With companies releasing acne and spot-treatment products at a pace so unrelenting that it’s hard to keep up, we sometimes forget that there are lots of great natural remedies for acne. Not only are these free of chemicals (I don’t know about you, but sometimes a long list of chemicals freaks me out – do you really want to put something with 20+ ingredients you know nothing about on already inflamed and sensitive skin?), but a lot of them can be found at home, too! Now, these probably won’t cure acne, but they may help alleviate symptoms.
Honey’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties make it a perfect natural remedy for acne. There are plenty of recipes for home-made honey face masks (see below), but Lush does a fresh honey facemask, too – Brazened Honey contains ginger, lime, and fennel amongst a whole host of other ingredients that work to soothe and detoxify inflamed skin.
From honey we get to oats – mix some together with honey and water for a quick (albeit sticky) facemask. Cook the oats in water and add about two tablespoons of honey into it. Let it cool before spreading it on your skin, and leave on for 15-20 minutes before washing it off! The softened oats will act as a mild exfoliant, as well as soothing sore skin. The antibacterial properties of honey will help clear out toxins, too. Use 1-2 times a week.
This is a fantastic natural anti-inflammatory oil, perfect for spot treatment. Put it on any particularly stubborn spots with a cotton bud before bed – it helps reduce inflammation and soreness. The Body Shop sells organic tea tree oil, but you can find it in Superdrug and Boots as well. If you’re using an unrefined one, take care when first trying it out as it can be rather harsh on sensitive skin (you’re best mixing it with water or another oil – check out Rosehip oil down below).
Even if you have oily skin, it needs moisturising – a common misconception is that those with oily skin won’t require this step! Excess oil can sometimes be produced by the lack of moisture, as the skin attempts to moisturise itself. If you find that daily use of oil is too much for you, use it every other day. On the other hand, if you are on retinol-based acne medication, this can lead to your skin drying: rosehip seed oil is a fantastic natural moisturiser, and alleviates a multitude of skin issues – scarring and discoloration, for example. The Ordinary does a great, affordable one.
Like oats and honey, apple cider vinegar is something you’ll probably have lying around the house. It kills off bacteria, as well as changes your skin’s pH levels so that it’s harder for bacteria to survive on it! Mix some apple cider vinegar with water (a 1:3 ratio is recommended – so 1 cap full of vinegar into 3 cap fulls of water) and dab onto spots with a cotton ball or bud. Make sure to wash this off, though – you don’t want it drying your skin out too much! I recommend leaving it on overnight and cleansing your skin as you would in the morning. It is one of the easiest natural remedies for acne to find another use for, as it is often used on salads as well!
Zinc and vitamin E help maintain healthy hair, nails, and skin, and are often sold together in the same supplement as they help each other absorb! You’ll be able to find these supplements in Boots, Superdrug, and Holland & Barrett.
Chances are you’ll have a lemon lying around (or at least live close enough to a shop to get one). Rich in vitamin C which is great for brightening skin, lemon juice is also an astringent, which can help dry out spots! This is one of the best natural remedies for acne. Use cotton balls to dab it on your skin.
Lots of recent studies show that dairy can cause spots – even acne. Try cutting dairy out of your diet for a few weeks to see how your skin reacts!
Aloe Vera is a classic for a reason. You may have used it to treat sunburn, but it works for spots, too: like honey, its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and soothing, and can easily relieve soreness, redness, and swelling. Try this Aloe Vera gel from Holland & Barrett.
Garlic’s another natural antibacterial that’s great for treating spots and acne. Mash some up with water to cover spots, or try one of Lush’s fresh facemasks. Cosmetic Warrior might smell overpowering, but it’s fantastic for really inflamed skin! It’s got tea tree oil and honey in it, too, helping cleanse and moisturise.
This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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