Editor’s Note: Let’s just say that guest contributor, Vanessa Roberts, is a rock star skincare blogging babe with all kinds of skin beauty tips and tricks up her sleeve. Find her work on various websites all over cyberspace, including here Neutrogena Skin ID review. Look for Roberts’ take in her reviews on other popular skincare brands and products as well. The best part about her job? She has amazing skin!
The fast approaching summer months will bring hot and humid weather, which means sweaty, greasy, and acne prone skin waits just around the corner.
Fortunately, you can find some of the best acne solutions right in your kitchen. This is great news for those who don’t like to use store bought, chemical-ridden acne treatments. Simply incorporate these 3 simple ingredients into your skincare routine to get your skin in fighting shape.
Natural Ingredients for Acne Treatment
Garlic
Garlic – Protects from vampires and clears acne blemishes.
Not just for warding off vampires, garlic gives off one of those hunger-inducing smells that not only tastes great, but packs a serious antibacterial punch for your skin as well.
Want to reap the antibacterial benefits garlic holds for your skin?
Crush a couple of peeled garlic cloves; use a garlic press or by mash it up yourself. Make certain to completely crush, or mince, the cloves. Then mix it into a cup of warm water. Once you have your mixture, soak a clean cotton cloth in the garlic water and gently wash the spots where you primarily get acne blemishes. Leave it on your skin for several minutes, but no more than 10 minutes. Thoroughly rinse your face with cool water. And don’t worry, your face won’t smell like garlic, but the treatment will take you one step closer to clearer skin.
This treatment can actively help you in the battle against acne. Garlic has powerful cleansing and antibacterial properties in its juice, providing a natural antiseptic solution for cleansing acne-prone skin
Vinegar
Yes, you can use it for more than just DIY cleaning products and salad dressings.
In fact, the natural acidity of vinegar works as an effective acne fix, helping to reduce redness and minimize inflammation, which can take part in triggering acne breakouts.
While it packs quite the strong odor, using it on the skin for no more than 10 minutes, you will zap your zits in no time. Take a small bowl and mix 1 part filtered water to 1 part distilled white vinegar. So, if you use ½ cup of filtered water, you’ll need to add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar to it.
Once you have your mixture, dip a clean cotton ball or beauty pad into the vinegar mixture and apply it to your face on the spots where you get the most acne – just as you did with the garlic juice mixture.
Don’t forget to rinse the vinegar solution off you face after no more than 10 minutes, so it doesn’t dry out your skin.
Aloe Vera
Soak up a little too much sun? Rub on some aloe for relief.
Okay, it’s not exactly an ingredient normally found in your pantry or cupboard, but you can grow an aloe vera plant in your garden, especially if you live in a hot climate. If you live in a colder climate, you can still grow aloe vera in a pot on a windowsill that gets lots of sunlight during the day.
If you don’t want to (or can’t) grow your own aloe plant, you can buy a bottle of aloe gel at the organic food store. Check the label to make sure it contains a good amount of pure aloe extract and no artificial ingredients.
The immunity boosting and anti-inflammatory properties of aloe represent a couple its most notable benefits. These powerful properties help it prevent future blemishes and eradicate current acne eruptions on the skin.
Try rubbing a little aloe gel from the inside of a cut leaf, or a dollop from a store bought bottle of it, on your skin. Apply to affected areas daily. It reduces redness from inflamed blemishes and mild rosacea when applied to dry skin and allowed to remain there.
On top of that, aloe also helps to hydrate your sun-kissed skin after a long day outdoors. So, not only can it help clear up your acne, it also moisturizes your skin. The aloe vera plant provides all these benefits – all at the same time.
Not bad for a little plant.
Finally, regardless of which acne treatment you use, pair that treatment with a healthy diet and try to not touch your face more than you need to and you will notice your skin clearing up just in time for beach weather.
Clean, clear, even toned skin. What a way to kick off summer!
Important: Take care not to get any of the mixture in your eyes as it may sting and burn. If some of the mixture does make its way into your eyes, flush with clean, cool water for several seconds to a couple of minutes.
Images credits: gaiaonline dot com, istockphoto
