Homemade Face Wash for Acne and Oily Skin

Lemon and cinnamon aren’t just for the kitchen. Nope, keep some handy in your bathroom, too. Although the two are more popular for internal cleansing, these two ingredients are a recipe for the homemade face wash for acne and oily skin.

Does the idea of rubbing lemon and cinnamon on your face seem weird? If so, consider this….

Does rubbing benzoyl peroxide on your skin sound natural? How about salicylic acid?

And what about alpha hydroxy acid? Is that something you’d want rubbed on your body while getting a massage or facial?

Here’s one more ingredient for you to rub on your face: sulfur. Yes, the same sulfur that smells like rotten eggs.

So which ingredients seem more alien to you … the lemon/cinnamon combo or the other ingredients?

The peroxide, acids and sulfur are ingredients in popular, over-the-counter acne medication creams.

If you’re looking for the homemade face wash for acne, ditch OTC creams. Go with simple ingredients that are probably in your kitchen.

Lemon and cinnamon are as effective as prescriptions. But unlike prescription acne remedies, there are no side effects (unless you’re the rare person who has an allergy to either of them).

Moreover, natural solutions for acne are much cheaper, too. Especially if you don’t have health insurance and have to pay out of pocket.

When Acne Is The Least Of Your Problems

According to this report on MayoClinic.com some popular OTC acne products can cause a serious reaction.

This includes throat tightness and swelling of the face, lips or tongue.

Although these reactions are rare, there are other potential side effects that are more likely.

Your skin can become red, itchy and irritated when using an OTC cream for acne.

In the United States, dermatologists usually treat acne with the antibiotic, minocycline (tetracycline). [SOURCE] However, there’s a scary potential side effect of minocycline: blue smile.

Though it doesn’t sound particularly horrifying, blue smile is so-called because the antibiotic stains teeth. This is particularly true in the case of teens, more so than adults.

Still, it’s food for thought. Speaking of food, let’s discuss why two popular ingredients make the DIY face wash for acne….

Cinnamon: Not Just for Oatmeal

It’s mainstream knowledge that cinnamon not only makes for a delicious topping, it also helps control blood sugar levels.

That’s one reason it’s the sprinkle of choice for oatmeal.

(Speaking of oatmeal, it’s another great DIY natural acne remedy.)

But did you know that cinnamon also when applied to your face can help fight acne?

And here’s why….

Cinnamon is a natural antibiotic. Acne is a sign of bad bacteria.

According to research referenced in this study cinnamon contains two types of antioxidants. And these two antioxindants are particularly good at killing two different types of acne-causing bacteria.

In fact, cinnamon, concludes, the researchers, is such a good acne killer, it should be “used to develop new formulations for acne treatment.”

And not only can cinnamon help kill the bacteria that causes acne, it can prevent your skin from prematurely aging.

Consider this research on natural cures for skin aging. The most interesting, says the researchers, is cinnamon extract.

Cinnamon significantly promotes type I collagen biosynthesis. This means that the spice encourages the formation of the most abundant type of protein in your skin.

Acne scars, obviously, do not make for youthful looking skin. But cinnamon can help your skin generate the protein it needs for younger-appearing skin.

Lemon-Aid for Your Skin

Sold on cinnamon? Great, let’s move on to how lemon is beneficial for acne.

In this study, the main chemical therapeutic constituent of lemon–limonene–is said to have free-radical scavenging ability.

Free radicals can contribute to the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.

Lemon makes sense as an ingredient in the homemade face wash for acne. Because like cinnamon, it contains plant-based antioxidants that prevent your skin’s collagen from breaking down.

So not only can lemon help cleanse you internally when you drink lemon water, it can help purify you externally.

Keep in mind that sometimes, skin problems such as acne are an indication of what’s going on internally.

Perhaps you’re not getting enough probiotics in your diet. And maybe your stomach acid production is low.

Another reason why you might have acne is insufficient digestive enzyme activity.

Supplements and diet can promote a healthier internal environment.

Drink some warm water first thing in the morning with a big squeeze of fresh lemon. It will help kill bad bacteria, yeast and fungi.

Moreover, lemon has been proven to help neutralize Candida albicans. Candida, as it’s simply known, causes yeast infections when it becomes too rampant in the gut.

Yeast infections can cause acne. Thus, the more you drink lemon water and apply lemon to your face, the healthier you’ll be inside and out.

Homemade Face Wash For Acne and Oily Skin

This DIY face wash is truly one of the best ways to combat acne. The combination of lemon and cinnamon is great for problem skin.

Lemon closes the pores and contains antiseptic properties. In addition, the high vitamin C content encourages collagen production.

Increased collagen production, in turn, regenerates the top layers of the skin.

Cinnamon is also an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent that prevents and heals infections.

After you try using this DIY acne scrub, you’ll likely want to keep cinnamon and lemon on hand in your bathroom.

Be patient with this natural acne remedy. Sometimes, plant-based solutions take longer than pharmaceutical ones. But if you ever get tempted by a quick fix, you can see the dangers of these man made solutions.

That link will take you to the Environmental Working Group’s “Skin Deep” website. You can enter the name of a cosmetic or skin care product you use and see how safe the ingredients are.

One of the most popular anti-acne products, Clearasil’s Daily Clear Acne Hydra-Blast Oil-Free Face Wash ranks as a high hazard.

Without doubt, so, too, do lots of other OTC conventional acne creams and lotions.

Homemade Face Wash for Acne and Oily Skin

This DIY cleanser for oily skin and acne won’t give you blue teeth or disrupt endocrine gland function. Give it a try!