20 Best Natural Remedies for Acne!

Who wouldn’t want clear, glowing, baby skin, free of blemishes and flaws, for all our lives? I’d raise my hand each time this question was asked to me. Who wouldn’t? Everyone likes to look good at all times. But wait! You’ve hit puberty, and you’re going to have nasty guests knocking at your door for a very long time to come. And NO! I am not talking about periods or a cracked voice, I am talking about that mean little pimple or pimples (Depending on your luck) that manage to sneak out every time there is an important event in our life, like a group photo or a date.

Acne is a common skin condition that can affect anyone, in the US alone, 40 to 50 million people are affected by acne every year.  Acne tends to appear expectantly on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and legs.

Acne is caused due to the accumulation of excess oil or sebum from sebaceous glands present in our body. Some causes of this could be the lack of proper hygiene, unhealthy diet, improper lifestyle, hormonal imbalance, use of certain medications, etc.

But fret not! There are some very easy to use Natural Remedies for Acne that will help to prevent the very painful and irritating zits that try to steal the spotlight off your beautiful face.

Here is the list of 20 Best Natural Remedies for Acne!

1. Drink Water

Water is the elixir that you don’t have to scout for. It is right there in your home. Drink 10-12 glasses of water every day to flush out toxins from your body, keep your digestive tract clean and healthy, and provide enough for imperative bodily functions. Water will keep your skin healthy and glowing. Keep hydrated at all times and carry a small water bottle with you whenever you travel. There is no better solution than water for long term glowing skin.

2. Lemon

Lemon works wonders on pimples and acne. Lemon is rich in Vitamin-C which is a powerful antioxidant that fights against free radicals causing skin problems. Lemon juice has citric acid which cleans the pores and stops excess oil formation. Apart from keeping acne and pimples at bay, lemon is also well known for its bleaching property, which means it will make your skin fairer.

You Will Need: 1 Lemon & some cotton

Directions to use: Wash your face gently and pat it dry with a clean cloth. Squeeze the lemon in a bowl. Dip the cotton ball into lemon juice and apply directly to the pimple. Leave it for 2-3 hours and then wash it off. Repeat the process at least 3 times a day.

3. Tea tree oil

Another miracle in the pimple crisis management department is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is available in most beauty brands in small dropper bottles. It works the same way as the lemon by drying out a pimple and stopping the formation of bacteria.

You will Need: Tea Tree Oil, Clean water & Cotton

Directions to use: Dilute 1 part oil to 9 part water. Apply the solution on the affected area. Make sure you dilute the tea tree oil because undiluted oil can be very harsh on the skin. Repeat it 2-3 times a day. Make sure to moisturize your skin with a noncomedogenic (nonporous clogging) moisturizer.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is the most effective natural remedy for acne! You can call it a “Powerhouse”! It has anti-bacterial properties and kills the bacterias causing acne almost instantly. It’s alkaline which helps in balancing the Ph of the skin making it harder for bacterias to flourish. It also has astringent properties which help in absorbing excess oil from the skin. Check out 30 Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar backed by Science!

You will Need: Pure Apple Cider Vinegar, Clean water & Cotton

Directions to use: Wash your face and dry it. Mix 1 Part Vinegar and 3 parts water.  Apply it directly on the acne affected area. Leave it to dry for 10 minutes. Wash it off and apply some moisturizer. Repeat the process 3-4 times a day.

5. Aloe Vera Gel.

No natural skin remedy list is complete without the honorable mention of the good old Aloe Vera Gel. It soothes irritation of the skin, removes pimples and acne, and reveals soft skin. Apart from that it also has anti-bacterial properties.

You will Need: Freshly cut Aloe leaf or pure Aloe gel

Directions to use: Cut a healthy Aloe Vera leaf, vertically down from the middle and extract the pulp. If you don’t have an Aloe plant, pure Aloe gel will work. Wash your face with a mild cleanser and pat dry. Apply the pulp on your face generously and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and pat dry your skin again. Repeat the process 3-4 times a day. 

6. Honey and cinnamon

We all love a good Honey-cinnamon bun. Guess what? It is great for the skin, as it for our taste buds. Cinnamon has Anti-microbial properties while Honey has Anti-bacterial properties. Discover 20 Health Benefits of Cinnamon.

You Will Need: 2 Tablespoon Honey, 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon Powder & Paper towels

Directions to use Mix Honey and cinnamon together to obtain a smooth, spreadable paste. It shouldn’t be too thick or too runny. Apply it on your face and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and pat dry. The mixture tends to stick, use a paper towel to clean it off. Repeat the process 2-3 times a day!

7. Green Tea

Most people would ask you to drink green tea and feel amazing about your skin. But, you can use this magic potion as a face toner and cleanser as well. And believe me, the result is worth it. Green tea is rich in antioxidants epigallocatechin-3-gallate reduces sebum production, inflammation, and bacterial growth in acne-prone skin, which is considered as the main cause behind breakouts.

You Will Need: 1 cup water, 2 teaspoon loose organic green tea leaves or 1 green tea bag

Directions to use: Make the green tea in the same way as you do for drinking (without adding sugar or honey). Refrigerate the green tea water. Once it is nice and cold, take it out of the refrigerator, and use it as a face wash or face toner. Do not wash it away immediately. Massage your face with the green tea water, and let it stay for 5-7 minutes. Wash off with cold water and pat dry. Follow this regime regularly and you will surely see a positive difference.

8. Mint

Mint can help remove pore-clogging oil. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory and pain killer. It might not cure acne but it surely will give you the much-awaited soothe.

You will need: 1 small bowl of fresh mint leaves

Directions to use: Wash your face with water and pat it dry. Crush the mint leaves thoroughly in a blender or use a pestle & mortar. Apply the mixture on your face, let it dry for 10  minutes and then wash it off.  It will do wonders for your skin.

9. Potato

This might come as a  surprise to you but Potato is one vegetable that can help you get rid of your acne! Potato contains minerals like phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur which helps in reducing the blemishes. They are also rich in antioxidants which help in nourishing your skin cells.

You Will Need: 1 potato

Directions to use: Wash your face but leave it damp. Grate the potato and rub the pulp & juice on your face in a circular motion. Leave it to dry for 10 minutes and then wash it off. Repeat the process 3 times a day.

10. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

Baking Soda as it is known to mankind is a very useful substance. It is so useful that I will have to write a completely new blog post on its various benefits. It has antifungal and anti-bacterial properties apart from that it absorbs excess oil from the skin making it a perfect natural remedy for acne.

You Will Need: A box of baking soda and a cup of water

Directions to use: Add an equal amount of Baking soda and water in a bowl and make a thick paste. Apply the paste on your face by gently massaging it in a circular motion. Leave the pack to dry for 15 minutes. Wash it off and apply moisturizer.

11. Garlic

It surely does bad things to your breath, but your skin will love you for that garlic cure. Topical application of crushed garlic is the best way to get rid of a pimple overnight because garlic is a strong antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant agent that aids in the fast healing of pimples. Sulfur present in garlic also promotes the healing process. Read 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic!

You will Need: Handful of garlic cloves, half cup water, and cotton ball

Directions to use: Wash your face and pat it dry with a soft cotton cloth. crush garlic cloves using pestle and mortar.  Add some water to the mixture. Soak the cotton ball in the mixture and apply it over affected areas and leave it to dry for 30 minutes. Wash it off and apply some moisturizer.

12. Orange Peel Paste

Oranges are full of Vitamin C. They are juicy, yummy, and refreshing… ain’t they? When it comes to acne treatment orange peel face mask is extremely helpful, thanks to vitamin C, citric acid, and it’s astringent properties.

You Will Need: 2 orange peels, clean water

Directions to use: Grind up your orange peels (use pestle-mortar, mixture, or anything which gets the job done), add a little water to make the paste. Apply it all over your face or just on the affected area. Leave it to dry for 30 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.

13. Banana Peel

Banana is very healthy food but did you know that even it’s peel can have such amazing health benefits? The Peel of banana is one of the best natural remedies for acne. It contains lutein, a powerful antioxidant that is known to reduce swelling and promote healthy cell growth. Rubbing a banana peel will give you relief from the redness and pain of acne.

You Will Need: One Banana

Directions to use: Eat the Banana and rub the inner side of the peel on your face in a circular motion. Leave it as it is for 30 minutes. Wash it off. You can repeat the process 3-4 times a day (don’t eat bananas every time, you can share with your brothers and sisters)

14. Sandalwood paste

Sandalwood is an amazing gift from nature to mankind. It can be used as a cleansing agent to remove dirt and pollution from skin cells, apart from that Sandalwood has antibacterial, anti-microbial, and astringent properties which make it a perfect natural remedy for acne treatment.

You will Need: Pure Organic sandalwood powder and clean water

Directions to use:

Mix sandalwood powder with water to make a paste. Apply the paste on the affected area and wait for it to dry for 15 minutes. Wash it off with cold water and let it dry. Not only does sandalwood clears a pimple, but it also makes the skin supple and healthy.

15. Turmeric paste

Turmeric is a very health remedy in itself. Turmeric has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The curcumin present in turmeric has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Apart from these, the antioxidants present in Turmeric helps in removing the free radicals. These properties of turmeric make it a very powerful natural remedy for acne.

You will Need: Pure Organic Turmeric powder and clean water

Directions to use: Mix water in turmeric and create a paste. Apply this paste on your affected areas and wash it off when it dries.

16. Honey

Honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Apart from that honey is a natural laxative and anti-inflammatory which helps in reducing redness and pain of acne.

You will Need: Pure Organic honey and cotton

Directions to use: Use a cotton ball to apply honey on the affected area and leave it to dry for 30 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. Repeat the process 3-4 times a day.

17. Sugar scrub

Sugar scrub is a milder alternative to over the counter scrubs. Sugar, when applied on the skin, acts as a natural exfoliator.

You will Need Pure Organic sugar and clean water.

Directions to use: Boil some water and remove it from flame. Add 1-2 spoon of sugar and mix till it becomes of semi-solid consistency. Apply it on your face and massage it gently. DO NOT go overboard and pop your acne. Wash it off and pat dry. Moisturize your skin. Sweet!

18. Steam

Steam helps in reducing the inflammation and redness of acne by opening up the clogged pores and flushing the impurities out.

You will Need: Big bowl of boiling water and a big cotton towel

Directions to use: Boil water with salt in a large pot and cover your head with a towel. Take in steam from a safe distance. The steam will unclog your pores. Wash your face with a mild cleanser and pat dry.

19. Papaya

If you are looking for an all-natural acne remedy then papaya is your best shot! Plain raw papaya removes dead skin tissues and excess oil from the skin leaving smooth and soft skin behind. Apart from that, enzyme papain present in papaya has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation.

You Will Need: One raw papaya

Directions to use: Mash up the flesh of the papaya to create a thick consistent paste. Apply it on your face and leave it to dry for 30 minutes and then wash it off completely with warm water. If you have dry skin, use moisturizer.

20. Cucumber Juice

Cucumber is loaded with skin-friendly minerals: magnesium, potassium, silicon along with antioxidants that fight against free radicals. Cucumber has natural cooling properties that reduce inflammation and redness of your acne. So no more burning sensation on your skin!

You Will Need: One raw cucumber and cotton ball

Directions to use: Extract the cucumber juice using a blender. Apply the juice over affected areas using a cotton ball and let it dry for 15 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.

Apart from applying it on acne, start including cucumber in your daily diet for maximum health benefits.

Other things that you can do for long-term relief.

1. No popping

As lucrative it might seem, pimple popping actually aggravates the infection and spreads it further into your skin. Try to keep your fingers away from your hands as much as possible as your nail carries a massive amount of germs. Always wash your hands before touching your face.

2. Do NOT Put anything and everything on your face

You might be desperate to get rid of all the acne, but remember, your skin is very sensitive to chemicals, and it is not advisable to pick up any anti-acne product off the counter whose advertisement you saw on TV.

3. Do not eat unhealthy food

Acne can be situational or behavioral. Change the way you eat. Ban all the junk you eat. Remove all the processed food from your kitchen and stock fresh fruits and veggies in your refrigerator. A change in lifestyle will do the drink. Oh! And Soft drinks are a complete NO. Instead, drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices. They are just as delicious, and they do the trick,

4. Change lifestyle habits

If you are someone who likes to neglect basic cleanliness around them, buck up! You’ve got to maintain cleanliness around yourself as bacteria travels faster than the speed of sound. Change your pillow covers and bed sheets every week, disinfect the bacterial abodes of your house, like toilet commodes and washbasins, and maintain good hygiene. Keep your house clean and dispose of all rotting garbage. It is for your good, Trust me. Reduce use of makeup as it clogs pore trapping in dirt and disallowing skin to breathe

5. Exercise

Incorporate a good, intense workout in your regime. The workout will promote blood flow to your face and body and flush out toxins in the form of sweat. You will see massive differences with regular exercise. Check out 101 Health Benefits of Exercise!

If your acne hasn’t reduced or keeps aggravating, consult a dermatologist. They will surely have answers to all your questions.

Remember; do not be ashamed of your acne. It is not a sign that you are unclean or unhygienic. You are not alone facing the problem, and millions around the world are combating acne, just like you. Keep smiling, have healthy and happy thoughts, and be cognizant of the fact, that your acne should never define you as a person.