Things You'll Need:
- Yogurt
- Vitamin E oil
- Fullers Earth
- Buttermilk
- Lemon juice
-
Step 1
Clean the skin gently, but thoroughly. One of the causes of acne is oily and dirty skin. The dirt and oil clog the pores and pimples form. But if the skin is irritated from harsh detergents, this also can lead to blemishes. Use yogurt, milk or buttermilk to clean the skin. The gentle lactic acid in these products helps to remove the debris on the epidermis, which opens and cleans out the pores. These products also soften the skin, which helps to heal acne breakouts.
-
Step 2
Use a toner on the skin. After washing the face, it is important to remove all traces of the cleanser and to restore the pH balance. Witch hazel is a natural antiseptic that soothes the skin and blemishes. Other toners are lemon juice, white vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice has citric acid that exfoliates the skin and removes any cleanser residue. The citric acid is also needed to dry out the pimples. This reduces their size and makes them less noticeable. The ascetic acid in the vinegar serves the same purpose as the citric acid.
-
Step 3
Exfoliate the skin. By sloughing off the top layer of the skin, new skin cells can emerge. Exfoliation helps with the skin's renewal process. The dead skin cells on the surface clog pores and contribute to breakouts. A good exfoliant is a paste made of baking soda and water. Gently massage the tiny granules into the skin. Dry oatmeal mixed with water is another homemade acne product.
-
Step 4
Use a mask. A mask is a great way to deeply clean the pores. As the mask hardens, it also stimulates blood circulation that brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin. Fullers Earth is a natural product found in health food stores. Add water to the powder to form a paste. Apply to the skin and let dry. After 15 to 20 minutes, rinse off with warm water. Brewer's yeast mixed with water can also be used as a mask as can egg whites. The mask helps to dry out acne blemishes and, in some cases, the mask can make pores smaller temporarily.
-
Step 5
Apply Vitamin E oil. While too much oil on the skin can lead to acne, using vitamin E oil on pimples accelerates healing and also may help to reduce acne scars. Vitamin E oil is well-known for scar reduction, even though a controversial study at the University of Miami concluded that the oil does not help to heal scars. But there is a plethora of anecdotal claims that vitamin E oil does help to eliminate or reduce the appearance of acne scars. As an antioxidant, vitamin E does help to protect the skin from free radicals.
