Do you suffer from oily skin? Are you constantly experimenting with different products to get rid of stubborn acne? If you answered “yes” to one or both of these questions, then you clicked on the right article. You aren’t alone on your quest to clearer skin because acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. In fact, the annual yearly cost for treating acne in America amounts to $3 billion.
What Is Acne?
According to Mayo Clinic, “Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells.” When this happens, the person can experience pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads on the chest, back, forehead, face, or shoulders. Teenagers commonly experience acne, but it can affect people of all ages. Fortunately, there are many natural ingredients that can help clear up your skin.
Grapefruit Essential Oil For Acne
Grapefruit essential oil is extracted from glands in the grapefruit peel, and it has a wonderful citrusy aroma because of that. It has a variety of health properties, one of the most notable being that it helps nourish the skin. Many face lotions or creams contain grapefruit essential oil because it has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which help keep the face free of bacteria. A test-tube study found that grapefruit essential oil displayed antibacterial activity against P. acnes, a common bacteria that causes acne.
Coconut Oil For Acne
Rich in medium-chain fatty acids, coconut oil has some impressive health properties. Lauric acid, in particular, has powerful antimicrobial properties that contribute to clearer skin. In fact, studies have shown that lauric acid works to kill P. acnes bacteria. Let it be known that while coconut oil contains antimicrobial properties, it is not an acne cure. It works best when used with other acne-fighting ingredients, like the ones in this scrub.
Sugar For Acne
The classic advice is to stay away from sugar if you want clearer skin. Well, eliminating refined sugars from your diet is an excellent way to boost your overall health and clear up the skin. As it turns out, sugar is an excellent topical exfoliant. When scrubbed on the skin, the tiny particles that make up sugar work to remove dead skin cells and reveal the healthy skin underneath. Sugar also contains humectant properties, which help to keep your skin hydrated by drawing moisture from the environment.
DIY Grapefruit Face Scrub
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ½ cup sugar
- 2-5 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 1 drop frankincense oil
- 1 drop tea tree oil
Instructions:
- Add the coconut oil to a heat-safe bowl and microwave it for 30-45 seconds, or until melted.
- Pour the sugar into that bowl and mix well.
- Add the drops of essential oils and stir to combine.
- Spoon this mixture into a four-ounce glass jar or container.
How To Use:
- Place a teaspoon-sized amount of the scrub in your palm and rub it on your face.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.
