Natural Moisturizer for Acne Prone Skin
It's nerve-wracking to use moisturizer when you have acne. Old wive's tales have told us acne is caused by oily skin. It only seems natural that adding oil to oily skin is playing with fire. Not so! There are a few natural moisturizers for acne-prone skin that you can make at home in minutes. They're effective, and best of all, you don't have to spend money on expensive acne treatments if you use them regularly. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Importance of Clean Skin
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Before you moisturize, you should always start with a clean slate. If your face isn't clean, you'll be locking in impurities, which only makes the acne worse. After cleansing your face, rinse very well with water until your skin is completely free of cleanser residue.
If you don't want to use store-bought facial cleanser, try slicing a potato in half and rubbing the freshly cut potato over your face. The enzymes will break up impurities, and leave your skin clean and ready for moisturizer after you rinse.
Lavender Essential Oil for Acne
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Lavender essential oil smells heavenly and is great for combatting acne. Essential oils are some of nature's best defenses against acne. Lavender, in particular, is exceptionally effective.
Lavender essential oil contains high-powered antibacterial and antifungal agents that work double-time to both clean and calm the skin. You can find lavender essential oil at any local natural food store, and it's one of the less expensive essential oils. One bottle should last many, many months.
To use lavender essential oil as a natural moisturizer for acne, simply drop one to two drops into a tablespoon of carrier oil (jojoba works best for acne-prone skin), and apply as you would a regular moisturizer.
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Yogurt Mask for Acne
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Yogurt is great for your skin; just make sure it's plain and unsweetened. It may seem a little odd to spread yogurt on your face, but it's a worthwhile effort for clear skin. Yogurt contains good bacteria called Lactobacillus. This good bacteria then battles the bad stuff that causes acne. It's also highly moisturizing while being slightly drying, and it helps lighten scars caused by pimples.
After you've cleaned your face, apply a thin layer of plain (not sweetened or flavored) yogurt over your skin. Allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse well.
Wash Your Face with Oil
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One final way to keep your acne-prone face both clean and moisturized is to wash your face with oil. It may sound a little odd, but that is exactly what you're doing. The main base for this treatment is castor oil, which is a drying, cleansing oil that "fights fire with fire," dissolving all the oil and impurities on your face on contact.
If you're going to cleanse your face with oil, you needn't wash it with cleanser first. Mix together 2 tbsp. castor oil and 1/2 tbsp. of grapeseed oil and apply liberally to your face, rubbing slowly and always upward. Do this for five to 10 minutes, then remove the oil slowly with a very warm, damp washcloth.
Moisturize from the Inside Out
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One last--and very important--consideration is that healthy skin is the product of a well-hydrated body. One of the absolute best combatants against acne is to drink plenty of water. Not only does this detox your body on the inside, but it helps your integumentary system keep itself clean on the outside.
In addition to drinking several glasses of water a day, eating a daily serving of yogurt has been shown to decrease acne breakouts. Studies have shown that yogurt helps balance the acidity/alkalinity of the body, resulting in more supple and clear skin in general.
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- Photo Credit white glamour woman looking upside down. facial cl image by starush from Fotolia.com lavender image by Alistair Dick from Fotolia.com yaourt image by danimages from Fotolia.com
