Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. The American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that it affects up to 50 million Americans annually. In other words, if you’re struggling with acne, you’re certainly not alone. Acne forms when pores in your skin get blocked by a sticky substance made of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. It can be caused by a number of things like genetics, skin sensitivities, hormones, skin environment, and more.
In addition to conventional methods, there are non-conventional methods of treating tricky blemishes. The following are four simple ways you can manage acne naturally.
- Swap out your pillowcases regularly and use a quality detergent. Many of us are guilty of skipping laundry day when it comes to our bedding. But, our pillowcase could be a huge culprit when it comes to acne. Pillowcases accumulate oil, dirt, and bacteria night after night. Some suggest that you swap out your pillowcase every night. But, if that isn’t realistic, I recommend doing it at least once a week.
The detergent you use on your pillowcases can actually make a big difference when it comes to your skin! Many detergents contain ingredients that can clog up your pores. I would recommend avoiding any detergents that contain fragrances. The chemicals in fragrance are comedogenic and can definitely clog the pores. Additional ingredients to avoid is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These can also cause body acne, so it's best to steer clear of it if you want to keep your skin looking its best.
I use and sell Norwex Products and have been thoroughly impressed by their laundry detergent. It is free of both fragrance and toxins like sodium lauryl and SLS. It works great and has never let me down! I even use it to clean my makeup brushes–it works like a charm.
Follow this link to check out Norwex Laundry Detergent: Norwex Laundry Detergent. Please note: I receive a commission on Norwex products.
- Be mindful about your hair products. The ingredients in your hair products matter for your skin, too. No matter how we slice it, our hair products end up on our skin, which depending on the ingredients, could be what clogs up pores. Here is where you’ll have to do a bit of experimenting. Avoid hair products that contain oils that you know don't work for your skin. If you’re unsure, I would recommend spot treatment with oils or trying out different natural hair products.
In general, I recommend avoiding hair products that include toxins such as parabens, fragrances, and sulfates because they are harmful to the body and likely to cause skin irritation.
Note that acne caused by hair products will show up near your hairline, on your neck, shoulders, and upper back. If you have acne in those areas, your hair products may contain ingredients that your skin doesn’t agree with and it might be time to investigate!
- Have a skincare routine and do it diligently. For many, this seems like a no-brainer. But, we all need a reminder. We have all had times when we want to go straight to bed with a full face of makeup on without washing our face. DON’T!
In addition to staying consistent, both the steps in your routine and the ingredients in your skincare products matter, too. Step-wise, I make sure to remove my makeup with a Norwex Cloth first, that way I remove the dirt, oil, and makeup before I go in with my skincare.
In terms of skincare products, I highly recommend toxin-free products made with natural, organic ingredients. Some ingredients that can cause acne, but are found in common beauty products include sodium lauryl sulfate and fragrance. If you are using natural oils or other products, try to find what works best for you. With a lot of organic ingredients, an ingredient that works for others may not work for you. That’s why it’s important to take note of your skin’s reaction to different products until you find the right one!
Many of us who use makeup have experienced the vicious cycle of applying makeup to cover up blemishes, which then causes more blemishes to show up. Some may even feel hopeless and have accepted that makeup causes acne. However, not all makeup is created equal.
In an article we previously wrote, we took a dive into which ingredients cause acne in makeup, which you can read here: Are your makeup products causing acne? As a general rule, Clean Beauty by Joy does not use toxic, comedogenic chemicals in our makeup. Instead, we use toxin-free, organic ingredients like Aloe and Green Tea which benefit the skin and are known to prevent acne.
Acne is a very common skin disorder and can be SO frustrating to treat with all the different factors that contribute to our skin’s condition. We hope that you have found the tips and tricks in this post useful and that they will help you manage your acne in a natural, toxin-free way!
To find toxin-free makeup that works well even for acne-prone skin, visit our shop: https://cleanbeautybyjoy.com/collections/all
Sources
https://poosh.com/all-natural-acne-clearing/
https://www.aesacnetreatmentsf.com/blog/back-chest-acne-causes
https://www.byrdie.com/acne-causing-ingredients-4845040
https://cleanbeautybyjoy.com/blogs/news/are-your-makeup-products-causing-acne
