One of my children had acne. So I did what many other concerned mothers do. I bought a popular chemical-based acne treatment system. This formula was widely advertised.
I did this despite misgivings about any potential health risks. I figured they were an acceptable trade-off for better-looking skin.
What Essential Oils are Good for Acne?
(This post contains affiliate links, and if you purchase a product I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)
Now, though, I know better. There was no need of using chemicals in the first place, especially because so many good plant-based acne formulas now exist. These are a good option if you don’t want to use products with potentially hazardous compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide. This harsh bleaching agent can dry your skin. It’s also been linked to cancer in mice.
Essential Oils To Clear Up Acne
When I was a teenager, the acne products I used also contained this ingredient. They also left my skin red and irritated. Even worse, they didn’t help my breakouts.
The good news is that today we have more options. My skin problems happened before we could research natural remedies on the Internet. Now, it’s easy to find information on essential oils that can potentially help acne.
Can Essential Oils Help With Acne?
On this site, I like to tell my readers about natural solutions. I believe we’ve all been sold a bill of goods that laboratory-made compounds are good for us. Growing up, I labored under the impression that I needed to use chemically derived cosmetics and household cleaners. I really did think these products were superior to anything found in nature.
Now I’m older and (I hope) a little wiser. Now, I only use plant-based ingredients on my skin, with great results. My skin tone has improved so much that I no longer need to wear foundation. (That is a link to grapeseed oil, which I use for a natural moisturizer. But I’m not suggesting it for people with active acne. Now that I’m older it works well for me. I’m only including it as an example of what I’m using on my skin now.)
Essential Oils To Clear Up Acne
Fortunately, my daughter, on her own, decided to stop using that chemical acne product I ordered for her. She’s also found good results with a plant-based Castile soap made with essential oils. Essential oils, I’m convinced, are a great first-line defense for acne. Plus, it’s been clinically shown that aromatic oils can kill the bacteria that causes acne.
A study that ran in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Intervention found that cinnamon bark oil and tea tree essential oil can kill the bacteria that causes acne outbreaks. The authors also noted that regular dermatology often doesn’t yield the desired result in terms of controlling this condition. They also pointed out that the majority of teens suffer from acne.
Essential Oils That Help With Acne
In recent years, essential oils have become increasingly popular. These plant-based extracts have a wide range of personal and household uses. You can even find special blends designed for clearing acne, such as the Zit Fighter Synergy Blend shown below.
Zit Fighter Synergy Blend is made by Plant Therapy, a company I trust so much that I feel totally comfortable recommending it to my readers. I’ve been buying Plant Therapy products for years, and I trust them enough to use them on myself and on my family members.
How To Clear Acne With Natural Remedies
I’ve written about natural treatments for acne in the past. But it’s something that bears repeating. That’s because this problem is so distressing. I remember how it made me feel. Breakouts always seemed to happen right before an important event when I wanted to look good. I’d try to cover these ugly red pimples with foundation. But my efforts were moderately successful. Plus, the chemical-based makeup I slathered on my skin was probably just adding to the problem.
I want my readers to know that it’s possible to treat teenage acne safely and effectively. Although I’m not a doctor and can’t give medical advice, or make any claims that a particular product will work, I can share information on how essential oils can potentially clear acne.
How To Clear Acne With Essential Oils
Plant Therapy Zit Fighter contains a mix of aromatics specially blended to fight acne. These include geranium, grapefruit, cedar, peppermint, rosemary and Roman chamomile essential oils. The company recommends using a 5 percent dilution of Zit Fighter in natural aloe vera gel. This would be approximately 5 drops of Zit Fighter to 1 teaspoon of aloe. If you don’t own any aloe vera gel, it’s available here.
Essential oils must be mixed with carrier oils before putting them on your skin. That’s because they’re too strong to use without a neutral skin-protecting buffer. However, in the case of acne, aloe vera gel is more appropriate.
If you own essential oils, you can also make your own acne-fighting recipe with the Zit Fighter Synergy Blend mentioned above, or you can use tea tree oil or lavender essential oil. These aromatics have a reputation for being tough on acne, but gentle on the skin.
1 teaspoon of aloe vera jelly (It’s available here)
3 drops of lavender essential oil (It’s available here)
2 drops of tea tree essential oil (It’s available here)
Always do a 24-hour spot test before applying this mixture to the skin, especially if you’ve never used essential oils before. This involves putting a small amount on the inside of your arm and waiting a day. If there’s no irritation, it should be safe to use on your face.
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For More Reading
Acne and Essential Oils Research
