5 Natural Products for Your Clearest Skin

If you walk into any beauty store or dermatologist office, the doctor or specialist will for sure load you up with a multi step routine of topicals, vitamins, lotions, and spot treatments. The bottles will be miniature and adorable and you leave with a regretful dent in your wallet. Then, after weeks of loyally following the regime, you have the exact same amount of acne as before and you have to go to a wedding tomorrow. Sigh. Thank goodness for Photoshop.

Personally, I had tried everything from using 3-4 topicals a day, to antibiotics, to Accutane, to a series of extremely painful “photofacials…” (the word “facial” is misleading here, one of the most painful things I’ve felt in my life).

Today, there is close to nothing in my bathroom cabinet and my skin is doing pretty well. Of course, it's not perfect, but I've learned how to keep my skin at its personal *and most natural* best.

After some experimentation during years of a tight budget and lots of traveling, and through the advice of many yogi friends, I have a simple routine.


 

1. African Black Soap. This is a gentle cleanser used in Africa for centuries to treat skin problems. It seems to do the trick, great for fresh cleanse of the face and body. I don’t use cleanser twice a day as I have in the past as I feel that too much face-washing strips my skin of good oils. A cold splash of water in the morning is a good alternative. 

 



2. Tea tree oil. I put it right on my face at night. It feels and smells calming and my skin is always better in the morning. Tea tree oil is a natural anti-bacterial and is great for cleaning anything.










3. Indian Healing Clay. This “Aztec Secret” can be used as frequent as you need and is a total rejuvenation. This clay, mixed with a little bit of apple cider vinegar literally makes your face pulse! When you wash the mask off, your skin will look and feel better immediately.









4. Coconut oil. If you’re feeling dried out, apply a small amount to moisturize. They always say never put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat!

 






5. Sunshine. Put on some sunscreen and get some vitamin D! The sun and fresh air always clears up my skin.

These products come in large affordable quantities and cover all your bases- PLUS they all have multiple uses! What acne is left after that you may just have to chalk up to genetics and your natural cycle. Stick to a clean diet and eliminate stress and you will be left with your best skin!