Making your own natural spot treatments is fun and easy. They're natural, chemical free, and effective.
Contrary to popular belief, it isn't necessary to go out and buy expensive spot treatments to get good results. Most of them don't work anyway or they're full of nasty chemicals that can be quite harsh on the skin. The recipes that I'm going to share with you today are 1-2 ingredients (most of which you may already have) and work just as well, if not better than over the counter spot treatments. Plus, when you make them yourself you know exactly what's going into them and can even customize them to meet your needs.
Natural is Better! Why You Should Make Your Own Natural Acne Spot Treatments
The recipes below can be tailored to anyone! So please feel free to experiment with different essential oils, clays
, and honey
when making your own.
Get creative!
My Top Natural Acne Spot Treatments - How to Get Rid of Acne!
Activated Charcoal
One of my favorite natural acne spot treatments to use is activated charcoal
mixed with a little bit of 100% pure aloe vera gel
.
Activated charcoal is incredibly absorbent and detoxifying not only for the body but also for the skin. Applying it topically on an UN-open acne legion, will pull out toxins and dry it out, while the aloe vera gel heals up the pimple and reduces redness.
This spot treatment is best used for acne that is un-open and scab free, otherwise, the activated charcoal won’t rinse off the skin cleanly.
Here’s what you’ll need-
• 1 capsule of activated charcoal (can be found here)
• A few drops of aloe vera gel
Instructions
Mix the 2 ingredients together until you create a thick paste that is spreadable but not runny. Activated charcoal can be messy! So be sure to do this in an area where it won’t easily stain clothing, carpet, or any other surface that stains easily.
Once mixed, apply the spot treatment to acne with a q-tip in a thick layer.
Let dry, and then gently rinse off with warm water.
Apply some aloe vera gel to the pimple afterward for its healing effects. I like to use this as an overnight spot treatment. You can even add a drop of lavender essential oil to the gel to help calm redness.
Tea Tree Aloe
Tea Tree Essential Oil has an affinity for naturally treating acne. It's highly antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it perfect for a natural acne spot treatment.
Since you never want to apply any essential oils directly to the skin, you will need to mix it with a medium to dilute it. I like to use pure aloe vera gel or calendula gel
for their healing properties.
What You’ll Need
• 1 teaspoon pure aloe vera or calendula gel
• 1-2 drops pure tea tree essential oil
Instructions-
Mix the gel and tea tree oil completely and apply to un-open acne (otherwise it will burn!) with a q-tip. I like to use a thicker layer at night for best results and a small dab during the day. This wears well under make-up too.
Apply this spot treatment twice a day as needed.
Manuka Honey
As most of you may be aware, manuka honey
is one of the best natural acne treatments out there. Harboring all of the benefits of raw honey, manuka honey boasts some pretty amazing benefits of its own. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal…. We might well add anti-acne to the list.
All you need to do is apply a small amount of this medicinal honey problem areas. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes, and then gently rinse with warm water. I like to leave mine on for hours at a time when I’m home for the day. You can even apply manuka honey to open acne wounds. This will reduce scarring and speed up the healing process.
Read more about Manuka honey here:
How to Make Your Own Manuka Honey
Is Manuka Honey Better Than Benzoyl Peroxide?
Natural Acne Solutions- The Manuka Honey Secret
Important Note
Make sure that you get a manuka honey that has a bioactivity of at least 16 (this is usually stated on the front label). Anything lower isn’t going to be as effective, so save your money if a higher bioactivity isn’t available.
Use this spot treatment daily until the blemish disappears, usually a few days. You can even use this honey as a face wash.
Clay and Apple Cider Vinegar
This is another great and completely natural acne spot treatment.
All you need are 2 ingredients-
• Natural facial clay
• Raw apple cider vinegar
Facial clays, especially bentonite clay, will pull and absorb toxins from the skin making them perfect for treating blemishes. Adding raw apple cider vinegar will kill bacteria, balance the skin’s PH, heal acne, and reduce redness.
You can use any pure facial clay for this recipe. Bentonite clay is best if you can handle its strength, and white clay is best for sensitive skin types. Of course, you can use French green clay and Moroccan red clay as well for those of us in the middle.
Instructions-
Add raw apple cider vinegar to the clay until a thick paste is formed. You want it to be spreadable but not too runny (this is the trick for spot treatments). Each clay will take different amounts of vinegar to achieve the right consistency, so add the vinegar in small increments. If it becomes too runny, then add more clay to thicken it up again.
Apply the spot treatment to problem areas and let dry completely before rinsing with warm water.
Apply some pure aloe or calendula gel
after patting your skin dry. I like to use this spot treatment once a day until the blemish has disappeared. This usually takes about 2-3 days depending on the size and maturity of the blemish.
Papaya Gel
If you have very sensitive skin, then this spot treatment is the one for you.
It’s just 2 ingredients
• Fresh papaya (or papaya powder!)
• Aloe vera gel
Papaya is known for its healing, renewing, and moisturizing properties and has proven to be one of the best blemish healers out there. I recommend using it for both open and un-open blemishes to reduce redness, prevent scarring, and to quickly heal acne.
Although papaya gel doesn’t technically pull out toxins, it does a great job at reducing angry looking blemishes, so if you’re looking for a quick fix for redness, this is it.
Instructions
Carve a spoonful of fresh papaya and place it in a clean bowl. With a fork, mash up the papaya until smooth.
Add 1 teaspoon of pure aloe vera gel and mix it in with the papaya puree.
Apply to affected areas in an even layer and let it dry completely before rinsing with warm water.
I like to use this spot treatment once a day to treat acne that I’ve accidentally scratched, or may have picked at to heal it quickly.
I hope you enjoy these natural acne spot treatments and give them a try! What are some of your favorites?
You may also enjoy reading:
Homemade Drying Lotion for Acne
The Best Facials for Acne
Homemade Serum for Acne Prone Skin
Are Papaya Enzymes the Answer to Banishing Red, Splotchy, Uneven Skin Tone?
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin
Essential Oils for Hormonal Acne
Peacenlovegirl1 says
Thank you for sharing. I actually use manuka honey as mask and spot treatment. And like you Im allover the house like the monster of honey face?Amazing results. Save my super mega sensitive skin. Yesterday discover clay for dry very fast an active acne lesson. My concern now is that Every moisturizer makes me breakout like crazy and I will try argan oil because I heard amazing results with it. ?
Anna says
Hi Tash,
I thought I would stop Nilom hogging all the comments 🙂
Great post here and lots of good advice on how to apply some of these preparations. My personal favorite is Manuka honey, which is wonderful for the skin, but mostly because I like to eat it, yummy.
The charcoal idea is a new one on me, I know it is used for many things, notably fishtank filters but I had never thought about its use on the skin, so thanks for that tip, I'll give it a try next time I get a spot. 🙂
Tash says
Hi Anna!
Charcoal is good for so many things because it's very "drawing", so naturally, it's great for spot treatments =)
I like to eat Manuka Honey too!
nilom kundu says
http://www.thelovevitamin.com/6855/treat-female-hormonal-acne/
On her blog, she talks about taking Estroblock. She said it completely cleared her. Ideas??
nilom kundu says
I am so grateful to have met you!! You're honestly an inspiration 🙂
So this is what I have been doing since I've met with you.
1) I take the Vitex tincture first thing in the morning ( 35 drops in a little water)
2)Clean eating (cooking with coconut oil), taking on digestive enzyme after every meal (lunch/dinner). I take the coconut kefir probiotic after.
3)Honey mask. I wash it off with water and then spray the rose water.
4) At night I apply the argan oil to my scars.
I have been noticing that my sleep is a lot better. My anxiousness has also calmed down. I used to be anxious about nothing at all!? Also, I noticed that I can't seem to have bladder problems. As in, I feel like I can't control my pee! I've had this for a while but now I realize it could be due to hormones as well? I am going to be buying the dandelion tea today also.
Lastly, for the fermented cod liver oil. I'm scared to take it 🙁 Ive heard mixed reviews on it and I'm deathly scared because I have to buy it online and I can't return it if I have adverse effects!
Hope this wasn't too much, ah! Thanks!!
nilom kundu says
*that I seem to have
Tash says
Hey there!
You're doing great so far! I would try taking the probiotic right before you eat or with your meal. How have they been working out so far?
Yes! I love honey masks. Sometimes I keep the manuka honey on for hours while I'm puttering around the house. It makes a huge difference in my skin's appearance.
As for the argan oil, you can even apply it to your whole face. I like to do this after I've sprayed my skin with rose water. Then, while my skin is still wet, I will apply 1 squirt of argan oil all over my face. It's very moisturizing and refreshing and the results last all day.
I'm really happy to hear that your sleep and anxiety is getting better =) This is because of the vitex that you're taking. Vitex is known to relieve PMS symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, and nervous tension. Since your sysmtoms are improving, I would say that there is a very good chance that your acne is hormonal! So woo hoo! At least now you have a good idea about what's going on. When I started eating better and having a hopeful outlook, a lot of personal issues started to ease up too.
Fermented cod liver oil has side effects?? Interesting! I haven't come across any personally. If you need any reassurance, check out this article: http://www.thelovevitamin.com/3452/fermented-cod-liver-oil/ =) Let me know what you think!
As for the pee thing, that might be related to your diet changes. I know that vitex is slightly diuretic (makes you pee) and so is dandelion. This is very cleansing, but I know it can be annoying. Just stay hydrated nontheless. You could try adding a very small pinch of high quality sea salt to your water too. This will help keep you from peeing so often.
Estroblock boasts some pretty awesome results! I have never tried it myself, but I have been studying it quite a bit and it looks very promising! If you plan on giving it a try, be sure to cleanse the liver (this is extremely important).
Let me know what you think!
Nilom says
Hey! This is Nilom! I left you a message a whole back but I don't think you got it. It was basically describing what I've been doing for my acne. It has helped but hasn't completely cleared me. I still get breakouts around my mouth and cheek area. I've been taking estroblock for 2 months now and I don't know if it's working. I stopped the vitex which made some difference but not much. I really don't know what to do anymore 🙁
Nilom says
I still take cod liver oil and have stopped the digestive enzymes everyday for about a week now and I still get that bloatedness. This is really taking a toll on my overall self now 🙁
Tash says
Hey Nilom! can you let me what e-mail address you sent your message to? I'ts weird that I haven't seen it and I want to make sure no one else is having the same issue! Once I read your e-mail, I will get back to you on this, so sorry to hear that you're still having trouble =(
<3 Tash
Nilom says
It's the one on your website!
Tash says
Check your e-mail (the one you're using to follow comments).
talk to you soon!
<3 Tash
Nilom says
I haven't received anything !
nilom kundu says
Hey! This is Nilom from the other day when I met you at Whole Foods! I just recently purchashed the cod liver oil, taking the vitex and the digestive enzymes. I also, use the manuka honey as a mask everyday. I don't even wash with soap anymore. However, I feel like there was something else that's missing. Am I on the right track so far? I heard the vitex takes a while to work too.
Tash says
Hey there!
Yes! You are definitely on the right track =) Just remember to pay attention to what foods may be causing any allergic reactions, get plenty of sleep, exercise, be gentle to your skin. I think I mentioned that drinking roasted dandelion tea would help detox your liver too, which is really important for achieving clear skin!
I'm at school atm till about 10pm tonight (boo!) but I will think about some more tips for you today and get back to you =) You're doing great so far!
nilom kundu says
hey! that's no problem 🙂 I was also wondering what you did to remove scars??
Tash says
Hello again!
To prevent scars in the first place, I made sure to apply rosehip oil (or any good oil like jojoba oil) to the healing blemish. I found that this really helped lessen a scar's appearance. If I had a scab from picking, I would apply 100% pure aloe vera gel to the area a few times a day to keep it from scarring too!
As for scars that I already had, I used daily facial massage with the oil I was using at the time (probably rosehip or jojoba) to help break up scar tissue. I also used an at home microdermabrasion tool called a PMD, but I only used this on old scars. It worked really well at softening and evening out scars. Some of them even disappeared after a few weeks! =)
nilom kundu says
THank you for your response! I don't have rose hip or jojoba oil, but I have argan oil. Would that be just as good or no?
Tash says
Argan oil would work great as it's very healing. You can use any high quality facial oil to smooth scars by massaging them in a circular motion. This will promote healthy blood flow and will gently break up scar tissue. Plus it feels nice!
Feel free to ask me more questions, I'm more than happy to help =)