Home Remedies for Clear Skin

Cures from the Kitchen: Home Remedies for Clear Skin

I’ve always been fond of home remedies for clear skin—I like the thought of being a “natural” beauty. Of course, thinking it doesn’t necessarily make it so. No, the sad truth is that left on its own, my skin is anything but beautiful. Fortunately though, there are several home remedies for clear skin that let me “feel like a natural woman” while doing a pretty effective job on my adult onset acne!

Home remedies for clear skin are nothing new—Cleopatra had her milk baths (the original lactic acid treatment!) after all. Folk remedies have been around so long because they work! So whenever my acne problem resurfaces, instead of dousing myself in the latest acne medicine or “zit cream”, I head to the kitchen—and not for the Ben and Jerry’s! Nope, herbs and spices are tops on my ingredient list and here a few of my favorite natural acne treatments.

  1. Freshly ground orange peel mixed with just enough water to make a paste works wonders on my problem skin. Apply it to any areas giving your trouble and leave it on for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Oatmeal is not just nutritious, it’s an excellent way thoroughly cleanse your skin and soak up any excess oil that can lead to clogged pores, where many skin problems begin. Mix oatmeal with just enough water to make a paste and apply to the affect area and allow to dry for 20—30 minutes.
  3. Egg white is another tried and true home remedy for clear skin—dab egg white on the area and allow it to dry for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off with tepid water.
  4. Add 3 teaspoons of dried basil leaves to 1 cup boiling water and let steep for 10-20 minutes. After it cools, apply to affected area with a cotton ball. This herbal acne treatment is one of my favorites.

Speaking of herbs, there are a few that you may not find in your kitchen, but they’re worth a trip to the natural foods store. Neem, a mainstay of Ayervedic mainstay is known for it’s ability to soothe and heal skin disorders while Tea Tree Oil is a popular pimple remedy. Bayberry Bark is a very versatile herb particularly known for it’s soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.