I ditched all skin care products and cured My Acne!
Sounds like something that’s too good to be true, believe me, I am thrilled with the results!
I used to be a skincare product hoarder and I used to love that skincare routine that starts with a foaming cleanser, goes through a dash of toner and lands on a gel-based moisturizer, and finds solace in a sunscreen and lip balm on usual days.
My skin type is combination, sensitive, and acne-prone. If you are a regular reader of healthyly then you may already know that I suffer from cystic acne more than often and I have recorded my product reviews for acne-clearing products on this blog as well.
I am not saying that the whole skincare didn’t work, it did work and all my reviews are super honest and true.
But the acne kept on coming back, those cystic acne on my chin, jawline, and cheeks never failed to surprise me every morning.
It was quite devastating to see that and I went on to spend a hell-load of money on all the skincare products that are known to clear up the acne!
Well, it partially worked but made a huge dent in my pocket and the expenses were recurring.
Table of Contents
What I faced after Using those Active-ingredient products on my Face
- I had red irritated and dry skin due to excessive salicylic acid/ glycolic acid use (not at one time)
- A destroyed skin barrier (here is how to heal it)
- My skin went from oily to dry and irritated
- It became sensitive to even the natural essential oils added to a skincare product
- The acne kept on coming back, it used to change with a change in the season
So How I Cleaned My Skin After Ditching My Skincare
I have used all sorts of skincare products, right from Innisfree to just herbs, kama ayurveda, body shop, Pixi, Cetaphil, to forest essentials.
Every one of them helped in one way or another but acne kept coming back and I was never happy with my skin.
So I ditched them all and moved back to my roots to clear my acne.
As I have tried skin fasting in the past, simply washing my face with water didn’t work for me.
I needed the satisfaction of working on my skin but without harsh chemicals.
So I switched the skin care products, from store-bought to kitchen-brought, There is an old saying that “ what you can’t eat should not be applied on your face too”
I followed that and used these products
- For Cleanser – I made a face wash powder by mixing half part chickpea flour with half part sandalwood powder. Mix it well and keep it in powder form in the bottle. More details on this DIY skin cleanser for acne.
- For Toner – I mixed half part apple cider vinegar (with mother) with half part drinking water in a bottle. I couldn’t dare to add any essential oil to it as my skin won’t allow me to. Read this article for the homemade vinegar toner recipe and other DIY toners for acne.
- For Moisturizer – In winter I used pure grapeseed oil to control acne and fade acne scars(it has no smell and is non-comedogenic). As summer is approaching, I am now using my own homemade aloe vera juice (read along for the recipe). Here is how to use aloe vera gel overnight on skin to treat acne
- As for Sunscreen – I don’t need one! As grapeseed oil and aloe vera gel both contain sunscreen properties and I am Indian. Europeans, Americans, and some Asians need sunscreen more than Indians due to their skin tone and lack of melanin production in their body.
- Also, I won’t go out in the sun without covering my face or maybe I will have to use one when I have to face the summer heat. Will let you know about that!
What are the Results of Ditching Skincare Products?
My cystic acne cleared itself and my skin felt a lot better than before.
No longer irritated, not red, no blackheads on the nose, just brightened clear skin.
I am not saying that I have achieved the glass skin, no that’s not even the goal.
When people face acne for a long period of time, their only dream is to have acne-free skin.
And I am living the dream!
Although, ahem…I will try to get better skin in the days to come!
How long am I following this Natural DIY Skincare Routine?
It’s getting close to three months now, that is about 12 weeks!
I am loving this new skincare regime as it has a big perk other than acne clearance, which is lots of money savings!
I am also following these simple tips to prevent summer acne breakout
How do I Use the Natural DIY Products in my Daily Routine?
Face Cleansing
First of all, I take my cleanser powder (chickpea flour & sandalwood powder) and add a few drops of water to it. Make it a paste and scrub it on my damp face. Give it a good rub then wash it off.
Chickpea flour exfoliates the skin daily, gently, and won’t let any blackheads or whiteheads form.
Sandalwood calms down the irritation and is great for acne-prone skin.
Face Toning
Isn’t it your skin’s greatest message when you can’t tolerate a vitamin C serum on your face but your skin embraces apple cider vinegar! read more about apple cider vinegar benefits
Well, even after mixing it with half part water, this smells awful.
The good part is, the smell will go away within a minute and the effects remain.
Take a cotton pad and add a few drops of this ACV and water mixture to it. Gently wipe it all over your face, avoiding the eyes. More info about apple cider vinegar for acne
I highly recommend using the apple cider vinegar with mother for it and shaking the bottle before use. I used St Botanica Apple Cider Vinegar, you can buy it here.
Face Moisturiser
I used a few drops of grapeseed oil in winter as a moisturizer and I am done.
But as the summer approached in India, I noticed that my skin started getting oilier with the use of grapeseed oil.
So I listened to my skin and switched to a gel-based moisturizer for summer.
I cut an aloe vera leaf from my homegrown plant and kept it in a glass container for a few hours so that the yellow gel can be discarded.
After that, I washed the leaf and extracted the gel as shown in the picture below –
Then I churned it in the mixer and added a few drops of Grape Seed Oil to it and a few drops of lemon essential oil to increase its shelf life.
Strain it, Keep some in a dropper bottle in your washroom and the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Now use one full dropper as a moisturizer all over your face and neck. It’s beautiful!
Lemon Essential Oil gives a very refreshing feeling too.
And You are good to go!
Read more about the best essential oils for Beautiful hair
Lessons Learnt After Ditching the Skincare Products
- Not going back to those chemicals back again anytime soon.
- What you can’t eat can’t be put on your face too.
- Listen to Your Skin!
- Not just skin care, your diet matters too. In simple words, more plants, a clean diet for hormonal acne, less dairy, and more green tea!
- If a skincare product says it has rice water in it, make your own rice water and apply it, rather than buying that product full of chemical preservatives.
- Making your own skincare products takes time and you need a refill after every week or two.
- Skincare products refill comes mostly from your kitchen but it takes consistent effort and it’s more difficult than clicking a buy button.
- It’s trial and error, just like the skincare products you buy.
- If you really need to buy something, buy organic powders, cold-pressed carrier oils, and essential oils (I love purplle for this, just an honest opinion, I am not their affiliate) to keep your own skincare top-notch.
- I still have marks on my skin but vitamin c and niacinamide from apple cider vinegar are working. I still have textured skin but I am happy that I don’t have cystic acne anymore. (Touch wood)
- You can use your choice of Cooling sheet masks or clay masks every week for a healthy glow and clean skin.
- Enjoy the money you saved on some other things that spark joy!
So, ditching your skincare products is not enough to get clear skin, you need to eat well, do breathing exercises, try to remain stress-free, and move towards mother nature when in doubt.
I hope this article will help you in some way or the other. If it does, don’t forget to share, please.
