Breaking out sucks. If you’re like me, you always get some pimples here and there, despite your efforts of keeping your skin clear. Here are some of the best natural products that prevent breakouts, clear pimples you’ve scratched, or that have just recently formed.
Cleanser
Cleansing your skin is the first step in a skincare routine to clear skin. It gently exfoliates to remove dead skin cells and unclogs pores. In result, it leaves skin smooth and softened. Use a cleanser with chemicals such as AHA and BHA.
AHA or alpha hydroxy acid includes lactic, glycolic acid. BHA, or beta hydroxy acid includes salicylic acid.
AHAs are water-soluble acids from sugary fruits. As a result, it unclogs the skin at the surface and makes room for evenly pigmented cells to form. BHAs remove dead skin cells and oils by getting deeper into the pores.
Avoid a physical exfoliant (scrub) as it may irritate the skin even more by increasing redness and breaking through the skin barrier. A tip: rub the cleanser in circles on your face for thirty seconds for it to penetrate into your pores.
Witch Hazel Toner
Witch hazel toner is derived from a flowering plant and helps shrink your pores. Also, it works to reduce inflammation and redness. It contains plenty of antioxidants to remove excess oils and evens out the skin tone.
This product can dry out the skin, so using it four times a week is ideal. Picking a product with moisturizing ingredients can help balance the skin texture. Aloe vera or rose petal water help to hydrate the skin ontop of these benefits.
Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C serum reduces redness and inflammation. It evens out your skin tone’s complexion with a brightening formula. That’s why it fades acne scars and can prevent acne breakouts from its rich antioxidants.
Diet affects your skin so it can be beneficial to incorporate foods rich in vitamin C for skincare. Sources of vitamin C are found in fruits such as oranges, strawberries, cantaloupe, and kiwi. Vegetables with vitamin C are tomatoes, potatoes, and broccoli.
Natural Shampoo/Conditioner
Hairline pimples can happen by your hair’s natural oil, sweat build-up, and using chemical hair products. The sebum (oil) can combine with dead skin or bacteria and will clog your pores. Using natural shampoos can reduce the production of oil on the scalp, thus reducing sebum and breakouts on the hairline.
Shampoos with harsh chemicals such as sulfates, silicone, or petroleum are specifically more prone to cause breakouts. Natural products remove the surface buildup of artificial ingredients, impurities, and excess oil.
Salicylic Acid Products
Salicylic acid is a common BHA, a beta hydroxy acid from natural sources such as willow tree bark, wintergreen leaves, or sweet birch bark. It helps reduce oils and acne scars while unclogging pores to prevent further breakouts. Instead of using a spot treatment, use gentle products that contain salicylic acid because it actively works to fight acne and prevent pimples from forming. Secondly, spot treatmens can cause immflamation while the skin adjusts to them.
“Because it’s oil-soluble, salicylic acid can break through the buildup of bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells in the pore-lining and dissolve it, which unclogs pores and can help prevent breakouts from happening,” says Dr. Schaffer.
If you have sensitive skin, use salicylic acid less frequently since it can cause dryness.
Less is More
It’s always tempting to use all your skin routine products every night, but it may cause your skin to break out more even if the products are to clear pimples. Sejal Shah, the founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology told Teen Vogue that applying too many anti blemishing products too much is counterproductive. “When they are overused, they can overly dry or irritate the skin, which can lead to more breakouts.”
Reduce those annoying breakouts calmly. Your skin will feel lighter as fewer products are put on, and will reduce stress if it’s going to cause more breakouts.
