Not only does acne have the possibility of scarring your face, but it can also scar your soul. When you aren’t confident and feel like a million bucks, it’s hard to be and do your best. You may find yourself constantly saying, “If only I could get rid of all of these pimples, then I could…”
Well, enjoying cleaner and clearer skin can give your self-esteem the boost it needs and it doesn’t have to be a costly expense either. Sure, dermatologists can work wonders for you and give you in-office treatments and prescription remedies that may help clear up your acne, but that isn’t your only option.
You have homemade remedies you can use too, and here are seven of them that have given countless others clearer skin and may just work for you too:
#1 Honey and Cinnamon
This particular mixture is great for many things (such as losing weight and boosting immunity when you mix them with water or tea and drink them), and clearing up acne is just one.
Honey works to kill the bacteria that are present in acne related blemishes and cinnamon is anti-inflammatory, which reduces the redness and swelling of your pimples.
Combine the two for a super healing face mask by using approximately two tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix them thoroughly and rub it on your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it off.
#2 Honey and Milk
If you don’t have any cinnamon lying around, you can always use milk with the honey instead. Milk (or yogurt if you wish) helps reduce the red appearance of your acne and decreases inflammation.
Just make sure you get the full fat version as it contains different nutrients than skim milk (yogurt can be either non-fat or full fat as it doesn’t matter).
Milk has been used as an all-natural skin remedy for ages, which is why Cleopatra took baths in it. Put one tablespoon of each the honey and milk in a bowl and rub it on your face. When it dries, you can always add another layer. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then remove it with warm water.
#3 Lemon juice
Not only is lemon juice good for adding a little extra flavor to tea, veggies and fish, but it also works wonders for your acne by drying out the blemishes and killing the bacteria that created them.
Of course, you’ll smell cleaner than clean too! Just dab a little bit on a cotton ball and apply it directly to the problem area for acne relief.
#4 Apple cider vinegar
Although it doesn’t necessarily smell as good as lemon juice, apple cider vinegar is also great for helping you get skin that sparkles. It regulates your pH balance while softening and exfoliating at the same time.
Additionally, like the lemon juice, it dries up the excess oil that is often so prominent for acne sufferers. Simply dilute the vinegar with water (use one part vinegar to every three parts water) and use it as a toner. If it makes your face too dry, you may want to use moisturizer to counteract this effect.
#5 Egg whites
When you’re making your egg white omelet with Swiss cheese, onion, green pepper and mushrooms, set some of the egg whites aside (you only need two) to give your face an acne clearing mask when you’re done eating.
Egg whites work to reduce the appearance of acne scars and help rebuild healthy skin cells, all while decreasing your oil production along the way. Just whisk the whites until they are frothy, then let them sit for a minute or two.
Cover your face with them (adding additional layers as they dry if you’d like), wait 20 minutes and then rinse them off.
#6 Banana peel
Bananas are full of many good for you vitamins and minerals, like potassium (which is why they are recommended for people who regularly suffer from leg cramps), manganese, and vitamins C and B6. However, as it turns out, they are also good for your skin.
The peel of the banana contains an antioxidant that is works wonders for reducing the swelling and inflammation of acne. So, when you’re done eating your banana and making your insides healthy, you can make your outsides healthy too by rubbing the peel on your face, waiting 30 minutes and then washing it off.
#7 Tea tree oil
You’re probably not going to have this particular acne fighting ingredient in your cupboard, but you can find it in most any health food store. Tea tree oil works to unblock your pores and it also acts as an antibacterial at the same time. It is very powerful, so just a little bit does the job.
Dilute the tea tree oil by using one part tea tree and nine parts water, put it on your problem areas and leave it. (This is the only remedy you don’t have to remove or wash off after a certain period of time.) If your skin is super sensitive, you can ease the mixture even more by diluting it with aloe vera gel instead of the water.
So, here are seven remedies (most of which you likely already have in your kitchen) that will help you ease your acne naturally and without a hefty medical bill.
If you have tried one or choose to give one a chance after reading this, let us know what you think. We’d love to hear how they worked for you!
Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar should not be use undiluted on the skin as they are both extremely acidic.