Don’t let pimples and breakouts get in the way of your plans this season. While the cooler weather and season change can trigger breakouts for some people, there are many natural ways to promote clearer skin this fall. Now of course, the best way to promote healthy skin is by offering your body skin supportive nutrients from plant-based foods. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are essential for helping your body eliminate acne-causing toxins or bacteria from your digestive tract, and promoting a natural glow from the inside out. Promoting clear skin through your diet is as easy as eating a green vegetable at every meal, and making sure you’re having a green smoothie each day. While you’re beginning to promote clear skin through your diet, you may also want to try a few natural topical treatments to reduce the severity of a breakout when it strikes.
Here are 4 topical natural remedies for clearing up your skin fast:
1. Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is a natural antibacterial, which can help prevent the bacteria on your skin from clogging your pores and forming pimples. Applying manuka honey to your skin may also work as a spot treatment because it’s used to heal bacterial infections and wounds, while reducing swelling and inflammation. Manuka honey is said to have the strongest antibacterial properties out of all the varieties of honey, which is why many people add it to their skincare routines. You can apply Manuka honey to your skin by massaging the honey into your skin for 30 seconds and rinsing off, like you would a skin cleanser. You can also apply it to a pimple using a Q-tip, and leave it on overnight as a spot treatment (just be careful not to get it on your pillow cases, as it does have a sticky texture). Many natural skin products also use Manuka honey as a main ingredient, such as Now Vitamin C and Manuka Honey Gel Cleanser.
2. Jojoba Oil
As a natural antibacterial, jojoba oil can also help keep the bacteria on your skin from clogging your pores. While many people who suffer from breakouts avoid putting oil on their skin to prevent clogging pores, jojoba oil is a non-comedogenic oil, which means it’s guaranteed to be non-clogging. In fact, applying jojoba oil may help regulate your skin’s natural sebum production because it can “trick” your skin into thinking it’s produced enough oil when applied topically. As you may already know, excess sebum production is a primary cause of breakouts, so jojoba oil may be a good topical treatment for acne prevention, too. You can apply a few drops of jojoba oil directly to your skin and leave on overnight, or add a few drops to your moisturizer. Jojoba oil can also be mixed with other essential oils that promote clear skin, such as geranium oil.
3. Tea tree Oil
Tea tree oil is perhaps the most famous ingredient when it comes to holistic skincare. As a natural antibacterial and antiseptic, tea tree oil can help soothe the redness and inflammation of a breakout, while keeping skin clear and blemish free. Pure tea tree oil may burn or dry out the skin when it’s highly concentrated, so it’s best to mix it with other natural ingredients, such as aloe vera. Certain varieties of tea tree oil may have different concentrations, so it’s best to check with the manufacturer to determine if it’s safe to apply topically on its own. Diluted tea tree oil can be used as a spot treatment and applied to blemishes with a Q-tip, or mixed with your favourite moisturizer or homemade face mask to prevent pimples from forming.
4. Pumpkin
What better way to celebrate fall than by using pumpkin in your skin care routine? Pumpkin is one of the richest sources of beta-carotene, the antioxidant form of Vitamin A, which promotes healthy, glowing skin. Pumpkin is also high in vitamin C, which is needed to promote collagen production and aids in wound healing (which can help heal breakouts quicker). Cooked pumpkin can be used to make a homemade facial, and combines well with other skin supportive ingredients such as manuka honey, witch hazel and tea tree. All you have to do is mix ½ cup of cooked pumpkin in a bowl, add your chosen ingredients and apply to your skin for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. And of course, since healing acne begins on the inside, eating more pumpkin this fall will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to further prevent and speed up the healing of breakouts.