer daily. Nothing works for me and I’ve used multiple remedies above ( cinnamon and honey, toothpaste,tea tree oil,and other) please help.
the apple cider vinegar and water mixture did not work for me?? it made my skin blotchy making my acne more noticeable. I hope I’m not the only one experiencing this and if this is only temporary,
Hi Claire,
I’ve been suffering from acne since I was 9 and i’ve tried many home remedies to no avail. I have a serious blackhead problem and my face peels. What can I do to make my face clear within a couple of months…I have a big event coming up. Thanks!
i’ve struggled with spots on and off ever since my early teens, I’m not in my 40s. recently i was using topical antibiotics from my GP, which worked for a couple of months but they’ve definitely made the problem worse in the long term. i was feeling really down about my skin.
since the beginning of the month I’ve started drinking 6 glasses of water and i’ve used the bicarb of soda scrub and the egg mask, both items once for the week. my skin feels amazing and the spots were less noticeable after the first use! i have high hopes for my new approach. i won’t be relying on the GP anymore
Thank you so much Claire! I am 13 and in 7th grade. I have been struggling with acne since 4th grade. I always made fun of people for them until I got them myself. They are so embarrassing! When ever I’m done using a product and it didn’t work, I trow it away, and frown at the trashcan like a weirdo. I will try these and see if they work out for me. Thanks again!
Lacey
If I have left over honey + cinnamon mix, can I keep it somewhere? In the fridge? For how long? Thanks!
im trying the banana one but im at 2mins and 30 secs and the redness seems t be going down a fair bit
Thanks so much for all the suggestions-I can’t wait to try them out! Unfortunately, one of my worst habits is picking at my acne and this leads to very prominent red scabs that take quite a bit of concealer to mask when I go out in public (at home I try to keep my face clear of makeup of course). But I was wondering if anyone knew how to treat either the vibrance of the scabs, or the scabs themselves. Any tips?
Claire, thank you so much for sharing these remedies with us, I admit I amended them a little (always a tinkerer) till I got something that is great for my skin! I’m mid 30’s and still battle with breakouts, I’ve also started developing dark patches of coloration on my forehead and chin. Because my skin likes to make my life hard it switches between extremely dry and flaky to greased pig depending on where I am in my cycle. For the past 2 months I’ve been using the below to help balance and clear, I honestly look 10 years younger and my skin is glowing for the first time in my life!
+ 1 tablespoon lemon juice
+ 2 tablespoons of raw honey
+ 1 tablespoon of sandalwood powder
Mix into a fine gloopy paste, spread over face, leave it on for half an hour, gently rub/wash off, then moisturise. I do this daily. lemon juice is fading my old scars and discolouration, the honey soothes my dry bits and fights bacteria and the sandalwood exfoliates and tones as it’s astringent (and I really like the smell, if you don’t like it I think rose water would be a good substitute!)
The next problem I want to tackle are my dark eye circles… any hints or tips?
Hello
I found these recipes for the pimples not helpful, i prefer the ‘old’ method which is toothpaste but that doesn’t help very much..
Thank you Claire! These are some great tips and amazing ideas for reducing acne!
I really like this write-up and am debating adding a few of your tips to my site as well. I have lots of friends that struggle with acne and that’s the main reason I made my blog to begin with.
One big thing I’ve noticed helps is going to the steam room at my gym, or like another comment mentioned, doing hot yoga or any activity that really makes you sweat a lot. Of course, MAKE SURE TO WASH YOUR FACE WELL AFTERWARDS!
Reading yours really inspired me to make it even better! Thank you!
with the orange peel paste can you use Halos or Tangerines?
HEEHEE!! “Put A Potato On It”
hi im gonna try the lemon on my face AGAIN,i did it once and the acne backed off on my face,but now its back -_-and i have acne on my upper arm,back,chest area,some acne scars on my legs (probably from shaving) and on my face, it is really harming my self-esteem especially when mines already low… do you have any advice for me?I’d be grateful if you did!
Thanks u soo much!
Inga
I need to try this stuff. Nice about the mint and tea! I will recommend it to some of my friends!
You are doing wonderful Claire. God bless and keep it up. Love you.
hey, i just used the cinnamon and honey mask about 5 mins ago and it was really itchy during the prosses really itchy, and when i took it off, my face was, and still is exceptionally red and warm to the touch. im not sure if its a reaction, but if you know the reason, it would be helpful
thanks hun xx
Hmmm the only thing I can think of would be a reaction to (most likely) the cinnamon. Cinnamon can also increase circulation, and bring blood to the surface of the skin, which can result in redness/warmth (but that shouldn’t last for hours on end.) Otherwise, it’s not unusual for some people to experience discomfort with cinnamon (itchiness, mild “burning”, etc.) in which case it’s best just not to apply it at all. Sometimes I experience itchiness with face masks (of any kind) when left on for any extended amount of time, but it shouldn’t be tormenting. If it’s still bothering you, rinse with plain old water, pat dry, and apply a gentle moisturizer or aloe. Sorry it didn’t work out!
Claire, you are so smart! We are into natural cures A LOT in our household. TeaTree oil works the best for my acne. Who ever was having problems with cinnamon, I think you either screwed up with your ratios or you are allergic to cinnamon. You are greatly appreciated for your help!
Lacey
Hey guys, if you use any mixture that includes strawberries, be sure you don’t have plans afterward, because you WILL look like your face got sunburned!!!!! Good luck!
Hi Claire!
Do you have any remedies that include beets? I love them and had a recent encounter with skin rejuvenation and beets. Seems pretty interesting. Thanks!
I used the baking soda treatment and it cleared my skin up! But, I’m scared because many people(on the internet) are saying that it damages the skin. That it can upset your skin’s natural protective barriers. Not sure what to do :S
Hello!
I am 14-15 this year and I’ve been suffering from acne breakouts since last year! It was very embarrassing as most of my friends have quite healthy skin 🙁
I’ve tried many products and remedies but most of them just worked for a while. But, I would highly recommend toothpaste to dry up the acne! It really works but only temporary! And I also recommend teatree oil! It can be quite costly but it works for me! 🙂
Thai rice soap also helps to whiten up your skin if you have scaring from pimples or anywhere around your bodies! You could get this online and it really works!
I’m going to try the lemon method soon as most of my friends that suffers from acne said it worked well 🙂 I hope it works and thanks for the great information:)
Idk about the cinnamon or baking soda or orange method tho as many comments said it’s not good 🙁
Please comment me if you have any ideas to solve acne breakouts too! 🙂
I tried the honey and cinnamon one and I broke out sooo bad. and I’m not allergic to either ingredient. im very sad now. thanks for the face full of pimples I’ll make sure to recommend it to others
Thanks for those remedies they worked well !
These were really nice tips for those who are suffering with these pimples so thanks for posting ur opinions try that toothpaste aaplying on ur skin it really workd
Thank you for the great list:)
But I think toothpaste also works too!
DO NOT USE CINNAMON!!! I tried the cinnamon honey mask and it burned terribly and left my face red for hours! Unless you like inflicting pain on yourself do not use it, trust me.
I am 17 and have had horrible severe acne all over my face, arms, and back since the third grade because I have overactive oil glands. I highly recommend the oatmeal face mask immediately after I washed it off my skin was softer and the irritation and redness went down and I have rosacea and it also helped reduce that as well and made my acne less severe. Thank you so much for your help.
Im 16 and have had really bad acne around my jaw line and thats one of the worst places to have it, ive been using the honey and cinnamon remedy for about a week now consistently, and it seems to be working. Im not sure why some people get discomfort or get extra acne, maybe too much cinnamon or not raw honey. But raw is prefered. Thank you!
Hi, so I’ve been struggling with acne since forever and I’ve tried so many things and wasted so much money trying to get rid of it. However, nothing seems to work for very long. It seems as though my skin only temporarily accepts the remedy, then harshly rejects it a few days later. Sometimes it gets so bad that my skin dries out or becomes too oily, which I then go onto another new and different solution. I’ve talked to a doctor, but they weren’t much help either. Please, if anyone can help me, I would be welcome to it.
Thank you.
My daughter rubs garlic on her acne and leaves it on overnight, it stings for a few seconds then goes away, her skin is fantastic after this treatment..