Anti-Acne Skincare Solutions: 6 At-Home Remedies To Keep Those Pesky Pimples Away

Whether it’s a first date, an important presentation, a party you’ve been looking forward to, or picture day at school: good ol’ acne always finds a way to make an appearance right when you least want it to. The next thing you do, is search on internet: 'How to remove acne?' And although nothing beats a dermatologist visit along with a healthy diet and exercise routine when it comes to keeping those pimples from constantly popping up, sometimes you need a little something extra to zap them from existence. 

Several natural solutions out there, like baking soda and toothpaste spot treatments, are abrasive and damaging that will leave you with bigger problems (think chemical burns) than just acne. And so we’ve got you covered with some natural remedies that actually work on acne without causing irreversible damage to your skin. And if you’ve got exceptionally sensitive skin that damages easily, we’ve linked a few products that you can add to your skincare routine instead. Whatever your preference when it comes to fighting acne, we’ve got you covered. 

1. Spot Treat With Tea Tree Oil

Arguably one of the most popular zit-busting solutions out there, and for a good reason, tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree native to Australia. These leaves are known for their ability to fight skin inflammation and bacteria, both of which are at the source of all acne woes. A few studies have even found that people experienced fewer instances of dry skin and irritation while using tea tree oil as compared to using benzoyl peroxide, which is a popular acne-fighting ingredient in many skincare products. This makes tea tree oil a promising ingredient to try. However, it’s very potent so be sure to dilute it with water or a carrier oil like almond oil before applying it to your pimples as a spot treatment. Here’s how we recommend going about it. 

1. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in 9 tablespoons of water. 
2. Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and gently dab onto the acne. 

 Be sure to moisturize before you try this spot treatment. And if you’d like to try a product instead, we recommend this soothing, cooling, and zit-zapping tea tree-based spot treatment gel by Superdrug. It’s convenient and comes highly recommended by customers. 

Superdrug Tea Tree Spot Gel

 Beauty therapists and technicians are onto something when they plop cucumber slices on your eyes to soothe puffiness. Several studies have found that cucumbers have the ability to soothe skin, reduce irritation, and lower inflammation while also ensuring that skin remains hydrated. This makes it an ideal ingredient in your anti-acne kit, especially if you have sensitive skin. We recommend using it as a toner. Here’s how you can go about it.

1. Peel two cucumbers and juice them. 
2. Strain and pour into ice trays to freeze.
3. After cleansing skin, gently rub an ice cube over your skin in circular motions. 

 If this is too much of a hassle to do, we recommend Kiehl’s cucumber toner that doesn’t contain any alcohol or other harsh ingredients and will leave skin feeling soft and supple. 

Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

3. Cleanse With Green Tea

 If you’ve got oily, acne-prone skin that can’t seem to calm down, then green tea is about to be your new best friend. Forget weight-loss, this ingredient is great for managing sebum production and lowering inflammation. Here’s how we recommend you add green tea to your skincare routine. 

1. Brew a cup of green tea and stick it in the refrigerator for a few hours. 
2. Cleanse your skin with it during the day or pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz it on to your face every couple of hours. 

 If you’d rather have a product with green tea in it, might we suggest this foam cleanser by Innisfree that clears your pores and hydrates your skin at the same time. 

Innisfree Green Tea Foam Cleanser

4. Moisturize With Aloe Vera

 A skincare ingredient that has all the potential to be a holy grail product for every single person regardless of their skin type, aloe vera is what you can turn to when nothing’s worked and you’d like to strip things back to the basics. Commonly used to treat rashes and burns to skin conditions, it’s no surprise that aloe vera can help fight acne as well. Studies have found that it contains salicylic acid and sulfur, both ingredients that are popular in anti-acne skincare products. It’s also hydrating and soothing and can lower inflammation extremely well. Here’s how you can use it:

1. Let the yellow latex drain from the aloe leaf.
2. Scoop out the gel and blend it in a food processor with some water. 
3. Apply this mixture to your skin as many times as you’d like throughout the day. 

 If you pick a commercially made aloe gel, be sure to go with something that’s got the least amount of ingredients to ensure purity. In addition to this, if you’d prefer a product over going through the hassle of using just aloe, we recommend this moisturizer by Oriental Botanics that’s loaded with not just aloe but also green tea and cucumber which, as discussed above, are incredible for your skin. 

Oriental Botanics Aloe Vera, Green Tea & Cucumber Mattifying Moisturizer SPF 30

5. Exfoliate With Oatmeal

 Not only is oatmeal great for your health but it’s a good ingredient to have on you to battle acne. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, known as avenanthramides, which soothe irritated, itchy, and dehydrated skin. It also absorbs oil from the skin’s surface and lowers inflammation. This makes it very soothing for acne-prone skin. Here’s a simple exfoliating mask that you can use to rid your skin of impurities and clear out your pores in the most gentle way possible. 

1. In a bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of colloidal oatmeal with ¼ cup of warm water and a teaspoon of honey. 
2. Apply this mixture to your face and massage gently in circular motions. Leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse off with cold water. 

To make things easier and more convenient, we found a nourishing and effective oatmeal exfoliating mask by St. Ives that will keep your skin looking healthy and radiant. 

St. Ives Gentle Smoothing Oatmeal Scrub & Mask

6. Apply A Honey-Based Mask 

Honey is another holy grail ingredient for a lot of people suffering from acne and the hype is not unfounded. Studies have found that it can fight bacteria and reduce inflammation, both of which trigger acne. Honey, on its own, has even been found to kill and block the growth of P. acnes which is the bacteria responsible for breakouts. Here’s a simple mask you can apply twice a week to keep your skin prepped. 

1. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to form a paste
2. Apply this mixture to your face and leave it on 10–15 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. 

 If you’re on the go and need to use this mask or just enjoy the convenience of sheet masks, we recommend this honey mask by It’s Skin which moisturizes, nourishes, and enhances the elasticity of the skin while keeping pesky pimples away. 

It's Skin The Fresh Mask Sheet - Honey

We wish we could leave acne behind in our teenage years just as much as the next person and while we wait for science to come up with a magical solution to nip acne in the bud without causing a host of side effects, we’re grateful for these all-natural hacks that will help keep our skin looking fresh and nourished. We hope you benefit from them just as much as we did.