Do you know how some women have the most beautifully smooth and clear skin you’ve ever seen? Their skin literally looks like they swallowed a bottle of pure sunshine – anyone come to mind? I can think of a few.
I was never one of them.
I’ve struggled with problematic skin for as long as I can remember. Acne, acne scarring, large pores, you name it, I had it until recently.
I figured enough was enough, and after 25 years, it was time I swallowed my own bottle of sunshine and finally got the skin of my dreams.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best natural skincare products that are helping me.
The Best Natural Skincare Products + Tips for Problematic Skin
- Water – Just Drink It
- African Black Soap
- Turmeric
- Lemon
- Aztec Clay Mask
Water
If you know me, like really know me, you are probably laughing at how often I mention the importance of water on this blog. I have always struggled with drinking the appropriate amount of water consistently. If I wasn’t on the verge of dying from thirst or just finishing an extreme workout, water just wasn’t (and still isn’t) on the top of my list of preferred drinks. I’m getting into the habit of drinking enough water daily, and I now laugh at myself at how silly I was. Every skin problem I had – acne, scars, large pores, etc., water was the number 1 thing that would help. It is recommended that women have 2.7 liters of water per day. That’s about 11 cups…not happening in my world. I do, however, try to drink at least two of these a day. The good news is that water is in almost everything, and the water content in your foods and other beverages does count. Just remember also to include water. Plain old-fashioned water, just drink it.
African Black Soap
This is my holy grail for clearing skin. African Black Soap is known to have many benefits – it’s antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, gentle on the skin (for most), and more. Consistently using African Black Soap helps clear my acne and even aids in fading my acne scars and existing hyperpigmentation. I personally prefer to purchase African Black Soap from a local beauty supply store or Amazon, as I find a lot of the mainstream soaps add-in A LOT of ingredients that, in my opinion, reduce the effectiveness. It can be a little drying, so I recommend a light moisturizer and paying attention to your skin to determine if you need to decrease use.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice packed with skin-perfecting ingredients. Like African Black Soap, it is anti-inflammatory and contains natural antioxidants. I personally believe that turmeric is best known, in the beauty industry, for fading scars and attributing to the sunshine-grade glow we talked about earlier. My favorite way to use turmeric at home is to mix turmeric powder into a DIY face make. Turmeric can stain, especially with DIY recipes. If you notice any staining, milk always worked wonders for me. Others recommend coconut oil or makeup remover. Keep an eye out for my favorite DIY turmeric recipes…
Lemon
It’s commonly known that lemon contains Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant thought to reduce signs of aging. Lemon is also a natural astringent. Astringents have many benefits, such as shrinking pores, reducing acne, clearing irritants, etc. (source). I LOVE to include fresh lemons in my DIY recipes—especially those geared towards evening skin tone and lightening dark spots. I’ll also be sharing my favorite recipes that have lemon in that upcoming post…
Aztec Clay Mask
The Aztec Clay Mask is a natural bentonite clay mask that deep cleans your pores. Using this mask with apple cider vinegar really changed my natural skincare game. The mask literally “vacuums” toxins and impurities from your skin. It helps with EVERYTHING. It’s only recommended to use 2-3 times a week. Personally, I only use it once a week to help maintain clear skin and reduce some of the drying effects of the mask on my skin. It’s also SUPER affordable as the average price is about $10.00.
These ingredients have been life-changing in my skincare routine. My skin is finally beginning to get a natural glow, and my makeup looks even better now that I’m taking care of what’s underneath. While I love using these ingredients to make DIY products, I also shop for products with these ingredients as the main ingredient. I’m currently using the Mega Pack from BeautèSKINN as the ingredients are pure and 100% natural as if I had made them myself.
The most important things to remember when clearing your skin, no matter the products and recipes you are using, are to:
- Have patience – there is no overnight cure for problematic skin
- Stay Consistent – develop a skincare routine that works with your skin and schedule to help you achieve your goals.
- Take care of the inside and it will show on the outside – drink your water, eat your fruits and veggies. The biggest transformations start on the inside!
Looking forward to the DIY recipes I mentioned and more natural skincare tips? You can check it out HERE! Be sure to subscribe below to stay up to date and never miss a post!
XOXO JD