Natural Remedies to Add to Your Anti-Acne Skincare Routine

While acne is most common in your teens, it’s a frustrating fact of life that it can continue into your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond. No matter which stage of life you’re in, acne occurs when pores in the skin clogs, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Sebum clogs pores in the skin, resulting in a pimple (or two, or three). The overproduction of sebum is particularly common during times of hormone fluctuations, including during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. (It’s one of the unfair facts in life that many women in perimenopause simultaneously deal with wrinkles and pimples.)

If you have minor acne breakouts, you can buy different over-the-counter treatments, such as washes and creams that contain the ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. But increasingly, patients may be reaching into their pantries for solutions to help with minor breakouts.

“Many patients are turning more towards ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ skincare products and acne treatments, but there is a lack of strong scientific evidence for many of these ingredients,” says Yunyoung Clair Chang, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Union Square Dermatology in New York City. “The natural ingredients that may have some benefit for acne include green tea and tea tree oil.”

Some Natural Ingredients to Consider for Acne

In general, Chang recommends people with acne consult their dermatologists to determine the best skincare routine, given there are many types and levels of severity in acne.

But home remedies can also be a helpful addition to a skincare routine. “Acne home remedies may be a good alternative or adjunct to prescription acne medications,” says Chang. “Products with tea tree oil or green tea extract tend to be gentler compared to prescription or other over-the-counter acne products.”

Would rather buy your natural products than whip up a concoction yourself? Read on for some products with natural ingredients.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

The Body Shop uses sustainably, hand-harvested tea tree leaves that are processed within 12 hours after harvesting for this custom formulation. Apply a few drops to a cotton swab or ball and apply directly to pimples as a spot treatment one or two times a day. (Don’t use it more than that because it could dry your skin out.) This tea tree oil is so effective, one bottle is sold every eight seconds!

See price on The Body Shop

Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

A swipe of this witch hazel removes dirt, bacteria, makeup, and excess oil. Squeeze a little on a cotton pad and swipe over your entire face after cleansing and before moisturizing. Your grandmother may have had this one in her medicine cabinet; the fragrance-and-dye free formula has been around since 1866. It’s sulfate-free, phthalate-free, paraben-free, and aluminum-free.

See price on Walmart

Sunfood Superfoods Matcha Green Tea

Matcha powder, a grind of a special type of green tea leaves, is an even more potent form of green tea. It contains more chlorophyll and antioxidants than regular green tea. This brand is raw, organic, and non-GMO. Mix with hot water and drink daily to reap its potential skin-clearing benefits.

See price on Walmart

Wedderspoon Raw Monofloral Manuka Honey K Factor

Harvested in New Zealand from bees that pollinate the country’s native Manuka trees, this honey is loaded with vitamins B and C. The Wedderspoon brand is raw, meaning the live enzymes were preserved during processing. Wash your face with a small dollop and warm water. This squeeze bottle will prevent you from having a mess on your bathroom counter.

See price on Wedderspoon

MegaRed 350mg Omega-3 Krill Oil

If you’ve shied away from taking fish oil because you don’t like the fishy aftertaste, give this MegaRed Omega 3 Krill oil supplement a try. It contains 100 percent pure Antarctic krill oil in phospholipid form, which your body absorbs easily and won’t leave behind a fishy aftertaste.

See price on Jet.com

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