We all have our moments of weakness where we just feel an overwhelming temptation to pick our spots. As they may feel itchy or painful, this is a natural response to irritation. It also may be a source of stress or anxiety relief. However, once you pick at an acne lesion, it's more likely to scar and worsen the inflammation. Keep your hands occupied with something simple like a fidget spinner, slime or by doing your daily chores. Always have your nails clipped so you don’t accidentally pick a spot if you scratch your face. 

Whilst home remedies can be useful for reducing acne, killing bacteria, and providing antioxidants to the skin, you need to be very careful with what you read online, as often these skin tips aren’t tested. For example, many sources cite toothpaste as an effective way to treat acne overnight due to its antimicrobial ingredients like triclosan. However, triclosan is also known to cause skin allergies and has been removed from many toothpastes. Even tea tree oil or lemon juice can be unsafe to the skin and aggravate acne, if applied undiluted. Instead, search for a clinically-proven, natural skincare range, that can cleanse and control the skin by balancing oil production. Key natural ingredients to look out for are Neem, which helps remove impurities, and Peppermint to control excess oil. 

You should keep tabs on whether certain foods tend to correspond with sudden onset breakouts. Typically, these are foods high in fat, sugar, and dairy, which can raise the risk of adult acne. Whilst skimmed milk, chocolate, and late-night McDonald’s binges don’t affect everyone, you may see a correlation between these foods and acne development. Skin-friendly food choices include sweet potatoes, lemon, kale, berries, legumes, quinoa, salmon, and cauliflower. 

You can fight breakouts by always washing off your makeup correctly, using the right moisturizer for your skin type and taking care of your skin. We sometimes get home late and sleep with makeup on, which can be the worst thing to do for blemish prone skin. Try to double cleanse with a face wash and micellar water to remove makeup that pores have absorbed. Avoid wipes which move makeup around and opt for a mineral rich makeup remover that is gentle on the skin.

When you experience a breakout, swapping out your skincare for stronger products may seem like the obvious fix. However, you may be doing more harm than good as disrupting the skin barrier can aggravate acne and cause further irritation. Use a 90% natural cooling, natural face wash to remove impurities from the skin followed by a gentle toner to remove excess sebum on blemish-prone skin. Finally, use a lightweight moisturiser that will control shine and help to refine the look of pores in one easy step.

A face mask, unlike other pimple-fighting products, will draw out any excess oil and impurities in your skin and prevent future breakouts from forming. Whilst they aren’t a long-term remedy for acne, they can help to reduce inflammation and calm the skin down after a new spot appears. Look out for ingredients that remove dead skin and reduce clogged pores such as papaya, yoghurt, peony, rose and chamomile extract. Apply the facemask once a week for a nourished and renewed complexion. 

Ice helps reduce the swelling of an inflamed pimple, but heat is recommended for treating non-inflamed pimples. Warmth will help draw out dirt, excess oil and the contents inside the pores, whereas cold temperatures will make the pores contract. As with any compress, you do not want the temperatures to be extreme as this can impact the skin. For instance, boiling water or applying ice directly to the skin can both lead to burns and permanent damage to the underlying tissues. If you’re using ice to sooth acne, wrap it in a washcloth before dabbing it around the affected area. If you’re using a warm compress, wet the washcloth with warm water before dabbing it around the spot. 

At Herbal Essentials, our mission has always been to create high-performance, natural skincare that encourages a happy and healthy complexion. We harness the power of pure Himalayan Active Water in all our skincare which is clinically proven to boost skin cell renewal through 3 essential minerals: Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. These all work together to visibly support, protect and strengthen your skin barrier for healthy, youthful skin.

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