5 Steps to Skin Success- How to Heal Acne At Home

How to Heal Acne At Home

5 Steps to Skin Success

Author: Jasmine M. ("Pending" blogger, till June/July 2020!)

If you are suffering from acne, you know how overwhelming, stressful, and emotional trying to find an acne treatment can be. Prescription acne medications can have nasty side effects, and over the counter, chemical filled acne creams, never seem to solve the problem. This simple guide is designed to help you to heal both acne, and acne scars, using a combination of dietary changes and affordable, natural skincare products. I began getting acne when I was 12, and it took me years to crack the code. This is the guide I wished I had when I was in middle school!

Treating acne is not a one step process. It is important to know that acne can be caused by many different factors, all acting together. These factors range from hormone imbalances, to clogged pores caused by makeup, to allergic reactions, and toxicity, caused by food. To clear your skin holistically, follow the 5 Steps to Skin Success.

Step 1: Eating

The main thing that will help to heal your acne is a balanced diet, as annoying as this can be to hear. This is largely because, while the occasional breakout might be hormonal, what causes consistent acne is often “bad” bacteria. These bacteria feed on sugar and tend to thrive best when the health of your body is out of balance. Therefore, the first step to healing your acne, is re-evaluating what you eat. You might be thinking “there’s no way I’m giving up my chocolate, or ice cream, or Doritos” (I like Salt and Vinegar chips personally). The thing is you don’t have to! All you need to do, is know the difference between Food and Treats. Food can be eaten at every meal, but Treats should be limited 1 serving once a day. Additionally, making sure your gut bacteria is healthy, by eating probiotic rich food (not probiotic pills), every day, is extremely helpful. The goal is to fill your body up with nutrients like protein, fiber, healthy fats, and healthy carbs. At the same time, you want to minimize unhealthy fats, and starve bacteria from their food sources—primarily processed sugar, and refined carbohydrates. The chart below makes it easy! For more information, this video, by Bekah Martinez, explains how she healed her acne with a healthy diet and probiotics!

Step 2. Drinking

If your body is dehydrated, your skin is far more likely to get clogged, and you’re going to be more prone to acne. Furthermore, when you don’t drink enough water, it can be difficult for your body to remove the normal toxins and waste products from the food you eat, through urine. One way that your body compensates, for this lack of water, is by trying to push toxins out through your skin instead. This causes, you guessed it, acne. Moreover, you might not realize it, but what you drink might be contributing to your acne as well. Remember the bacteria that we talked about in Step 1, the ones that live on sugar? The chart below demonstrates how much sugar is really in some of the world’s most popular beverages. Step 2 is to drink enough water! I make it easy for myself, by filling up a large mason jar with water 3 times a day and using a straw. Remember, we are talking about water here—not juice, not soda, not energy drinks—water. If you don’t like the flavor of plain water, you can try adding lemon, and a natural sweetener like Stevia. If that still doesn’t work, you can try a sugar free water flavoring, like Crystal Light Pure—but be careful! Artificial sweeteners should only be consumed in moderation, and natural ones are much healthier.

Step 3.  Cleansing

Cleansing your skin properly, twice a day, is the next step to healing your acne. In this article, I teach you exactly how to choose the right facial cleanser for your skin. In general, what’s important to remember, is that when you cleanse your skin, you want to balance it, not strip it of oils, or dry it out with chemicals. Using herbs and plant extracts, as well as natural ingredients like activated charcoal, can help to clear your pores, and balance out the bacteria on the surface of your skin. I highly, highly recommend the Detox Facial Cleanser. It has worked wonders for my skin. Remember, washing your face before bed is not optional—it’s a must if you’re suffering from acne. Makeup that touches the skin, like foundation and powder, often heavily contributes to acne as well. So, for the love of all that is holy, don’t ever sleep in makeup. If you do wear makeup, try using the oil cleansing method, described by  youtuber, and natural beauty guru, HolisticHabits, to remove your makeup first. Once that’s done, use your cleanser afterwards. Another important tip is to make sure that hair products are kept away from your skin during the day. Try to opt for natural, clean hair products. If you use gel, hairspray or leave in conditioner (like me), make sure to tie your hair away from your face all day, and cleanse your skin thoroughly at night. Acne on the cheeks and temples is often increased by clogging hair products that touch the skin.

Step 4. Treating

The section we’ve all been waiting for! I consider anything that goes on your face, after a cleanser, and before a moisturizer, to be a treatment. Above, is my current Morning routine. Below, is my Evening routine.

I can genuinely say that, since I began consistently following this routine and using these natural products, my skin has improved dramatically. There are literally thousands of acne treatment regimens out there, but from my experience, this is what you need to know. If a product is not natural, at some point, your skin is going to react to it. We’ve all heard the Accutane horror stories. The problem is that even topicals, that contain harsh chemicals, can cause problems long term. After trying all the drugstore skincare products money can buy, and some more high-end treatments as well, I personally recommend the following products and these simple morning, and nighttime, regimens. Particularly important here, is the Overnight Pimple Treatment—it dries pimples out, naturally, overnight, and it helps with scarring! A kit that includes all of these products, and more detailed directions about how to apply them, can be found by clicking the hyperlink. You can always customize your skincare regimens to your own needs, but these are the products, and the routines, that really work for me. Remember, only add 1 new product into your skincare at a time. Wait a few days before trying to use multiple products on your face together.

Step 5. Moisturizing

Moisturizing your skin is so important, I’m giving moisturizer its own section of today’s blog. A lot of people are afraid to moisturize their skin, because they don’t want to further clog their pores. The reality, however, is when your skin is dry, your body produces more sebum, or skin-oil, to lubricate itself. Extra oil production is one of the key things that causes acne. So, to avoid this, I carefully moisturize my skin every morning and night, at the end of my skincare routines. In the morning, I always use natural SPF Oil, to protect my skin from the sun, and stop acne scars from darkening. SPF is a must, especially when you’re using treatments. In the evening. I take a little slice of refrigerated fresh Aloe, found at many grocery stores, and coat my face with it. Fresh Aloe Vera is, without a doubt, the best single ingredient moisturizer of all time. Afterwards, I put 2 drops of Rosehip oil in my hands, and pat my skin, to seal in the Aloe. You can also use a natural moisturizer, like this one, instead! I can say from experience that making some dietary changes, and adopting this skincare routine, has transformed my skin in a way I never would have imagined was possible. Try it out! I wish you health, happiness and success on your skincare journey!

Peace and Love,

                         Jasmine