Nature’s Rx: Effective Natural Acne Treatments for Clear Skin
It’s safe to say that acne spares no one. It’s a common skin problem for teens undergoing puberty, but it’s also prevalent among adults. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, those who’ve never had to deal with breakouts as adolescents could still experience acne for the first time as adults. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of acne fixes that promise to prevent flareups and erase post-pimple marks. The downside, however, is that not all skin types can tolerate acne treatments, which can sometimes be harsh and irritating, especially for sensitive skin. That’s where natural acne treatment comes in.
While using natural remedies to treat pimples and blemishes is nothing new, it has steadily gained greater interest in recent years as more and more skincare aficionados embrace cleaner formulas and shy away from synthetic chemicals. But is a natural acne treatment just as effective? To answer this question, we take a closer look at some of the top natural acne treatments and find out why they work.
Table of Contents:
- The Power of Natural Ingredients
- Tips for Using Natural Skincare Products
- Top Natural Skincare Products for Acne
The Power of Natural Ingredients
As far as scientific proof is concerned, it’s still up for debate as to whether natural ingredients are just hands-down better for your skin. However, we do know one thing: nature is a great healer. Throughout history and ancient cultures, plants, minerals, and other ingredients found in nature were always used as supplements and to treat various illnesses, including skin disorders. In fact, natural ingredients used in traditional medicine have long been proven to be one of the major contributors in the development of modern or conventional medicine. The same can be said when it comes to skincare, and particularly, natural acne treatment, where plant-based and nature-derived ingredients have inspired the creation of powerful skincare formulas and treatments.
Considering that the skin absorbs an average of 64% of the substances it encounters, going the natural route in skincare reduces the risk of harmful chemicals reaching your bloodstream. At the same time, plant extracts provide your skin with the essential nutrients, antioxidants, proteins, and vitamins necessary in strengthening the skin barrier, delaying signs of aging, and preserving its overall youthfulness and health.
When it comes to treating and preventing breakouts, natural acne treatments are known for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, rebalancing, and soothing properties that help in ridding your skin of acne-causing bacteria, clearing pores, regulating oil production, and calming redness and inflammation. So which natural ingredients are best for acne? We list them down below:
Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is widely known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, aiding in reducing redness, killing off acne-causing bacteria, and unclogging pores. Green tea: Green tea is an ingredient that does it all. A powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, green tea have been found to ease conditions like acne, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis, with some studies suggesting it helps in reducing oil production and can be effective in treating mild to moderate acne.Zinc: Often found in topical creams and sunscreens, zinc’s protective and skin-healing properties make it a sought-after ingredient to treat rashes, irritations, and acne. Studies have also been found that it helps decrease oil production and protects the skin against inflammation and infection.Aloe vera: Another skincare all-rounder, aloe vera’s calming, moisturizing, and antibacterial properties make it a great natural alternative for treating mild to moderate acne.Honey: With its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, not only does honey support the body’s overall health, but it also promotes wound healing, including calming inflamed acne and improving the appearance of post-pimple marks.Witch hazel: You’ll often find witch hazel extract in anti-acne toners, cleansers, and treatments because of its astringent, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps dry out pimples, refines pores, and prevents the spread of acne-causing bacteria.Probiotics: The gut flora and skin connection is one thing the skincare world continues to explore, and the addition of probiotics in skincare is further proof that skincare science is on to something. Probiotics form a shield over the skin, helping to preserve and strengthen its natural barrier and microbiome, which, in turn, protects the skin from environmental factors that can trigger breakouts. They also possess antibacterial properties and help calm inflammation.Fruit acids: Found naturally in fruits and vegetables, alphahydroxy and betahydroxy acids work both on the surface of the skin and within the pores. They help in drying out pimples, unclogging and tightening pores, brightening skin tone and blemishes, and sloughing off dead skin cells and debris. Clay: An age-old natural skincare ingredient, clay has been used by many ancient cultures as a form of sun protection and to help with wound healing. Clay masks are known to help tighten and minimize pores, absorb excess oil, remove blackheads and other impurities, and calm redness and inflammation from acne. Willow bark: Salicylic acid is a BHA that is naturally found in willow bark and is one of the most widely used ingredients in acne treatments. It’s often found in chemical peels, serums, and cleansers for acne-prone skin because of its skin-resurfacing properties, including removing dead skin cells and debris and brightening discoloration and post-breakout blemishes.
Tips for Using Natural Skincare Products
While we’re all for pampering your skin with gentler, more natural ingredients, it’s important to remember that just because an ingredient is nature-derived doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe. Irritants also exist in nature, and not all natural ingredients can be tolerated by every skin type. So, what does this mean for your skin care routine if you plan on switching to natural products? It means going back to the most basic steps: understanding your skin type, studying the ingredient list, talking to a professional, and patch-testing.
If you’re looking to try a natural acne treatment, it would be wise to start slow and ease the product into your skincare routine. Seek advice from a dermatologist or licensed esthetician about which products and ingredients you can use together and to make sure you’re not combining actives that could potentially dry out your skin or cause irritation. Additionally, applying the product exactly and as often as directed is crucial to achieving your desired results. And just like with other skincare products, you’ll need to give natural acne treatments enough time to get to know your skin and address its concerns, so patience and consistency are key.
Top Natural Skincare Products for Acne
Switching to a more natural and holistic approach to skincare doesn’t mean compromising on the benefits and efficacy of your products. In fact, many studies show that natural ingredients can be just as potent and effective as their synthetic counterparts and support their potential to do more for your skin’s overall health.
Natural acne treatments are known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, and soothing properties, making them a prime choice to help you achieve clearer and smoother skin. Curious about how natural acne treatments can transform your skin? Leave us your questions and comments below.
If you’re looking for the best natural acne treatments, you’ve come to the right place. Get clearer skin with Dermstore’s top picks below.
1. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (3.38 fl. oz.)
85 reviews
$25.00
2. Sunday Riley GOOD GENES All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment (1 fl. oz.)
399 reviews
$85.00
3. Eminence Organic Skin Care Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser 8.4 fl. oz
262 reviews
$48.00
4. Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Pore Purifying Mask (1 oz.)
20 reviews
$42.00
5. Indie Lee Clearing Mask 1.7 oz.
1 reviews
$52.00
6. ClarityRx Fix It 2 Percent Pore Perfecting Solution (2 fl. oz.)
9 reviews
$62.00
7. Naturopathica Prickly Pear Salicylic Acid Acne Clearing Tonic 5 fl. oz.
$42.00
8. ARCONA PM Blemish Lotion (35 ml.)
7 reviews
$58.00
9. REN Clean Skincare ClearCalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream (1.7 fl. oz.)
8 reviews
RRP: $45.00Current price: $31.50
Janeca Racho is a Journalism graduate with over 15 years of writing experience. After getting her start in public relations and advertising, she made the switch to freelance writing and began working for various lifestyle, fashion, and travel brands. Her love for all things skincare has led her to beauty reporting and research for the last ten years. Writing for several hair and beauty blogs, she reports on anti-aging staples, trending brands and products, must-have ingredients, and health and wellness.
