Your skin is in breakout mode — again. And you’re almost at your wit’s end. When you’re on the brink of desperation, you may be willing to try almost anything to calm your complexion.
Before you start slathering your face in toothpaste in an attempt to dry out your blemishes, consider more time-tested approaches. These unique tactics may be easier to integrate into your routine than you think.
1. Head Into the Kitchen
Much of nature’s bounty pulls double duty, and this is also true when it comes to skincare. Head to your pantry, and you just may find a powerhouse of skin solutions. Use apple cider vinegar as a toner, and you’ll banish bacteria with a swipe. Struggling with a volcano of a zit? Cut a potato, place the cut flesh on the offender, and let its starches soothe your skin.
Create a calming face mask that’s almost good enough to eat by combining honey, cinnamon, and ground oats. Mix these breakfast favorites to a thick paste and slather on your skin for at least 10 minutes. Honey’s antibacterial properties will keep things clean and reduce inflammation. Hypoallergenic oats help cleanse pores and restore elasticity to the skin.
2. Solve Skin Issues From the Inside
Topical solutions are great and should always be part of your acne arsenal. But you can also heal your skin from the inside. Examine your diet and test whether sugar or dairy products are causing your skin issues. Eliminate one category for at least a week to determine whether these dietary choices are to blame. If they are, reduce your intake as much as you can to calm your skin.
Consider supplements or other medications to help your body defend itself. The healthy fats in fish oil supplements can reduce inflammation, as can zinc. Oral contraception has also been known to help users balance acne-fueling hormones. If you’ve not explored prescriptions yet, online birth control providers like Nurx offer a convenient and customized consult.
3. Check Out Lesser-Known OTC Options
Sure, the skincare aisle offers hundreds of over-the-counter products that claim to solve your acne issues. But if you’re searching for unique solutions, you’ve likely tried the bulk of them with less than stellar results.
Shift your gaze to the lower level of the aisle, and you’ll find some more simple skincare solutions. Witch hazel is often overshadowed by highly marketed options, so consider T.N. Dickinson’s for a great value. This affordable product not only reduces inflammation, but also shrinks zits as it eliminates excess oil.
Sunburn calmer aloe vera can assist you in your quest to eliminate a breakout. This one-ingredient healer can reduce pain and close any open wounds sooner. Tea tree oil is also found in many beauty and skincare products. On its own, it can reduce redness and swelling as it wards off acne-inducing bacteria.
4. Adjust Your Routine
Solving your skincare issues isn’t isolated to what you put on or in your body. Adjusting your behaviors is a key component of a multifaceted plan of attack.
For starters, when was the last time you cleaned the things that constantly touch your face? Pillowcases, phone screens, and eyewear spend a good deal of their time firmly pressed against your face. The dirt and oil smeared on their surfaces aren’t helping you, so clean them regularly.
Constant stress is also a major skin issue culprit. While some stress is normal, too much of it can boost your body’s production of cortisol. This added hormone increases pore-clogging oils which can further extend your breakouts. Review your lifestyle and see where you can cut down on stress. Planning out your week, taking time to meditate or exercise, or saying no more frequently can all help.
5. Employ Tech-Based Tools
Some of the most innovative and interesting tech tools today are in the skincare space. Update your cleansing routine by adding ultrasonic vibrations into the mix. This gentle yet powerful technology can boost your cleansing power while also lifting and toning your skin. The PMD Clean device is a customer favorite and is available in 13 fresh colors. The Foreo LUNA Mini 3 offers a larger brush head and app connectivity for a tech-powered cleanse.
If you’re ready for a splurge, delve into the world of LED light therapy. While ever-popular red light masks may be littering your social feed, check out blue light for its acne-calming properties. It may sound silly at first, but blue light can kill acne-causing bacteria. Check out options for blue light therapy in clinical settings or through at-home devices.
6. Do Your Research Before You Try Outlandish Remedies
As you’re battling acne, be mindful of the new and interesting suggestions you receive from others. Old wives’ tales, toxic chemicals, and damaging household products have all been touted to solve acne over the years. If you’re interested in trying new approaches, verify them with reputable information sources before applying an unfamiliar concoction to your skin. The goal is to improve your skin, not create a new issue that’s easily avoidable.
Once you’ve identified some novel approaches to try on your journey to clear skin, give them time to show improvements. Be careful not to put too much pressure on any single solution to be what finally clears your skin. Take your time and subject unique solutions to the experimental method. Once you find options that work for you, pass along the good word to others who are in need.