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Finding a good powder foundation for my face has become somewhat of an art for me. I spend hours looking at labels and reading ingredient lists before deciding on purchasing a makeup product that I'll be applying to my face. Part of this is due to the fact that I don't want to run the risk of breaking out. Obviously I'm a huge fan of natural remedies for treating and preventing acne, but just recently I came across the idea of making my own all-natural makeup products as well. I'll be honest, I'm not a big makeup person, but I do wear mascara and foundation powder on a regular basis. I try to avoid liquid foundation because it really exacerbates my acne and clogs up my pores resulting in major breakouts. I've found that loose foundation powder works great for my particular skin type (combination breakout-prone). It covers up blemishes and evens out my skin without being too heavy. If I need extra coverage I'll even mix a bit of my loose powder with a fe...

Aloe Vera Acne Solution It is not at all a secret that this is a wonderful plant that provides a wide range of medicinal benefits, one of which is acne/pimple relief.  It has anti-bacterial properties, which are beneficial because acne is associated with the presence of bacteria which live on the oily sebum that clogs the pores of people with acne-prone skin. The aloe gel is also an astringent, which can help counteract excessive oiliness, as well as being an anti-inflammatory, with a very soothing effect on the inflammation that acne can cause. The gel inside the plant acts as a moisturizer as well as cleanser so that dead cells, dirt, and oil are removed effectively thus preventing the recurrence of red bumps. Fresh Extract versus Ready to Use Products While it is perfectly safe to use natural and freshly extracted aloe gel, you might want to consider purchasing an aloe based product instead as it is more convenient.  There are a number of good products in the market which a...

Applying a face moisturizer should be part of every good skincare routine.  People who struggle with acne and breakouts might be a bit more selective about what lotions they use on their face.  Some face lotion on the market may claim to be hydrating and healthy for your skin, but if you take a look at the ingredients on the label you'll likely see several things that are downright horrible for your skin.  Preservatives, parabens, artificial fragrances and dyes, alcohol, SLS, and phthalates are all common chemicals found in over the counter face lotions. These chemicals are not only terrible for acne prone skin, but they are damaging to normal skin as well. Rather than spend money on a store bought face moisturizer, why not make your own healthy all-natural DIY face moisturizer? This simple face lotion recipe can be made with just three ingredients.  Not only will it keep your face hydrated, but it will also help keep acne breakouts at bay because the coconut oil and...

This is a question that I've gotten from a lot of readers. Is there such a thing as washing your face too much? Many people with acne may feel the urge to wash their face multiple times a day to get rid of dirt, makeup, oil, etc. that builds up as you go through your daily routine. If you're washing your face more than twice per day, you could actually be doing more harm than good. Here's why... Washing your face more than three times a day will strip your skin of it's natural oils, which will in turn amp up the production of sebum to compensate for the stripping of the natural oils.  This process interrupts your skins natural balance and actually causes your skin to be more oily than usual.  So, if you wash your face three or more times throughout the day to control oil, you may actually be worsening your acne and oily skin. Washing your face too much can harm your skins natural protective barrier.  Damaging your skin barrier leaves your skin vulnerable to bacteria a...

Interesting Acne Statistics

I've discussed the benefits of using coconut oil as a topical acne remedy, but I wanted to share something else that may be helpful for people suffering with acne.  After doing some research I've discovered that many toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (or SLS) which has been linked to acne.  SLS can also be found in soaps and shampoos.  Many studies have been conducted on SLS and they have discovered that it does in fact act as a skin irritant, which can exacerbate or even cause acne breakouts.  Not only is it bad for your skin, but it is also a carcinogen (cancer causing) substance. With all of that being said, I want to share a recipe for homemade toothpaste using coconut oil that is much safer than store brand toothpastes and it does not contain anything harmful, like SLS. After doing some research I realized that there are a lot of variations of homemade toothpaste recipes. Rather than sticking to any of the recipes I came across while researching, I de...

If you frequently consume caffeine, you may often wonder whether or not caffeine causes acne . Caffeine comes in many different forms, but the most commonly consumed form of caffeine is coffee.  Majority of people consume 1-2 cups of coffee each morning. While there have never been any actual studies on the correlation between caffeine and acne, some professionals claim that it may in fact increase the chances of having frequent breakouts.  This is not necessarily a result of the caffeine itself, but rather the effects that the caffeine has on the body that can lead to increased chances of acne and breakouts. So, how does caffeine cause acne ? Well, consuming high amounts of caffeine can lead to dehydration if not balanced out with a substantial consumption of water.  Doctors suggest that for every cup of coffee (or energy drink) that you consume, you should also consume 1-2 eight oz. glasses of water.  This helps keep you hydrated despite caffeine's dehydrating effe...