The Top Five Natural Acne Spot Treatments
If you're anything like us, the initial reaction to a pimple is to lob as many harsh chemicals at it as possible, hoping it will disappear instantly—or at least overnight. Honestly, it can be a great idea to use dermatologist-prescribed treatments or whatever lotions and potions you've bought that really work for you, but if you prefer to stick with natural ingredients when it comes to what you use on your body, you're not out of luck. There's a misconception that using non-chemical products on pimples yields wimpy results. But nowadays, that's just not the case! See how these five spot treatments will battle it out with your blemishes.
Photo: courtesy of Neutrogena1/6Salicylic acid, one of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter acne-fighters, is actually found in nature, but the processes that it goes through to be extracted and combined into products you see on shelves often involves the use of chemicals. Neutrogena has found a way to extract the acid from wintergreen plants using what’s called fractional distillation (basically heating it up until it’s super hot!) to make their Neutrogena Naturals acne products seriously green. The line utilizing this technology includes a cleanser, a scrub, and this spot treatment, which is 93% naturally derived and contains 1% salicylic acid.
Neutrogena Naturals Acne Spot Treatment, $9. Neutrogena.com
2/6Our new favorite blemish fighters are gentle yet effective.
Photo: courtesy of Burt's Bees3/6In this cream, the salicylic acid is derived from willow bark, which contains beta hydroxy acids that helps to eoliate your skin. When bacteria gets trapped in your pores, the end result is a big red bump, so you definitely want them to be completely unclogged. Licorice root extract helps reduce redness, which we can probably all agree is the least attractive and most noticeable part of a zit.
Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Spot Treatment Cream, $13. Walgreens.com
Photo: courtesy of The Body Shop4/6Tea tree oil has anti-bacterial properties, which is great considering acne is caused by bacteria in your skin! The organic formula used here is steam-distilled to extract the oil and farmed through The Body Shop’s Community Fair Trade program in Kenya.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel, $7. Thebodyshop.com
Photo: courtesy of Kiss My Face5/6Tea tree oil mis with mint in this gel to produce a cooling sensation that instantly calms angry skin while helping to eliminate bacteria. All of the ingredients are vegan and the packaging is 100% biodegradable.
Kiss My Face Potent and Pure Breakout Botanical Gel, $15. Drugstore.com
Photo: courtesy of Yes to Tomatoes6/6Ginger root and a natural extract called bisabolol are combined with lycopene (found in tomatoes!) to create the ultimate calming trio. All three ingredients help reduce redness and lessen inflammation to make your skin look better faster.
Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Roller Ball Spot Stick, $10. Drugstore.com
