Acne is an overly common skin condition, affecting up to 15% of adult women. Breakouts are likely a major obstacle in your beauty routine and daily life, and may even be seemingly impossible to prevent and heal.
Luckily, there are some natural remedies that will help erase your pesky pimples and restore your clear and smooth complexion. Keep reading to learn more!
Key Takeaways
- Acne is a skin condition that occurs when pores are clogged with dirt or oil, resulting in inflammation. It can be caused by things like skin type, genetics, or lifestyle choices.
- It's not usually possible to get rid of acne overnight. However, some home remedies and treatments can help prevent and treat acne.
- Home treatments like a yogurt and honey face mask, tea tree oil spot treatment, or green tea toner are great for calming the skin and reducing inflammation or redness (recipes below!)
- Other ways to treat and reduce acne include regularly exfoliating the skin, finding ways to manage stress, and using over-the-counter treatment options.
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A Quick Overview
What Is Acne?
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when the skin becomes clogged or blocked, resulting in skin inflammation. It is very common, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually.
Acne often leads to a combination of whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples, and can even result in deep nodules or painful cysts.
What Causes Acne?
Many believe that acne only affects teenagers, as hormonal changes can lead to excess oil production and clogged pores. In fact, 85% of people ages 12 to 24 experience some degree of acne. However, acne is a very common skin condition that can affect people of any age.
A few factors can contribute to adult acne formation or development. Skin type can often play a big part, as acne typically occurs when pores are clogged with dirt or oil.
Your skin contains sebaceous glands, which produce sebum (oil). When pores are clogged with oil or sebum, along with other impurities like dirt or bacteria, it often results in inflammation and breakouts.
Factors that may contribute to or worsen acne include:
- Genetics
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Diet (like eating unhealthy foods)
- Stress
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Sleep (whether it be a lack of quality or quantity)
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Hormone changes (common for teenagers or women going through pregnancy or menopause)
- Infections
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Skincare products (which contain ingredients that clog pores)
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Lifestyle choices (such as smoking or drinking alcohol)
How to Get Rid of Acne
#1. Yogurt & Honey Face Mask
A quick and simple DIY face mask might be the best way to soothe and heal your acne-prone skin.
This recipe, in particular, requires plain yogurt, cinnamon, and honey. The cooling yogurt and purifying cinnamon feel calming and relaxing, helping to reduce the inflammation that comes with acne.
Don't just take our word for it - a 2017 study found that combining honey with cinnamon can have antibacterial properties against Propionibacterium acnes (acne-causing bacteria).
Simply mix 1 tbsp plain yogurt, 1 tsp honey, and a pinch of cinnamon in a bowl until it makes a smooth paste. Apply it evenly to your face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. After, gently wash off the paste with warm water.
Follow up with our Triple Tea Antioxidant Essence to further refresh and hydrate your skin (which is essential when fighting acne!)
#2. Tea Tree Oil Spot Treatment
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
When diluted with water, it can function as an effective and simple spot treatment for acne. Though it can't erase pimples overnight, it can help significantly reduce the inflammation, swelling, and redness that comes with breakouts.
Many people find that tea tree oil is not nearly as drying or irritating as other over-the-counter acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. If you're worried about dry skin, be sure to use an oil-free and unscented moisturizer like our Sweet Black Tea and Ginger Moisturizer.
To use a tea tree oil spot treatment, simply mix 1 part tea tree oil with 9 parts water. Take a cotton swab and apply it to the affected areas.
Follow up with our Sweet Black Tea and Ginger Moisturizer, and repeat this process 1 to 2 times per day.
#3. Green Tea Toner
Sipping a mug of steaming green tea is soothing for the mind and body. It's also an excellent home remedy for acne! You can easily make your own brew at home or apply products that contain green tea extract.
To make your own green tea skin treatment, brew green tea as you would, let it cool, and apply it to your skin with a cotton ball. Let it dry and sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash off the green tea with warm water.
We recommend using the Soothing Island Comfort Green Tea, which is a delicate blend of pineapple, ginger, and green tea that is good for drinking or applying topically!
Green tea leaf extract is a core ingredient in our Sweet Black Tea and Rice Moisturizer, a lightweight yet ultra-hydrating moisturizer that helps plump, smooth, and calm the skin. It's a great addition to your anti-acne skincare routine.
Bonus: Turmeric Tea: Recipes, Benefits, & More
#4. Exfoliate
Exfoliating is an essential step of any skincare routine.
Exfoliation is a process in which the uppermost layer of skin is removed either mechanically or chemically to reveal smooth and radiant skin. Exfoliation also makes the rest of your anti-acne skincare routine more effective, as the products and formulas will be able to penetrate the skin more easily.
We know that acne is usually caused by pores clogged by dirt, bacteria, or oil. Pairing a gentle cleanser with a face scrub is a great way to remove these impurities and reveal fresh skin.
Depending on your skin type, you should exfoliate once per week or once per day.
However, some skin types can become irritated or inflamed from face scrubs or physical exfoliants. In that case, chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or glycolic acid may be a better choice.
For a quick and easy DIY face scrub, simply mix 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp sugar. Gently massage the mixture into your skin and rinse with warm water.
For an intensive head-to-toe treatment, our Invigorating Coffee Scrub is a perfect choice for energized and refreshed skin.
Alternatively, you can use this Radiance Enzyme Scrub for treating acne on the face, shoulders, or back. This three-in-one cleanser, exfoliator, and mask works to refine and soften the skin with the power of vitamin C, fruit enzymes, and fresh spices.
#5. Reduce Stress
Stress can have disastrous effects on the mind and body. Not only is it mentally draining, but it can also negatively impact your skin.
Stress can exacerbate acne, leading to more redness and inflammation. Luckily, stress management can help keep your mind and body calm and relaxed and keep your acne under control.
Things like regular exercise, self-care activities, and meditation are all effective ways to relieve and manage stress. Prioritizing a wellness lifestyle and healing practices are surefire ways to stay positive, happy, and healthy.
A great place to start is by brewing your own jamu drink made with ginger and turmeric that soothes and strengthens the mind and body.
#6. Benzoyl Peroxide
If you have moderate or severe acne, sometimes, home remedies might not cut it. Though home remedies are excellent for healing acne, healing skin, and enhancing overall appearance, they are more soothing and gentle so as not to disrupt the natural skin barrier.
Sometimes, you may need to turn to over-the-counter treatments if you have moderate to severe acne.
Over-the-counter products often contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid that can treat and prevent acne. However, these ingredients can often dry and irritate your skin. It's a good idea to start at a lower concentration to ensure you don't have any unwanted side effects.
The Bottom Line
Treating and preventing acne can be a lifelong battle for many. Adult acne can lower self-esteem and damage skin health. Luckily, there are a few home remedies that can help quickly and efficiently erase those pesky pimples from your face. Give them a go!
Keep Reading: How To Make Homemade Cinnamon Tea (With Only Three Ingredients)
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