Many people assume that the problem of acne goes away once we hit our mid-twenties but for many of us this is simply just not the case. In fact, unsightly break outs and troublesome pimple eruptions can plague us at any stage of our lives, well into our 30’s and 40’s, and even after the menopause occurs in our 50’s or 60’s.
But if you are struggling to control your skin, you don’t have to spend a fortune on spendy salon visits and expensive skin regimens that often make wild claims, but in the end, more times than not, only wind up exacerbating the problem.
As in most cases when it comes to skincare, Mother Nature has provided us with all the answers we need to freeze break outs in their tracks before they even start. Just remember the mantra – keep it simple, and pure.
Keeping things pure is in fact the single most important thing when it comes to effectively dealing with your spots and pimples, because acne can only erupt under the right bacterial conditions.
You should bear this firmly in mind before you put anything on your face, or in your body, as there are certain things we can eat that foster the growth of unhealthy bacteria on our skin too such as excessive sugar, or too much refined carbohydrate such as white bread.
Skincare for acne prone skin should ideally be antibacterial but never stripping, as if you upset the delicate sebum balance of your face with harsh chemical ingredients, such as the kind found in most commercial anti-acne formulations, you actually run the risk of making the problem far worse.
This is because these kinds of products strip all the natural oils away from your skin, forcing it to over-produce more to compensate, which inevitably causes your skin to erupt.
So what kind of skincare is most effective at dealing with the problem of adult acne? There are several ingredients you can buy that will help, and the good news is that none of them are expensive, and nearly all are freely available at your local supermarket or ethnic food store.
Mother Nature’s Acne busters:
Neem
Neem powder, commonly found in Indian grocery stores (or try the world beauty aisle in larger supermarkets), is extremely effective at treating acne prone skin, and its super cheap to purchase too.
Multani Mitti Powder (Fullers Earth)
This wonder clay draws out the impurities and excess oil that contribute to nasty break outs, tightening pores, and leaving your skin’s surface looking and feeling much smoother when used regularly. A word of caution, this stuff can be pretty drying so make sure you use a light moisturizer after using it, so as not to irritate your skin.
Honey
Honey’s antibacterial and anti-fungal properties are legendary and this is the one substance that should be an absolute staple in your beauty routine if you have a tendency to break out. There is no one single more effective ingredient for acne prone skin that will both purify and moisturize than honey, and despite current claims that purport pricey Manuka Honey is best, in truth, almost any honey will do. Just make sure to get the runny stuff as it’s much easier to use.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has strong antimicrobial properties which play a vital role in mopping up the nasties that try to overtake our faces during acne break outs. This sweetly warming spice also improves circulation to your skin, and will help to stimulate the epidermis in to producing healthier skin cells.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is a wonder ingredient when it comes to treating spot prone skin because it acts as a natural solvent, cutting through surface grease and controlling oil, without disturbing the delicate PH of your skin. It’s also highly antibacterial, making it extremely effective at eliminating the unhealthy bacteria that cause acne, preventing further eruptions.
Here are a few recipes that you can make easily and cheaply at home using these ingredients that should help to combat spot prone skin and control your acne break outs:
Anti-Acne Neem mask
Mix 1 tablespoon of Neem powder with a little water and blend well until you have a thick paste. You can also add a dash of lemon juice, which will act as an effective astringent if you have it in your cupboards. Apply the mix to your face, and leave for up to 20 minutes before rinsing off, rubbing in small circles to exfoliate gently as you do so. Treat skin with Neem in this way every other day and within a fortnight you should begin to see a difference in the amount of break outs and surface oil that appear.
For a more moisturizing version of this mask you can substitute the water for a couple of tablespoons of honey, blending until you achieve a creamy consistency before applying to your skin.
Spicy and sweet spot treatment mask
Mix two tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon, blend well and apply all over your face. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse well with warm water, splashing with cold after to seal pores. This last step is fairly important since honey opens up the pores, so sealing them with a cold water rinse after is essential if you are prone to producing excess oil.
Salt of the earth drawing mask
Take a couple of tablespoons of fullers earth powder, add 5-6 drops of tea tree oil, and a little water, blending until the mix forms a thick paste. Apply over your skin, leaving on for no more than 15 minutes so as not to over-dry your complexion. Rinse off using warm water, rubbing gently to exfoliate, then apply a light but nourishing moisturizer to skin to replenish the epidermis.
Tea Tree Oil Facial Mist
Take a spritz bottle (the kind that comes with a nozzle and detachable lid) and mix up a solution of 1 part tea tree oil to 9 parts water. Shake well and mist over face whenever you feel your skin needs a pick me up. You can also apply this mixture to your face using a cotton ball as a soothing and refreshing toner.
If you really want to supercharge your skincare regime, try steaming your face before applying one of the above masks, as steam will open the pores, eliminating impurities and prepping your skin to more effectively absorb whatever you put on it after.
Age Like A Supermodel 