It’s totally normal to experience occasional breakouts. Sometimes these can be hormone related. Other times, it can be stress-related. The higher levels of stress hormones coupled with a diminished self-care routine can cause the skin to erupt in this way. Then there’s the genetics factor, perhaps you were born with acne-prone skin, or suffer from a condition that requires certain medications and particular products to manage. Whatever the case, you’re certainly not alone or necessarily unhealthy just because you have spots.
The illusion of perfect skin is illuminated by makeup artists and special effects flooding our media outlets. It’s more normal than not to have a few issues, whether during puberty or thereafter. If someone you know has naturally perfect skin, they’re rare! And lucky. Though usually the older you get, the better it gets. In your 40s and beyond you’ll statistically experience the clearest skin. For the rest of us, even if we try to do everything right, pores get clogged, breakouts happen, life ain’t perfect. The solution is ongoing skin care in combination with leading a healthy lifestyle and being aware of daily habits and hygiene rituals.
Acne – a few things to bare in mind:
- Over washing is just as bad as under washing
- Harsh spot-targeting skin cleansers can actually make matters worse
- Naturally derived products are your best friend
- Pillow cases and towels should be washed weekly with minimal detergent on a hot setting
- Go easy on daily use of makeup foundations and powders, as these can clog pores over time
- Less is more when it comes to products in general, your skin doesn’t like to get complicated
The more products I tried and tested, the more the last point became obvious to me. When I chose a mainly natural skin care product with the main active ingredients containing plants and minerals such as Willow Bark, Witch Hazel, Green Tea, Rose, Kaolin Clay, Sage, Lavender or Tea Tree to name a few, my skin reacted extremely well. It’s valuable to take into account that aggressive treatments may work momentarily, but ultimately create an unwanted cycle that can lead to an overproduction of oil, dryness, or irritation. Clearasil for example, and other brands like it, have always made matters worse. Not just with me, but with every other person I know who tried it in their teens.
The best personal use products out there are formulated around natural ingredients that have soothing, calming and hydrating qualities, as well as astringent and bacteria-fighting ones. Mother nature can’t be beaten when it comes to skin care, and society seems to be doing a full circle in that respect. Have you noticed how herbs, vitamins and minerals are taking the beauty world by storm? Nearly every product of good quality includes natural extracts as their active ingredients. So to get the most out of your skin care routine, be sure to look out for Mother Nature’s best remedies. Speaking of which, here are our top 6:
Fight acne naturally Nº1
Green Tea:
✔ Anti-inflammatory
✔ Anti-oxidant
✔ Fights infections
✔ Packed with antioxidants
✔ Healing qualities
✔ Soothing
✔ Purifying
Fight acne naturally Nº2
Witch Hazel:
✔ Anti-inflammatory
✔ Natural astringent
✔ Minimises pore size
✔ Tones skin
✔ Regulates sebum production
Fight acne naturally Nº3
Lavender:
✔ Anti-inflammatory
✔ Anti-oxidant
✔ Antiseptic
✔ Promotes skin cell rejuvenation
✔ Soothing
✔ Reduces scarring
✔ Purifying
Fight acne naturally Nº4
Willow Bark:
✔ Anti-oxidant
✔ Anti-ageing
✔ Removes dead skin cells gently
✔ Clears pores
✔ Similar to Salicylic Acid
Fight acne naturally Nº5
Sage:
✔ Anti-oxidant
✔ Anti-inflammatory
✔ Anti bacterial
✔ Purifying
✔ Nourishing
✔ Stimulates cell renewal
✔ Tones skin
Fight acne naturally Nº6
Coriander:
✔ Anti-oxidant
✔ Antiseptic
✔ Anti-inflammatory
✔ High in vitamin C
✔ Purifying
✔ Soothing
✔ Cooling
✔ Conditioning
Must-try Cilantro based DIY face mask.
Good for:
Skin smoothing; refreshing; rejuvenating. Acne-treatment, soft exfoliator, pore purifier and oil control.
You will need: Fresh coriander, 1 small pot of natural non-sweetened yogurt, good quality aloe vera gel, a food processor or blender, coconut milk powder, rice powder, kaolin clay and 30 minutes of free time.
Method:
- Take a handful of fresh coriander, including stems and place in a blender or food processor.
- Add 2 tablespoons of natural yogurt and 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
- Pulse until fully blended.
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of coconut milk powder, 1 tablespoon of rice powder and 2 tablespoons of white kaolin clay.
- Apply the mask to clean skin, and allow to dry for 20 minutes; rinse and follow with a moisturiser.
Get qualified in Holistic Skincare Products and gain an internationally recognised diploma
Here at The School of Natural Health Sciences we are excited to offer our very own course in Holistic Skincare Products. The course is available as a self-study or tutored learning experience, and includes in-depth material on safe use of chemicals, essential oils for skin care, herbs, equipment and recipes, and all the details in between that go into producing a high quality skin care product.
Though most of our students use this course as a stepping stone to a start-up business, others simply do it for fun, to be incorporated into their downtime as a hobby and extra skill. Whatever your situation, creating holistic products is a great trade to have under one’s belt, leading to endless possibilities.
To extend a warm welcome to all of our new students, and show appreciation for our existing ones, we’re offering ALL of our courses on a 2 for 1 basis. Buy one, and get another entirely free of charge! We hope you have a wonderful experience, and we’d be delighted to hear from you with any enquiries. Just reach out and contact us here.
Now that’s what we call a holistic education!
