4 homemade acne treatments using all-natural ingredients

Forget those high-priced acne pads and expensive acne cleansers that come impregnated with medicine. Just make your own using ingredients that you can pronounce.

• 500 g (2 c) rolled oats
• 125 g (1/2 c) almonds
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) dried lavender
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) dried peppermint
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) calendula leaf
• 125 g (1/2 c) green clay powder

  1. In a coffee grinder or blender, grind the oats, almonds, lavender, peppermint and calendula leaf.

  2. Add the clay and mix thoroughly, then put in a clean covered container and keep in a cool place. You can keep this scrub for up to three months.

  3. To use, in a small open dish, make a paste by mixing five millilitres (a teaspoon) of the mixture with water. Massage the paste onto your skin. Let dry, then rinse well.

Dab this on an affected area three times a day, or use over your whole face after washing.

• 250 ml (1 c) distilled water
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried thyme
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried calendula flowers
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried lavender
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried yarrow
• 50 ml (1/4 c) witch hazel
• 5 to 10 drops tea tree essential oil

  1. In a small pan, bring the distilled water to a boil. Add the thyme, calendula, lavender and yarrow. Remove from heat and steep covered until cool.

  2. Strain and mix strained liquid with the witch hazel. Add the tea tree essential oil, shake and apply to affected areas with a cotton pad.

  3. Store the leftover liquid in the refrigerator and use within two weeks.

• 500 ml (2 c) distilled water
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) dried yarrow
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) dried chamomile
• 15 drops tincture of benzoin
• 6 drops peppermint or wintergreen essential oil
• Cosmetic pads

  1. In a small pan, bring the distilled water to a boil. Add the yarrow and chamomile. Remove from heat after two to three minutes and steep, covered, for half an hour. Strain and add the tincture of benzoin and peppermint or wintergreen essential oil. Mix well and pour into a sterilized jar with a tight-fitting lid.

  2. Put several cosmetic pads in with the liquid. Refrigerate and use as needed.

Those little tubes of overnight acne medicine can set you back a pretty penny. Instead, try this homemade paste.

• 4 drops tea tree oil
• 5 ml (1 tsp) cosmetic clay

  1. In a small dish, mix the tea tree oil and the cosmetic clay and just enough water to make a thick paste.

  2. Dab onto blemishes and leave on overnight.