Acne, pimples, spots, scars and blemishes are common skin ailments that affect everyone from men to women and young to old in today’s world. Luckily, before you jump into using conventional store-bought treatments for acne that contain a whole slew of artificial chemicals, synthetic fragrances, parabens and hormone-altering preservatives, you can instead try these 40+ tried and tested diy remedies that work!
Home remedies for acne involve natural ingredients, free of toxins such as organic face masks, scrubs and herbal supplements. Good habits and proper skin care routines are also part of successful acne home remedies to help get rid of annoying acne and postulating pimples, as well as the scary scars that come along with them!
40 + DIY Acne Remedies That Work 
1. Honey Face Mask
Let’s start our DIY acne remedies on a sweet note with an amazing honey face mask. All you have to do is get your hands on some raw honey, which is rich in antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and active enzymes and is highly antibacterial, making it a champion for acne treatment. On your clean face, gently massage in the raw honey with clean finger tips and allow it to work its magic for up to 15 minutes. Wash off, pat dry and be amazed at your radiant baby-soft skin that’s going to smooth and acne-free after 1 month of daily honey pampering! Related: Honey Face Masks for Acne
2. Facial Steaming
You know how when you go to the spa for a facial, one of the key things they do is to steam your face with their cosmetic steam machine? Well, this is done so that the pores can be opened and the dirt and grime can easily be removed. At home, simply get a pot of steaming water, put your face above the vapor and throw a towel over your head so the vapor doesn’t escape. Do this at least once a week for best results. Here’s a tip, throw a teaspoon of some grated ginger into the water and let the gingery vapor open up your pores and detox them from the dirt, dead cells, harmful acne-causing bacteria and pollution that have accumulated within. Then wash off with your exfoliating cleanser to keep the acne and pimples at bay!
3. Oil Control Lemon Toner
Excess oils on your skin could definitely be a leading contributor to your acne and pimples so cut through the grease by using this clarifying oil-control lemon toner. Simply get a small empty spray bottle and fill it with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and ¼ cup of pure water. Mix the two together and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Before applying your make up, soak a cotton ball with your lemon toner and dab it all over your face. Not only will it lighten and brighten your skin, but will also tighten your pores and control excess oiliness to keep the nasty acne away!
4. Shea Butter Night Cream
Shea butter is a great home remedy for all sorts of skin conditions including acne, pimples, scars and blemishes. Not only is it highly anti-inflammatory, thereby reducing redness and swelling, it is also anti-bacterial, helping to keep your skin clean and bacteria-free. After washing your face at the end of the day, nourish and moisturize your face with just a small quantity of therapeutic shea butter every night. Shea butter has a high healing fraction, higher than coconut oil even and is non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores!). Related: 3 DIY Shea Butter Facial Moisturizers
Make your own shea butter facial moisturizer easily at home with these 3 simple recipes!
5. Tea Tree Oil Spot Treatment
Tea tree oil is highly antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral and antiseptic and it can powerfully fight acne-causing bacteria that are found in infected pores. It is a potent disinfectant which will also help prevent further acne by disinfecting the skin’s pores, keeping them clean and sterile of harmful bacteria. Simply dab a drop of tea tree oil on acne spots using a q-tip and watch the acne disappear!
6. Sebum Balancing Lavender Face Wash
Lavender is highly anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, two properties that are of peak importance when it comes to curing acne. Make a lavender hydrosol/flower water by boiling dry lavender flowers in some water (or buy an organic lavender hydrosol here) and use this lavender water to make your own all natural DIY face wash! Simply get a tablespoon of ground oatmeal and make a paste using the cooling and soothing anti-acne lavender hydrosol. Rub this soap-free paste all over your face and neck and wash off. This will leave your skin feeling fresh, while healing your acne and reducing the need for conventional face wash, which is filled with parabens and toxins that can clog pores and aggravate acne.
7. Overnight Mask
Ready for some intensive anti-acne action that works even while you sleep? Get a teaspoon of pure aloe vera gel and mix in 3 drops of tea tree oil. Now coat this all over your clean face and go to sleep. Have sweet dreams about a beautiful, acne-free face because that’s just what this powerful overnight face mask does. Tea tree oil will fight off bad bacteria lodged within your acne/pimples while aloe vera gel will reduce inflammation, soothe, cool and heal acne wounds!
8. Rose Water Spray
Rose water is rich in Vitamin C and other antioxidants, which make it great for combating acne, preventing acne, reducing redness, removing dark pimple scars and tightening the skin. It is also refreshing and cooling, so fill up a spray bottle with organic rose water and spray on your inflamed and itchy acne for a beautiful way to cool down your skin, eliminate the acne and prevent further acne invasion.
9. Witch Hazel Facial Astringent
Witch hazel is one of the most famous natural acne remedies in the world that is an antibacterial astringent which works for skin irritations, bug bites, cuts and scrapes as well as pimples and acne. It disinfects the skin, balances the pH of the skin, breaks down dried sebum that causes blackheads and lightens scars. Dip a cotton ball into witch hazel and dab all over your face at least once a day to benefit from the anti-acne powers of this natural extract!
10. Detox with Lemon Water
Make it a habit to drink ½ a lemon squeezed in 1 cup of warm water first thing in the morning. It’s highly detoxing, can purify your blood and eliminate toxins – all of which will help reduce acne and pimples!
11. Rosemary Ice Cubes
Did you know rosemary works wonders for acne? Boil some fresh or dried rosemary leaves in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Let this rosemary water cool down before you pour it into ice cubes and let it freeze overnight in your freezer. Twice a day after you wash your face, get one rosemary ice cube out and rub it all over your face. This is a great astringent for your skin, it tones uneven skin, fights acne, reduces scars and blemishes and shrinks your pores, leaving you with radiant youthful skin!
12. Anti-Microbial Cleanser
Giddy up, let’s make another soap-free, foaming cleanser to wash your face with! Mix some liquid castile soap with 4 drops of highly anti-microbial, acne-fighting sweet basil essential oil. Lather up and wash your face with this toxin-free, all natural cleanser to remedy acne and acne scars! You could make a whole bottle of this and store it in a glass jar so you can replace your conventional soap/cleanser/face wash and cut down on the toxins that aggravate acne!
13. Vitamin C Serum
Serums are luxurious and expensive, too! But hey, you can make your own vitamin C serum that’s every bit as luxurious as store bought serum by first dissolving vitamin C powder in some distilled water until no solid bits are left. Then whip in some aloe vera gel and 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil and your silky vitamin C serum is ready! Make sure you apply this only at night, because it is photo-reactive when exposed to sunlight. This serum is so high in antioxidants which will not only get rid of acne but also help lighten acne scars and pimple marks.
14. Tantalizing Turmeric Treatment
Turmeric is a bright yellow root herb that has been used since ancient times as an awesome anti-bacterial agent to remove pimples and clear acne, and promote radiant smooth skin. Get a teaspoon of turmeric powder and make a thick paste using 1 – 2 teaspoons of milk, which is rich in lactic acid that lightens pimple scars and blemishes. Apply this paste using a dedicated face mask brush on your acne areas and allow it to rest for 10 – 15 minutes. Now wash off using a gentle exfoliating face wash and pat dry. Related: Turmeric Face Masks for Acne
15. Fizzy Pore-Cleanser with Baking Soda
Baking soda is an all-natural wonder substance that is so versatile and used as a home remedy for all sorts of problems. It is highly alkaline and fizzes in such a cool way when it comes into contact with water! It can be used as a gentle exfoliating agent by making a paste with water and applying it all over the face. It will tingle as it fizzes and dances all over your skin but it will cleanse and exfoliate your pores, leaving you with hygienic, silky soft skin!
16. Exfoliating Sugar Scrub
Sugar scrubs are so popular for clearing off old, dead skin cells, dirt, grime, pollution and dried of sebum away from the skin, revealing new and fresh skin underneath. This gentle and sweet exfoliating property makes it a bonus for acne-prone skin. Mix sugar (preferably brown sugar as more of its nutrients are intact) with a light antibacterial and scar-reducing carrier oil like rosehip oil and scrub it all over the areas where you suffer from acne, including the face, back or chest. Gently massage it in and then wash off with a mild soap. If you don’t use soap, dab off the excess oil with an absorptive tissue and cleanse with a witch hazel toner.
17. Clove Pimple Popper
Prepare to be mind-blown! Clove is the world’s only food item that contains a powerhouse of antioxidants that is way more than turmeric, cinnamon or goji berries! This makes clove oil highly healing and no wonder it’s used for all manner of ailments including for tooth pain, muscle cramps and dark under-eye circles. Clove oil when dabbed over acne and pimples can also fasten the healing process and promote the regeneration of new skin cells which helps promote faster curing of acne and acne scars!
18. Soap-Free Face Wash
If you regularly suffer from acne, you need to seriously assess the cosmetic and hygiene products that you apply on your face, from soap to makeup. Why not take a step in the right direction by eliminating soap from your skin care routine and replacing it with your own soap-free face wash. After all, soap contains DNA-altering and hormone-disrupting chemicals like SLS, artificial fragrances and parabens, which all contribute to acne. You can opt to use plain ol’ ground oatmeal as a face wash or consider buying liquid castile soap, adding some anti-acne essential oils and storing it in a jar so you can use it any time in place of drying soap that leaves sediments on your skin.
Related: 10 Best Young Living Essential Oils for Acne
19. Blemish-Busting Banana Peels
Before you throw away a banana peel, you must know that the inside of the banana peel is amazing rich in many healing components that can even heal bee stings and insect bites! Applied on acne, banana peels can help reduce inflammation and decrease the size of pimples. Banana peels can even white the teeth, and when applied on acne scars and blemishes, those same teeth whitening forces can help lighten dark spots and reduce pimple scars!
20. Non-Greasy Facial Moisturizer
For your acneic skin, avoid heavy oils like avocado or olive which have high pore-clogging abilities. Instead, go for oils that have comedogenic ratings of zero like shea butter. To make a non-greasy facial moisturizer that tackles acne, combine ½ cup of softened shea butter, 1 tbsp rose water, 1 tsp raw honey, 5 drops of tea tree essential oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil in an electric stand mixer. Beat until it turns into a white cream. Transfer the cream into a clean container and apply in place of your usual moisturizer.
21. Manual Extraction for Notorious Pimples
Normally pimple popping is forbidden but some pimples need to be extracted to reduce collateral damage. This goes for yellow pus-filled pimples, which if left to burst naturally, can spread germs everywhere, leading to new pimples all around the old pimple! Using a black head and pimple extractor, you can gently ease the pus out and remove the pimple.
22. Apple Cider Vinegar Solution
Apple cider vinegar has a plethora of good bacteria and probiotics that kill off the bad bacteria that’s causing your acne. To use it, place 1 tsp of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and add 3 tsp of water. Now get a cotton ball and gently dab this solution on your clean face. Leave it on for 10 minutes or overnight then wash your face thoroughly and apply moisturizer.
23. Nutmeg Zit Zapper
Nutmeg is a spice used mainly for baking but it also works wonders in zapping zits! All you have to do is add a pinch of nutmeg to 1 tsp yogurt or honey, then apply it on your face. It’ll start to tingle and burn so keep it for a minute only then wash your face. Its antimicrobial properties are sure to destroy acne-causing germs on your face!
24. Scar-Fading Yogurt Mask
Yogurt is an incredible home treatment for acne! First off, it’s got beneficial bacteria in it that eats up the bad bacteria that forms acne. Secondly, it’s rich in zinc that’s a mineral known and used to treat acne. The high lactic acid content in yogurt exfoliates dead cells and removes excess sebum on the face. Yogurt is also soothing and cooling for painful and angry red acne. To use it, just get a bowl and dump in a tbsp of plain Greek yogurt. Now using a soft face mask brush or your good ole fingers, gently slather it on your face. Wash it off after 4 minutes.
25. Soothing Oatmeal Face Mask
Just like yogurt, oatmeal is also very soothing. It’s used in baths to soothe skin irritations and rashes including bug bites and poison ivy rashes. Oatmeal can be used to instantly calm down aggravated acne. What you need to do is place ½ cup of oatmeal in a coffee grinder and grind it till it’s turned to powder form. Now place about 2 tsp in a bowl and add enough water to create a creamy sticky paste. Apply it on your skin for 3 minutes. Remember to wear a headband to keep your hairs away from your face.
26. Saliva Spot Treatment
Sound gross? I thought so too but my Asian friend who always has spotless skin let me in on this secret that actually zaps pimples overnight! Get some spit straight from your mouth and dab it onto your pimples. Do this as often as necessary throughout the day and watch the pimples shrink down at an alarmingly fast rate. Before you shy away from using your own fresh natural salivary juices (lol), there is some truth to this sticky remedy – saliva actually has antibacterial properties which retard the pimples from growing and getting bigger – so try it and tell me, did it work for you?
27. Sip Acne Away with Herbal Teas
Herbal teas can help you detox and cleanse your entire body system, including your skin, which is your largest organ. Teas containing anti-acne herbs like ginger, stinging nettle, dandelion, neem, parsley, fennel and more can help eliminate annoying acne and pesky pimples from the inside out. Always remember, less toxins equals less acne!
28. Spicy Cinnamon Acne Mask
Mix cinnamon powder and honey to make a potent anti-acne face mask remedy that thousands swear by! Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant spice that stimulates the skin and encourages blood flow and circulation towards the epidermis. This can help nutrients reach the very top of the skin, as well as allow blood to carry away toxins and wastes from under the skin more efficiently, thus promoting radiant, glowing and spotless skin. Cinnamon also helps gently exfoliate the skin by sloughing off dead skin cells which may clog pores and exacerbate acne. Related: Honey Cinnamon Face Mask
29. Try this Toothpaste Trick
Is a new pimple trying to rear its unsightly head just right before that major event you have to attend tomorrow? Get a normal toothpaste (not the gel one) and apply a thick layer over the pimple. The next morning you’ll find it significantly reduced in size!
30. Golden Garlic Acne Remedy
Who said garlic only helps keep the vampires away?! It also helps ward of acne and pimples, thanks to its potent antibacterial effects! Crush a piece of garlic in a bowl, add 1 tbsp of water and apply this solution on a pimple or all over acne using a cotton ball. Keep this on for just 5 minutes and wash off. The antimicrobial agents in garlic will destroy bacteria harboring within pores and pimples and help eliminate acne!
31. Oil Cleansing
Everyone’s first reaction when they hear of using the oil cleansing method on acne is nothing other than utter shock, something along the lines of, “What?! Why would I apply OIL on my acne-prone skin when oil CLOGS pores?!” Not so, my friend, this is far from the truth. Oil cleansing which involves repeatedly massaging your face with a suitable oil and using a hot cloth to open pores and clean off the oil, is a method that when performed correctly can help you potentially get rid of acne forever, even if you are suffering from hormonal, age-related acne!
32. Invest in Essential Oils That Fight Acne
Essential oils are miraculous, amazing and medicinal plant essences which are extracted by pressing the precious oils out of various plant materials. As a result, these oils are concentrated and extremely potent and carry great benefits for thousands of ailments and problems including acne. Some of the many essential oils that help fight acne include lemon, tea tree, lavender, bergamot, oregano, peppermint and more! Use these essential oils by diluting them appropriately in a light carrier oil like jojoba oil and applying them on acne spots. Related: Best Essential Oils for Acne
33. Water Therapy
Most of us are simply not drinking enough water in our day to day lives, myself included! It could even be the case for you that your acne is a direct result of dehydration. You simply need more water! Aim to get at least 8 glasses of water a day because water can help flush out toxins and reduce acne on your face and body! Related: The Wonders of Water Therapy for Beautiful Skin
34. Back to Earth with Clay Masks
Clay masks can be made by making a paste of bentonite clay, french green clay or fuller’s earth and plain water or flower hydrosols like rose water. Regular application of these clay masks can help greatly reduce acne by sucking out dirt and impurities from deep within the skin. Clay masks will help freshen the skin, keep it sanitary and free of acne-causing bacteria, and make it smooth, polished and soothed.
35. Blemish Black-Out Mask with Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal helps to control oily skin and prevent acne. Make a powerful anti-acne face mask using activated charcoal and honey, and apply this all over your face, leaving it undisturbed for 15 minutes. The particles of activated charcoal bind to impurities and toxins hiding deep within skin, thereby cleansing the skin and reducing any possible chances of getting an acne attack!
36. Parsley Face Mask
Parsley is one of the best herbs for detoxing and when applied on the skin in the form of face mask, it helps suck out impurities and toxins from deep within the skin pores, effectively detoxing the outer layer of the skin. Parsley is even known to pull out heavy metals like aluminum, mercury and lead naturally. Make your parsley face mask by grinding fresh parsley leaves in a blender with a little water and apply this to your face. It helps cleanse the skin, fight acne and eliminate scars.
37. Foods to Eat for Acne
Cut down on the junk/processed foods and incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, alkaline foods and nutrient-rich foods into your diet. Better yet, try to eat more foods that are KNOWN to be helpful in eliminating acne such as garlic, ginger, celery, omega-rich sea fish and more. These foods are particularly rich in skin-friendly vitamins and minerals that can help support the basic functions of your skin and eliminate acne.
Related: Top 10 Foods that Fight Acne
38. Acne Alleviating Avocado
Make a creamy avocado face mask for acne by blending half an avocado with 1 – 2 teaspoons of honey. Avocados are super foods that are rich in good fats and antioxidants that help intensely nourish the skin deeply, help moisturize and balance the skin, as well as eliminate acne and pimples.
Related: Avocado Face Mask for Acne
39. Pillow Talk
You spend up to 8 hours a day visiting slumber land on your pillows, with your cheeks and face touching the pillowcase – so the cleanliness of your pillow cases is of utmost concern. Make sure you change your pillow cases regularly so that you are lying on clean sheets that are free of dirt, dead cells, dandruff or product buildup, which can lodge onto your face and block or infect your pores. Clean pillow cases decrease the chances of you getting acne or pimples!
40. Touch Me Not
Keep your hands away from your face especially when they’re dirty to avoid transferring germs that will further aggravate acne. Also make sure you wipe your phone regularly with an anti-bacterial wipe in order to avoid dirt and germs from transferring from your phone to your face as you chat away.
41. Unclog your Colon
So many of us today suffer from constipation, which has been found to be one of the major culprits that cause acne, especially those pus-filled breakouts. This is because toxins and harmful wastes that were supposed to be eliminated remain in the colon and eventually get re-absorbed into the blood stream. These toxins, with nowhere to go, shoot out from the skin as cystic acne and breakouts. Ensure that you are getting plenty of fiber and roughages in your diet so that you can have regular bowel movements, which can help eliminate acne!
42. Sweat it Out
We cannot underestimate the important role of physical activity/exercise and sweating and the treatment of acne. When we exercise, we promote lymphatic flow and drainage which helps draw off toxins and wastes that definitely contribute to acne.
Do you have any DIY acne remedies have worked for you? Please share them below!
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