Best Natural Acne Treatments

If you’re a regular here, you know that acne is one of the most commonly reported skin care concerns. Whether you’re a pre-teen, adolescent, or well into adulthood, chances are you’ve battled a breakout or two. 

There are loads of products on the market that guarantee real results. But if you’re in a pinch and on a budget, you can find relief from your acne with items you likely already have on hand. 

What causes acne?

Blemishes tend to be the result of clogged pores. But the underlying causes of acne vary. Factors like diet, stress, genetics, hormonal fluctuations, and even hygiene play a role in your skin’s health. 

Some simple steps you can take to keep breakouts at bay include washing your face both morning and night, maintaining a diet rich in nutrients, and managing stress with meditation, exercise, or some form of movement. 

Are there different types of acne?

Acne, blackheads, breakouts, pimples— a blemish is a blemish is a blemish, am I right? Think again. The fact is, not all acne is created equal. In total, there are five different types of acne, each requiring its own unique treatment. If you need some help identifying your type of acne, we’ve covered the basics of each below. 

Blackheads

To understand what causes blackheads, you should first be familiar with comedones. Pores or hair follicles clogged with bacteria, dead skin cells, or oil buildup are known as comedones. The pore becomes so blocked that it remains wide open. 

You can identify blackheads by their distinctive dark color. This type of acne tends to concentrate where oil often builds up, like around the nose or chin. 

Whiteheads

Whiteheads also result from the accumulation of dead skin and sebum. The difference is, whiteheads are closed comedones. This means that the pore closes, trapping impurities beneath the surface of the skin. The consequence is a sore bump protruding from the face or body. 

Papules

Have you ever had a blemish that felt firm and sensitive to the touch? If so, then you’ve likely experienced papules. You’ll often notice the skin around the affected area is inflamed. Papules are most apparent on the face, particularly the chin, forehead, and nose. 

Pustules

A small bump on the skin that’s filled with fluid or pus is known as a pustule. Unlike papules, pustules are lighter in color and sometimes surrounded by redness, especially when you pick and squeeze. 

Keep an eye out for pustules on your back, chest, hairline, and other areas of the face. Although pustules are most often smaller than a dime, they can grow fairly large and tend to appear in clusters. 

Nodules

One of the most severe types of acne is nodules. Clogged pores that swell in size and grow increasingly inflamed are classified as nodular acne. Nodules are tender to the touch since the infection has penetrated beneath the surface of your skin.

Unfortunately, due to their severity, nodules require the attention of a dermatologist. The earlier you can treat nodular acne the better, as it’s the type of acne most likely to leave scarring.

Best natural remedies for acne

Because acne is so common, you can heal yourself at home with these time-tested remedies concocted from organic ingredients. 

Best ingredients for acne

Apple cider vinegar

Mother Nature’s best astringent is apple cider vinegar. Balance your skin’s pH levels, absorb oil, and gently exfoliate with just a cotton ball and a spritz of apple cider vinegar, no rinsing is necessary. 

The best part about apple cider vinegar is it’s inexpensive and can be found in just about any supermarket. But don’t forget to dilute your apple cider vinegar with water, otherwise, you may experience mild irritation. We recommend one part apple cider vinegar and three parts water for best results.

Tea tree

The tea tree is native to Australia. When the foliage of this shrub is steam distilled and extracted it produces an invigorating oil with countless benefits for the skin. This oil is a triple threat, providing antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties. 

Best used as a spot treatment for those pesky blemishes that pop up unexpectedly, tea tree oil will reduce redness without being overly drying. 

Honey

Honey is more than just a sweet treat to liven up your morning tea. Some forms of this tasty ingredient have properties shown to combat breakouts while simultaneously smoothing and hydrating the skin. Because honey is classified as a humectant, it prevents moisture from escaping the skin so you don’t dry up.

Honey is beneficial for treating acne at home and is believed to soothe other common skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. When using honey on your skin, especially the face, pay a few extra dollars for something higher quality like manuka honey.

Bentonite or Kaolin clay

You may have heard that clay is good for optimal skin health, but how do you know which kind of clay works best? Bentonite and kaolin are the two most popular variations of clay used in skin care products. So, what’s the difference? Your gals have got the scoop! 

Bentonite Clay

If you just can’t seem to keep your oily skin under control, you may benefit from bentonite clay. A byproduct of volcanic ash, bentonite clay tips the pH scale to about 8.5. This makes it more basic than kaolin clay. No, not basic as in loves pumpkin spice lattes and Target. 

Bentonite clay opens up the pores, absorbs oil in a flash, and deeply detoxifies the skin. Because of its higher pH level, this type of clay is slightly more potent than kaolin clay. Always use according to the product instructions and adjust as needed to avoid irritation.

Kaolin Clay

Kaolin clay is made of the mineral kaolinite and is much milder than bentonite clay. Ideal for sensitive skin types, kaolin clay deep cleans your complexion, evens out your skin’s tone and texture, and can reduce redness. 

Charcoal

Does your skin feel like it needs deep detoxification? Charcoal may be your solution. Often found in cleansers and face masks, charcoal penetrates beyond the surface of the skin to extract impurities. It’s also highly absorbent making it an effective option for reducing shine. 

Best Natural Acne products

Ditch those garish pimple patches and opt for this instead. The Moody Sisters skincare products for acne combine the most effective acne-fighting ingredients we’ve detailed here.