Natural Ingredients that Soothe the Skin

You probably know that acne can be expensive to keep under control and that its treatment can be loaded with synthetic chemicals. However, there are all natural and affordable options that you can resort to if you'd like a cheaper, healthier alternative. Just as is the case with cosmetic products, finding the right fix can take time, trial, and error. Nevertheless, the natural cures we have compiled for you cost a marginal fraction of what their synthetic competitors go for, so you won't be counting pennies to test them all. Take a look for yourself. This is just part one!

Vinegar
What it Does: vinegar, in all its forms, can be applied to the skin to kill acne-causing bacteria and inhibit their propagation. Vinegar also stabilizes the pH of your skin, improving complexion and reducing blemishes by modifying bacterial growing conditions. While the most popular type of vinegar used topically for natural acne treatments is apple cider vinegar, any type of vinegar will do.

Application: To apply vinegar on acne affected areas, dilute it with water. For milder cases of acne, a dilution ratio of 1:8 parts vinegar to water is effective. For more severe cases, you can dilute the vinegar with less water, say 1:4 or 1:3 parts vinegar to water. Once you've mixed your solution, use a cotton pad to apply it to your entire face. If you want to prevent dryness in unaffected areas, only pat acne-affected areas with the solution. However, remember that acne tends to be transferred from one location on the face to another, so you might want to treat the whole area to prevent breakouts in unusual spots.

Toothpaste
What it Does: toothpaste is used as a spot treatment to kill bacteria and dry out acne lesions. Toothpaste also reduces inflammation, but it can cause long lasting burns on the skin if not applied correctly.

Application: Using a q-tip, dab a small amount of toothpaste on the affected area. Remember this is a spot treatment, so you should use very little amounts on noticeable red marks and inflamed papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Allow the toothpaste to dry off completely. Depending on your climatic conditions, this can take over an hour. Gently rinse off with warm water and pat dry.