Acne sucks. I think this is one universal truth that will never change.
Trust me, I know.
I used to face horrendous, cystic acne all over my jawline, body and face every morning. This was painful, embarrassing and most of all, a nuisance. It was horrible for my self esteem and held me back from doing even the most basic things, like making new friends, going grocery shopping or booking jobs.
Honestly, a good skincare routine has changed everything!
Here are the 5 acne fighters that have totally transformed my skin:
Supplements have been a huge part of my win in my battle against acne, so they deserve to be mentioned first. Supplements have been the foundation of keeping my acne at bay.
The reason that most conventional treatments for acne and skin issues don’t work is that they fail to treat the real issue: your insides. Steroids, anti-biotics and even heavy duty prescription medications skip over the one thing that truly does need to change and for your new, clear skin to stick: Your body needs to be in balance.
Who knew that the true key to combating my skin issues – especially my cystic acne – for good was getting passed by every time I went to the pharmacy for a new skin Rx? The last thing I was missing was herbs and supplements, which have truly been the big game changer for me. If I take my supplements, I barely have to worry about a small blemish around that time of the month. If I miss my supplements, I DO see the same symptoms that I used to have. Bumps pop up. Pores get clogged. Cysts form. Not pretty.
Most female acne is hormonal, and to treat hormonal acne you need to deal with the root cause – your estrogen levels!
One of my favorite and most useful herbs for combating my skin issues has been the supplement DIM, which acts as an estrogen regulator. It balances the estrogens in your body, straightening out your hormones and allowing your skin to stop freaking out. DIM has now become widely known on the Internet as one of the better treatments of hormonal acne, and it has helped many of my friends, family and clients. DIM supplements are an excellent option for women with acne who have high estrogen and low testosterone. These women are typically estrogen dominant. One example is women on synthetic birth control. DIM supplements will work at reducing side effects of the birth control, and getting your libido back. I take 4 DIM pills a day and am totally acne-free!
Some of my other favorites are vitamin D, vitex, fish oils and evening primrose oil.
Serums
I know this may seem counter-intuitive to what they tell you, but you do NOT want to use harsh products when tackling your acne. When you’re fighting acne, ALWAYS avoid products with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfates. Why? Well, you really don’t want extra, unnecessary inflammation if you want your skin to heal! These products are SUPER harsh, stripping the skin of natural pH it needs to stay balanced and often leaving skin red or raw – on TOP of not addressing the problem.
The next step in the foundation of my good skin is to find yourself a good, organic serum that addresses the cause of acne, so that you are not only healing your acne now, but you are preventing future acne. The Detox Repair Serum was formulated to do just that!
This vitamin enriched serum is an effective blemish-fighting acne treatment to minimize pimples, zits, and help prevent future breakouts. How? This serum is specifically formulated with the highest level of french green clay and activated charcoal. Effectively fights blemishes, reduces acne, and helps keep skin free of new breakouts. Healing, organic vitamins are designed to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores while zinc oxide, a natural mineral, provides oil control by absorbing excess sebum.
The result is clearer skin that lasts. Don’t just take my word for it! A recent reviewer said this:
“I have tried SO many different acne solutions and am BLOWN AWAY by this product. I wanted to get away from my harsh acne cream due to all of the chemicals that irritated my face. I tried a bunch of other products, but nothing worked. I finally came across this and will never turn back! No smell, no irritating essential oils, no dangerous ingredients and the serum actually works to prevent and heal breakouts! Highly recommend!” –June, 27
The best part about these serums is that they are essential oil free. Essential oils can irritate skin over time because our body’s become sensitive to the concentrated ingredients. The Detox Repair serum is also scent-free, so you don’t have to worry about if the smell will irritate your delicate palette or your skin.
Use as an oil cleanser as well as a morning and nighttime serum! Simply apply to face as instructed and remove makeup with a wet or dry washcloth. Can additionally be used as a body oil.
Soft Water
Hard water had done a number on my skin, but it took me months to identify this as one of the main culprits! You’ll know you have hard water in your shower if you experience any of these symptoms after showering: dry skin, itchiness, flakiness, a filminess or dry hair and scalp.
Hard water is high in alkaline (pH), and also contains high levels of minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron. This clogs and irritates your skin.
The remedy is switching to a soft water filter for your showerhead. You can grab this one from Culligan for under $30! Soft water helps your body clear toxins, fight infections and oh yeah – it won’t take 10 minutes to wash product out of your hair! Check if you have hard water in your area at: www.theorganiclifeblog.com/hardwater
Skip The Dehydrators
I haven’t drank a drop of alcohol at all for a few months now (post on this coming soon!) and other than my health, I have surpsingly seen the most difference in my SKIN!
Cutting out caffeine and alcohol – especially hard alcohol – will truly help you win the war against your acne. If you’re not too inspired by plain old water, try adding some fresh lemon or berries and organic honey for flavor and drink at LEAST 8 cups of water and 4 cups of caffeine-free tea per day.
Caffeine (when ingested) can cause disruption to your guts, which is where the start of your clear skin truly begins. Caffeine also messes with your hormones, namely your stress hormone, which is a huge disruption to your oil production. On top of that, it’s a diuretic, adding a super dehydrating affect that I think we can all agree we’d like to skip.
But don’t worry – You can literally drink your way to amazing skin! Try replacing coffee with teas specifically designed to help you wean off. Teeccino, an herbal coffee alternative that tastes JUST like coffee (I swear!) is my favorite, but you can just make your own drink at home with some fresh herbs like mint, cacao or lavender flowers and warm milk, cinnamon, honey and turmeric.
Masks
Like a good serum, a good face mask fights the very CAUSE of acne, not just the surface skin disruptions. I invented one for just this purpose, and have used it for over 4 years every time I see a little bump creep in, usually around that time of the month. Forbes actually featured this mask this year – a true highlight. My organic face mask works great to simultaneously exfoliate and moisturize your skin. Incorporate this mask into your skin routine 2-3 times a week for the best results. Your skin will be glowing, refreshed, and happy! Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
- Olive Oil – 1 Tablespoon
- Activated Charcoal – 1 Teaspoon
- Zinc – 1 Tablespoon
- Cinnamon – 1 Tablespoon
- Baking soda – 1 Tablespoon
- Nutmeg – 1 Tablespoon
- Salt – 1 Tablespoon
- Cacao – 1 Tablespoon
To Do:
- Combine ingredients in a small bowl
- Mix together thoroughly with a wooden spoon
- Add water and mix thoroughly until it is a muddy consistency
- Apply to face, neck and décolletage using a fan or makeup brush
- Allow to dry for 10-15 mins
- Remove while still damp
Voila! A perfect complexion is yours!
