There are a few foolproof ingredients I fall back on when my skin fails me and the best part is they’re all natural…
We’ve all heard about the toxicity of beauty products today and because we’re all so wonderfully informed now, brands have done an awesome job vetting out the things we DON’T want, i.e. parabens, sulfurs, mineral oil, etc. I don’t think I could ever 100% commit to natural ingredients or products; however, there’s a time and place for everything. And irritated and flared skin is one of them. Here are my top natural ingredients you should try at least once:
YOGURT
Everyone can use a little more probiotics in their body, but probiotics also does wonders for the skin. Your best bet for cheap probiotics is yogurt! Along with probiotics, yogurt contains lactic acid and zinc – stuff acne (and dry skin) hates! Every time I do a yogurt mask, my skin is instantly brighter, smoother, and feels a million times better. Whenever I feel a cold sore or any kind of dermatitis coming, I slather yogurt all over it and miracles transpire. Just be sure to use plain, unsweetened yogurt – I like Chobani or Fage.
HONEY
I’m not going get into the “technicalities” of honey and why it’s beneficial for your skin (there are already several articles explaining why, and you can easily find out with a quick Google search). So, what I will tell you is my experience with it… Honey has been a huge contributor in combatting my acne since 2013. It does an amazing job reducing redness, calming dry irritated skin from excessive use of abrasive products, and reducing scars. I’ll share more about my acne story in the next week or so, but I love honey with a passion! I got this Aritaum Honey Essence Pack from Beauty Beyond Borders (K-Beauty subscription box) a while back, but took it to LA last week. It helped bring my skin back to normal state…really loved this and will be buying more. (Note: Raw honey works best!)
TURMERIC
Turmeric has also helped normalize my skin since the battle with acne began years ago. After I had my son, shit hit the fan and I struggled with what I would consider severe acne for almost a full year. If it wasn’t for turmeric, I don’t think my skin would have ever became normal… Its got super antiseptic and antibacterial properties which are so highly underrated and effective! The only thing is it STAINS! To prevent yourself from turning yellow, wash your face, wipe clean with a micellar cleansing water (I like Garnier, and follow up with a good toner (like Le Metier de Beaute Daily Refresh Tonic).
CINNAMON
Cinnamon is a newer ingredient I started using because I ran out of turmeric. I felt like turmeric was better for acne, but I liked cinnamon for softening and soothing my dry skin. It also does more for your complexion than turmeric. I started mixing the two to create an ideal mask!
PRIMROSE SUPPLEMENTS
I struggle with hormone imbalance, but refuse birth control because I’m deathly afraid it’ll worsen my situation. I know my acne is hormone-related because I’ve tried just about everything else on the face of this Earth (except Accutane, which derms refuse to prescribe). The fatty acids in primrose oil are supposed to help regulate your hormones and ultimately reduce acne. I have been taking these pills 3x a day for 3 weeks and I must say I’m impressed. I think they’re definitely worth a shot. What I plan on doing next is puncturing these pills and applying the oil on my face…
BONUS: MY GO-TO MASK
Yogurt + Raw Honey + Turmeric + Cinnamon
Combine all, apply to face, leave for 20 minutes, and then rinse. If your skin is very irritated, use everyday. You should see results within 1 week.
Do you have any recommendations or favorites for natural ingredients? I’d love to know!
