DIY Natural Acne Treatments

We’ve searched far and wide to discover the best natural acne treatments for your skin… and you can use them all from the comfort of your own home!

Since commercial products are often bursting with chemicals and can be harsh on the skin, natural acne treatments are the way forward. From small changes to your diet to natural, organic cleansing treatments and face masks, we’ve got you covered! Follow our expert guide to the best DIY natural acne treatments around and start to uncover a new, fresh-faced you!

Eat Healthy

Your diet is key to healthy skin from the inside out. You should focus on eating foods that are:

• Rich in zinc: These foods improve immunity and inflammation which can lead to clogged pores and poor skin. Zinc can be found in: spinach, kidney beans, and sprouted pumpkin seeds.
• Rich in vitamin A: This supports healthy, glowing skin. Vitamin A can be found in: spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
• Rich in probiotics: These foods help eliminate bad bacteria in the gut that can cause acne. Probiotics can be found in: kefir, yogurts, and pickles.
• Rich in fiber: These foods cleanse the colon and support the growth of good bacteria in the gut, which can help prevent acne. Fiber rich foods include: dark green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.
• Rich in clean, lean protein: These are essential for keeping skin clear. Protein can be found in: organic chicken, free-range eggs and almonds.
• Rich in Omega3 oils: These healthy fats help balance hormones and have anti-inflammatory properties that are essential for healthy skin. Omega3 can be found in: avocados, flaxseeds and fish. You can also take a daily supplement of 1000mg fish oil, or a flaxseed supplement if you are vegetarian or vegan.

Avoid the following foods that can exacerbate acne:

• Sugary foods: These cause uneven blood sugar levels that can lead to too much insulin being produced, which can cause acne breakouts.
• Dairy products: Causes inflammation of the gut and skin.
• Fried/fast foods: These contain hydrogenated oils, which cause oily skin and inflammation.
• Gluten and wheat-based foods: These can cause inflammation of the gut, which can lead to bad skin.
• Any foods you are allergic to.

Combined with a healthy diet, the following natural acne treatments will help eliminate breakouts from your skin.

Soothing tea tree oil (scientifically known as Melaleuca Alternifolia) with its anti-inflammatory properties, is commonly used all over the world as a natural antiseptic to treat wounds and fight bacteria. It is a perfect, natural way to fight acne, reduce red marks, and invigorate the skin. Medical research indicates that tea tree oil may be as effective as medications for treating acne.

Tea tree oil can be harsh on the skin when applied directly, so mix with one teaspoon of water. You can get tea tree oil from a local pharmacy or health food shop. For optimal use, you can also mix a few drops of tea tree oil with up to 40 drops of witch hazel. Apply this remedy to blemishes up to twice a day. Be careful to not over-do it though, as this could make acne worse.

Honey

Applying certain food products to the skin, like honey, can also be used to heal and prevent breakouts and are one of the best natural acne treatments around.

Honey’s antibacterial properties can help improve spots and acne and soothe the skin. For effective use, you can apply a teaspoon of honey directly to your breakouts. With natural acne treatments, the possibilities are endless, as you can even make a homemade honey face wash to help clear your skin. Simply mix 3 tablespoons of honey, with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 20 drops of essential oils, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Once all the ingredients are mixed, you can apply it to your skin. Just remember to store it in a cool place.

Aloe vera is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits, and it can also work wonders for your skin. This is because this wonder treatment can promote healing, whilst fighting infection and even reducing scarring effects on your skin. This amazing remedy is widely-available and can be found in your local health-food store. You should check the label to ensure that it is pure aloe, with no added ingredients. Once you have it, there’s no mixing required, just apply to your skin and you’re all set to get on the path to a brand new, clear-faced you!

You can use apple cider vinegar as a daily toner. It is naturally bursting with spot-fighting minerals, such as potassium and magnesium, as well as various antimicrobial anti-acne acids and enzymes, that help kill the nasty bacteria on your skin. To make a DIY toner, mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water. Apply to your skin with a cotton pad and remember to make sure you squeeze well before each use. After this, you can start smoothing it over your skin to target breakouts and acne prone areas. This is one of the best kept secrets for natural acne treatments.

Green Tea

Green tea is not only a great, soothing, hot drink, it also has another fantastic use. Luckily for you, it has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that can help fight acne as well. To reap the benefits of this amazing super tea, use a cooled cup of green tea as your very own face wash, or simply put the teabag over the target area. You can even sip some tea while you wait for the benefits to start working!

Mint

Mint is not only fresh for cooking, it can help freshen up your face by removing the oil that clogs up your pores. If you start to feel a slight tingle of acne, you can even help clear it before it has a chance to start. Simply chop some mint and add it to 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons of oatmeal. Once it’s set, apply the treatment to your face for 10 minutes, then rinse off with water.

Acidic Foods

Other natural acne treatment which you will find in your kitchen is acidic citrus fruits. These are high in antioxidants and can help cleanse pores and prevent breakouts. Using a cotton pad, gently put some on the affected areas. Lemons have the added benefit of acting as an exfoliator, disinfectant, and skin lightener. This can reduce the appearance of scars and prevent new pimples from forming.

Healing Masks

You’ll be surprised at what ingredients you can find at the back of your cupboard that can help treat your skin. You can even make a hydrating face mask out of these natural ingredients, which can help fight the common causes of acne. Our personal favorite is the yogurt and honey mask. Mix 1 tablespoon of raw honey with 1 tablespoon of yogurt. Apply this to your face, paying attention to acne prone areas.

Relax for five to 10 minutes and gently remove with a damp cloth. You can play around and make your own masks with different flavors. Masks should be applied a couple of times per week.

As any makeup artist will tell you, a daily gentle cleansing, toning, and moisturizing routine, in the morning and at night, is the key to clearer skin. It can help get rid of stubborn spots and blemishes. Avoid cleansing more frequently as this can dry out the skin and can cause excess oil to be produced. Toning is key to help balance the skin’s natural pH levels and contrary to popular belief, moisturizing is necessary and won’t cause excess oil.

Blocked pores and dead skin can cause acne or worsen it, so it is important to exfoliate regularly, but gently. An efficient, fun, cheap, and safe way of doing this is by making your own scrubs from natural ingredients. Also, exfoliators you find in the shops are often full of chemicals that can irritate the skin more. You don’t need to look further than your kitchen to find suitable ingredients for the scrub, such as oatmeal, brown sugar, or sea salt. These all have a rough, gritty texture which helps unblock pores and remove dead skin. They can be mixed with a base such as coconut or tea tree oil, which helps to fight bacteria and fungi.

Steam

For an incredibly natural way to unblock pores you simply need to breathe in steam. You can get a big bowl and fill it with boiling water. Grab a towel and put it over your head (being careful not to burn your face!) and inhale the steam for approximately five minutes. Now breathe… and get ready for miraculous, clear, beautiful skin!

Using these natural acne treatments, combined with a healthy diet, is the key to ensuring clearer skin and fighting stubborn acne. Not only can most of these ingredients be found in your home, they are bound to be much cheaper and safer than using harsh chemicals on your skin. We know you like to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so start by treating your skin with these clean, healthy organic, natural acne treatments and start to see the benefits today.