Tiffany Raiford
It’s that high school prom moment from your adolescent nightmares all over again; you’re a grown adult far past the age of acne and imperfect skin, yet there it is. A giant, ugly, disgusting pimple on your face so big you’re pretty sure it could be a new planet. Of course, the good news is that you probably notice it far more than anyone else notices it, but that does nothing to change the fact that this one imperfection on your face makes you feel as if everyone you encounter is carrying on a conversation with your pimple. It does rock the confidence. It’s even worse with the offensive presence on your face is not just limited to one ugly pimple, but several. Acne is no fun, and it’s kind of uncool that we cannot seem to outgrow it no matter how old we get (acne and fine lines? Come on!). The good news, however, is that you need not spend hundreds of dollars on all new beauty products to fight your acne. You can just use a few very simple and very natural remedies that should help clear up your skin in no time.
Drink More Water
It sounds cliché, I know, but it really does work. The more you hydrate your skin, the healthier it becomes. And with the consumption of more water, you can eliminate the consumption of other unhealthy beverages that could be wreaking havoc on your skin. Nix soda and other sugar-filled drinks from your diet and replace them with water; not only will you see your skin clear up in no time, you’ll notice that everything about you seems so much healthier and so much better as a whole. And really, this day and age you should not have to be told to stop drinking soda and to start drinking more water; you should already be doing it.
Use Ice Cubes on Acne
Water is great for acne. Drink more of it to have healthier skin, and rub ice cubes on existing pimples to help reduce the redness and inflammation. It’s a great remedy that anyone can use since we all have ice at home – or at least the ability to make ice when needed. Just rub the ice on the pimple for a few seconds and watch the magic happen. It’s actually a very effective remedy – and a welcome one during hot summer months.
Apply Aloe Vera
It’s a great tool to help remedy the pain caused by too much time in the sun without enough sunscreen, and it’s also effective at fixing acne breakouts. You can apply aloe vera to your skin and face and help yourself look a lot better in no time. The lotion helps to dry excess oil and reduce inflammation, which often makes acne look worse than it actually is. This is going to be most effective on a clean face overnight. You’ll see a dramatic difference in the morning.
Apply Apple Cider Vinegar
Try not to overdo it with this remedy; use only when necessary. Applying apple cider vinegar to your skin can help to balance the pH levels in your skin as well as dry up your skin’s oily tendencies. This can help to kill bacteria breeding in your skin and make it appear healthier and clearer on a regular basis.
Apply Hydrogen Peroxide
This is a remedy I use at home once a month when my least favorite monthly visitor (whom I would never turn away!) comes to town for a week and destroys my skin. I simply apply a little hydrogen peroxide to my pimple with a Q-Tip before bed. I immediately feel my skin tighten and when I wake up in the morning, you cannot even tell that there was a pimple there in the first place. It’s my go-to, tried and true remedy.
Apply Coconut Oil
This is all the rage right now. People are using coconut oil for absolutely everything, and they swear by it. I’ve never tried it, but I have heard that others feel that their use of coconut oil on their skin has reduced the appearance of acne and made their skin feel healthier as a whole. Just rub the oil on your skin and wait to see what happens as far as your acne goes.
Apply Tea Tree Oil
When you notice your acne flaring up, this might help to reduce the redness and inflammation. It’s not something you should use in excess, however; moderation is always the key. The oil can cause your skin to look better and clear up faster, which is what you’re looking for when you have an acne break out.
Use a Lemon on your Face
It sounds silly, but it’s effective. Citrus – so you actually have your choice of several different items from the produce section of your favorite supermarket – contains something called Alpha Hydroxy Acid, which can dry out excess oils in your skin, kill bacteria and remove dead skin cells that are clogging your pores and causing your skin to look less than ideal.
Put Toothpaste on Acne
Some people say this does not work, and others swear by it. I know a woman who swears that by applying a dab of creamy toothpaste (not the gel type) to a pimple before she goes to bed clears it right up by the time she wakes up the following morning. It’s a great way to naturally reduce the appearance of acne even if it doesn’t completely clear up your skin. This is a remedy, however, that’s better used on a single pimple than a total break out.
Baking Soda Paste
Is there anything that baking soda cannot do? I don’t think so. Try mixing a few tablespoons of baking soda with enough water to form a paste and apply it to your skin to rid yourself of unwanted acne. The key is to apply the paste and wear it approximately 10 minutes before washing it off. This allows the ‘mask’ to get down into your pores and clean things out in a way that will allow you to see results very quickly.
Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ARM & HAMMER
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