Treating Acne Naturally

Mkay, so I have been struggling with acne since I was 11 or 12, but it seems to have gotten a lot worse recently rather than better.  I feel like I have tried nearly everything over-the-counter.  Proactiv worked best for me, but it is just so pricey.  My parents are trying to make an appointment for me with a dermatologist while I am home for Spring break, so I really really hope I'll be able to get something soon.  My acne has always been kind of on and off.  It's usually not very bad in the summer, but tends to get worse in the winter when my skin gets dry.  This is the worst it's ever been though and I assume it's stress related since it started getting really bad about a month after my big breakup and around the same time I started doing Track and started having issues with my sister.  I have also had a rash on my arms, shoulders, and chest that just appeared around that time.  I have tried lotions and anti-itching cream, but nothing makes the rash go away, so I will probably need medication for that as well as my acne.  It just makes me feel so disgusting and self-conscious :/.  So since I haven't seen any improvement using any of the acne-fighting washes and creams and whatnot, I decided to try and look at some natural remedies that would be less expensive and probably better for me in the long run since the ingredients aren't as most face washes and such.  As I write this, I am trying out a baking soda mask which is simply baking soda mixed with a little warm water and applied to my face after washing with a mild cleanser.  I plan to leave it on for about twenty minutes and will hopefully see some results from it.  I am also going to try using toothpaste as a zit-zapper before bed tonight to see if that actually works.  I have found a lot of different natural remedies that use items from around the house.  There are a few egg masks and oatmeal masks.  I've also read about yogurt helping with redness and making skin softer.  This website has a few interesting ideas including the baking soda mask I am trying right now: http://www.mybeautyrecipes.com/acne_remedies.html.  I also follow the blog and youtube channel of Bubz Beauty who has done a lot of pieces on natural skin remedies after she struggled with some skin problems herself:  http://www.youtube.com/user/bubzbeauty?feature=g-all-u.  I have also read in a beauty book that tea tree oil can help when applied to the acne.  Vitamins A, E, and K are also supposed to help with acne.  Staying away from greasy and sugary food can also help fight acne.  Drinking lots of water and some lemon juice and also green tea are supposed to help with acne.  Also, getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night with help your skin a lot.  Moisturizing with an oil-free lotion is good for the skin too to keep it from getting too dry or oily.  Please feel free to share any remedies you know of that could help with acne especially if it's something you or a friend have tried that actually worked!  I am willing to try anything at this point.

This website also has some good tips for improving your diet to stop acne:  http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/808153/natural-remedies-for-adult-acne


March 17, 2012
 Alright, I have been using baking soda mixed with warm water as a mask for the past few days and I have seen some improvement on my skin nothing drastic, but the redness and bumps have reduced. The acne is still there.  Today, I started adding salt to my baking soda and it seems to be giving me more rapid results.  Basically, I take about a teaspoon of baking soda in my hand, add a dash or two of salt and about ten-fifteen drops of warm water and massage it into my face in a circular motion.  I let it sit there for a while.  I don't usually time it.  I would recommend leaving it on for maybe 20-30 minutes though.  It kind of stings and burns a lot for me the first few minutes, but that just makes it feel like it's working.  I have been using it twice a day after washing my face (once in the morning, and once before bed).  I usually follow it with a vitamin-enhanced toner.  I found out today though that I might have cystic acne, so hopefully, I will be able to get in to see a dermatologist soon to have it checked out.  I looked up remedies for cystic acne online and am planning to go buy some of the over counter stuff tomorrow to try and find a quick fix for it.  I've read that apple cider vinegar taken both orally and topically can have amazing effects on cystic acne, so I'm really excited to try that.  I also might try castor oil or hydrocortizone cream.  If you have any remedies that worked for you, please comment and share.  Like I said, I am willing to try anything at this point.  My acne is so bad.

Products I LOVE!

So I'm not typically a very brand-loyalty kinda gal.  I tend to just get whatever's the best deal and hope it works.  But some of those cheap things turned out to be amazing for me.  And I'd like to share a few with you :)

First of all, E.L.F (Eyes. Lips. Face) is a brand that can be found at Target and it is mostly makeup stuff, but it works very well and is extremely low price.  One of their products I am obsessed with is their E.L.F Zit Zapper.  It's only a dollar and it usually lasts me up to 4 or 5 months and works as an on-the-spot treatment for acne.  It's small enough to fit in your makeup bag and it usually reduces my pimples in only 2-3 days.  It works way better than I expected it to!  And I am so happy I found it!!

So I was a little weary of Suave at first.  I didn't believe it could actually work as well as a professional brand shampoo, but I actually like it more than my Garnier or John Frieda shampoo!  And you find it at a lot of places for only 2 dollars!  So if your hair is really frizzy like mine is in the summer, this is a really great bargain buy!  There's a matching conditioner too, but I prefer to use conditioner for color treated hair.  But this shampoo leaves my hair so smooth and soft.  I love it!  And highly recommend it!

Since I do have some icky acne, I always use concealer.  So I love Almays heals while it conceals makeup!  It's got salicylic acid in it, so that it fights acne and helps heal it while you conceal it just as it claims!  My acne hasn't gotten significant better since I started using it, but it hasn't gotten worse at all and it leaves my skin less oily than most liquid foundations and concealers do!  It's about 8 dollars I think and it lasts me 6-7 months on average.  I usually go with the light concealer and neutral 220 liquid foundation and the light loose powder.  Almay is definitely a brand I am loyal to for my skin/face.  And I've heard that most women tend to have total brand loyalty when it comes to makeup, so it makes sense!

So I was just recently introduced to this stuff when I read online that scrubs help a lot with acne.  I went to go buy one and this one was only 2.15 at Target, so I figured "why not?" If it doesn't work, I only wasted 2 dollars".  Well, it turns out, it was not a waste!! From the first time I washed my face with it, I knew I loved it.  My skin felt brand new and it smelled so good!  And I immediately saw a reduction in my blackheads.  I have really oily skin too, and this made it feel normal and got rid of a lot of the oily feeling.  I am obsessed with it.  My new regiment to cure my acne includes washing with this 3 times a week and following it up with alcohol as a toner.  At night, I wash with antibacterial handsoap to get my makeup off and kills bacteria in my face which has been working so well for me!  You don't have to do all of that though, but try the apricot scrub if you're looking to try something new on your face :)

Another great E.L.F product for only a dollar!  I was looking for peach blush, because I saw Rachel Bilson wearing it in a photo, but I didn't want to waste money on something I'd probably rarely wear.  So I was very excited to find these all-over color sticks in the ELF section at Target!  They can work as eye shadow sticks, blush, or lip gloss!! So if I decide I don't like the peach blush, it still makes a pretty shimmery shadow for my eyes.  I loved it as a blush though!  It looked really nice with my skin tone.  They also had a pink one for those of you who have more of a cool complexion.  It's only a dollar though, so if you're looking to experiment with new makeups, it's 3-in-1 for a dollar, so you can't really go wrong! :)