Here are a few tried and true acne home remedies that are simple, contain no chemicals and can be found in your own kitchen.
Acne and I, until quite recently, have had what seems like an inseparable relationship. Many products and medications, both cheap and expensive, have graced my bathroom sink all claiming the same thing; this is going to cure your acne. Well, they didn’t, and for those that DID show some promise, the results didn’t last long.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has or is still suffering from the neverending onslaught of breakouts. It seems like there is no end in sight, and just when you think you’ve got your finger on it, a new blemish appears.
Well, no longer! You can now clear up your skin naturally without multiple lotions and potions that are packed with irritants and other unnecessary chemicals.
My 6 Step Routine for Acne Free Skin
It has taken me the better part of 4-5 years to figure out what truly works best for my skin. i have very oily acne-prone skin that’s sensitive and moody. I have to take great care with the products I choose to implement into my skincare routine to ensure that it doesn’t set me back in the clear skin journey – and I think I’ve found what works! Perhaps, it will work for you too! I hope it does.
For now, the simple tips that I share below are only on the topical side of my skincare regimen. It may not cure your acne (since acne is largely an internal issue) but it certainly is a huge step in the right direction.
WHat you will want to do in conjunction with these tips, is to start cleaning up your lifestyle by cutting out processed, sugary, filled-with-additives type foods, drink enough clean water, get meaningful sleep every night, and get your body moving on a daily basis.
Do these things, and you will be well on your way to achieving the clear skin you’ve always wanted but never thought you could have.
So, without further ado, let’s get into my top tips for clearing acne naturally!
1. Honey Cleansing in the Morning
In the AM, I wash my face with Manuka Honey. The best Manuka Honey to use for acne prone skin is one with a bioactivity of 12 or more, I use 16+ by this company
.
I begin my morning with a good rinse by splashing my face with warm water and then massaging ½ tsp of Manuka Honey (you can substitute with any raw honey
) into my damp skin for a good 30 seconds. You can let this sit as a mask if your face isn’t to drippy until you feel like rinsing it off. I have been known to keep it on my face for an hour or more while puttering around the house.
The amazing antibacterial and medicinal properties of Manuka Honey come from its close relationship with Tea Tree allowing it to effectively inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Because of this, breakouts become less frequent, your skin becomes smoother and more hydrated (all honey is a humectant), and the best part, no chemicals!
On top of that, honey is a great way to remove excess oil and balance the skin’s sebum production and PH levels.
if you haven’t started using Manuka Honey in your skincare regimen, I higly encourage you to start.
For more on manuka honey look below:
How to Make Your Own Manuka Honey
Is Manuka Honey Better Than Benzoyl Peroxide?
2. Rose Water Toner
For both mornings and evenings (and sometimes randomly throughout the day), I spray my face liberally with a high quality rose water/rose hydrosol. Pure rose water contains PH balancing properties that help keep the skin’s acid mantle in tip-top shape, which is very important for clear skin! You see, acne-causing bacteria loves acidic, low-oxygen environments to breed and flourish. When you use a good rosewater, its high antioxidant content, as well as its ability to rebalance and neutralize the skin’s PH, helps prevent the P. acnes bacteria from thriving.
Rosewater is also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and smells fantastic.
You can get my favorite rose water here
or learn how to make your own here.
If you don’t have any rose water on hand, you can substitute it with raw apple cider vinegar
diluted in equal parts spring water OR rose infused witch hazel.
You can read more about the amazing benefits of rose water here, the benefits of apple cider vinegar here, and 7 different ways to use witch hazel here.
3. Jojoba Oil Moisturizer
Putting more oil on your face may sound counterintuitive, but trust me, jojoba oil
is the best natural moisturizer I’ve ever used. It really works. In fact, you can read about over 80 carrier oils and their comedogenic rating HERE to make doubly sure you’re choosing the right carrier oil for your skin’s needs.
However, jojoba oil has a special place when it comes to clearing acne, and that’s its unique chemical structure that mimics the skin’s own sebum. It is this closeness that makes jojoba oil so perfect for treating acne naturally.
As with any oil, when I first started using it as a daily moisturizer it took a few weeks for my skin to adjust and get used to using it. In fact, I broke out a little (which kinda freaked me out, not gonna lie), but then it suddenly started to clear up, I broke out less often, and my skin became way less oily! This is because jojoba oil is known to cause a “purge” in some people where their skin starts releasing all the clogged up junk that’s been sitting in their pores. Thankfully, this stage only lasts a few weeks and once it’s over, your skin will be clearer than ever before!
Additionally, I also started to add essential oils to the jojoba oil for some added benefits.
Adding essential oils to your facial oil will make it more antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, soothing, or refreshing depending on which essential oils you use.
Some of my favorite essential oils to use are:
• Lavender
– great for soothing redness and irritation
• Tea Tree – known to kill acne-causing bacteria
• Thyme – known to be just as effective as 
benzoyl peroxide
• Rosemary – kills bacteria, lowers stress response, anti-inflammatory
• Moroccan Blue Chamomile – heals blemishes, anti-inflammatory, reduces redness
• German Chamomile – anti-inflammatory and heals blemishes
• Geranium – reduces sebum production
The typical preparation for adding an essential oil to your carrier oil (in this case your jojoba oil), is to add 10-12 drops essential oil for every 1oz of carrier oil. I normally only add a single essential oil to my jojoba oil at a time to keep it simple unless I’m making a concoction.
If you want some recipes, I have made some great serums like:
Essential Oils for Scars + A Scar Healing Recipe
Homemade Serum for Acne Prone Skin
Rejuvenating Rosehip Facial Serum
Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin
(Where to buy essential oils for 24% off)
Keep in mind too that you don’t have to stick to just jojoba oil. I’ve recently found great success using hemp seed oil for this step as well. Use the oil that works best for you skin type!
4. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Manuka Honey Spot Treatment/Scrub
This stuff is awesome and hands down one of the best spot treatments I’ve ever used. It’s really quite effective!
To make it, I mix equal parts Manuka Honey (again, you can substitute raw honey here…I like this one ) with a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon
. You can also add a tiny pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
(you can use already ground nutmeg
in a pinch as long as it isn’t too old, we’re looking for it’s healing essential oils) and mix well into a paste that is neither too thick nor too runny, but somewhere in the middle.
Apply a small amount to blemishes and let it sit for as long as you like as long as you don’t experience any type of sensitivity. I usually leave it on for about 5-10 minutes but sometimes I leave it on for hours when no one’s home. Just be sure not to apply it to broken or very irritated skin.
I like to store this handy little spot treatment in a small container
and keep it in the fridge for a more soothing effect. You can also use this as a facial scrub to dislodge stubborn blackheads. Use it twice a week.
5. Clay Mask
Using a clay mask at least once a week is one of the best ways to extract impurities from the skin. I like to make a ritual out of it by applying my favorite rhassoul clay while in the bath. I then let the mask sit until it dries or until I’m done with my bath, wet my face, exfoliate with it, and then rinse it off.
Afterward, I like to steam my face with a wet cloth
and gently wipe my face. Blackheads will pop right out if there are any left and if you’re extra fancy, you can use a sanitized extraction tool like this to very gently remove any that are left.
Depending on your skin type, you can use a clay mask 2-3 times a week on the entire face to help soak up and control oil.
I tend to have oily skin, so I like to keep my pores clear especially around the nose and chin by applying the mask to just those areas after a shower. I don’t find that my skin gets too dry using the mask in this way and my pores stay clearer longer.
The clay can also be used in the bath water itself to soften and purify the skin for a luxurious spa-like experience.
You can read more about my favorite type of clay here.
6. Oil Cleansing in the Evening
At night I like to remove any mineral make-up and impurities from the day with, you guessed it, more oil.
This time though, I like to use hemp seed oil
as my natural cleanser. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it’s turned out to work very well for me. For those of you who cannot use hemp seed oil to cleanse, continue using the jojoba oil
instead or whichever carrier oil works best for you skin type.
The oil removes all traces of makeup (even the toughest mascara), dirt, and sebum, leaving my skin soft, clean, and supple. Just apply 1/2 tsp of oil to dry skin and gently massage it around your face. Be careful when removing mascara not to get it in your eye. Use a cloth to wipe everything away then rinse with warm water. Follow with the rose water toner and then the jojoba oil moisturizer (or whichever oil work best for your skin). Your oil production will normalize over the coming weeks and your skin will feel be smooth and moisturized.
The oil cleansing method is super awesome considering it’s just one ingredient! You can read more about the Oil Cleansing Method here.
Why go Natural for Clear Skin?
Natural is just better! Instead of slathering on toxic chemicals, stripping your skin’s acid mantle, and dousing it with synthetic lotions and potions, you’re loving and nurturing your skin.
Simple ingredients = simple solutions. Incorporating simple, natural ingredients into your skin care routine is the best natural acne treatment there is. I hope you give it a try!
You may also enjoy reading:
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
The Best Vegan Pore Strips Recipe
3 steps to improve your female hormonal acne
How to treat hormonal acne naturally
The Oil Cleansing Method
The enhanced oil cleansing method
What are the best oils for my skin type?
What are the best essential oils for my skin type?
Natural Sources of Salicylic Acid for Acne—From Fruit!
What natural acne treatments have worked for you?
