Having clear skin does not always require the purchase of expensive products. In many cases, those products don’t really work as well as they promise anyway. There are hundreds of home remedies for clear skin. Some work, and some don’t. What you must remember is that what works for some people, does not work for others. We all have different skin types, and our bodies respond to various treatments in different ways.
Remedies for Clear Skin
The following home remedies for clear skin will leave your skin feeling fresher and smoother. If having beautiful clear skin is your aim use these remedies as often as you can, but at least once a week. Having a beautiful complexion depends in many factors as you can read in tips for clear skin , so the more you care about your skin, the better it will look.
Turmeric
Turmeric is an ancient Indian herb that has been mentioned in the sacred Vedas. Its benefits are so well-known that Indian brides and grooms apply turmeric and milk to their skin before marriage to look more beautiful. Even now, you can find women in Indian villages sporting yellow-tinged faces; this is because they apply turmeric on their faces every day. It’s no wonder that India has a very low percentage of skin cancer victims.
Apart from antiseptic properties, turmeric helps in lightening blemishes and pigmentation. The herb can used to treat a multitude of skin problems. Apply a paste of turmeric powder and pineapple juice for dark circles. Add a few teaspoons of sugarcane juice to turmeric powder to remove wrinkles. A mixture of turmeric and sandalwood paste is very effective in rejuvenating dry, parched skin.
Coconut
In Sanskrit, one of the world’s oldest languages, the coconut is called “kalpa vriksha” (i.e., the tree which gives all that is necessary for living). The transparent coconut water that comes out when the young coconut is first opened has the exact mineral content of human blood. No wonder it is called the tree of life!
Washing your face with tender coconut water will keep it blemish free. Applying a paste of red sandal powder and coconut milk (different from coconut water) results in soft, glowing skin. Check Asian stores and natural food stores for “young” coconuts.
Lemon
This citrus-rich fruit is the most versatile beauty aid you can have. Lemon contains cleansing enzymes that remove the skin of dead cells and provide the cheapest clear skin remedy. With its marvelous astringent properties, lemon is a natural cleanser and a boon for oily skin. Mix a little alum with the juice of half a lemon. Rub this mixture on your face for an instant refreshing skin toner.
Apply a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. The lemon will cleanse your skin, grapes will soften it and egg whites will tighten it. Rub half a lemon over rough spots and scrawny elbows to make them soft. Another instant refresher is the apple skin pack. Add grated apple skin with equal amounts of apple juice and lemon juice. Apply for 15 minutes and wash off.
Fenugreek
An Islamic prophet once said, “If my community had only known what there is in fenugreek, they would have paid its weight in gold.” Fenugreek is famous for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus and iron in their natural forms, it is used both as an herb (the leaves) and as a spice (the seed).
Mint
Native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia, the mint plant contains menthol (which gives it that characteristic cooling, cleansing feeling). Apply fresh mint juice over the face every night for the treatment of pimples. For a soothing body pack, prepare a paste of mint leaves and add the juice of a lemon. Mix it with warm water and apply all over your body. Leave it till it dries and rinse with warm water.
Mint also has proven medicinal uses for a clear skin remedy. In summer, drink lemonade with crushed mint leaves to look and feel cool. A mint-based face pack (applied once a week) is useful in treating eczema, insect stings, scabies and other skin infections.
Walnut
The most common walnut is the English walnut, which originated the regions surrounding the Caspian Sea (it is therefore also known as the Persian walnut). They are considered as a great skin care ingredient and are widely used in the cosmetic industry. In traditional Chinese medicine, walnuts are used in preparing kidney tonics.
Finely ground walnut powder gently exfoliates dead skin to remove impurities that ordinary cleansing cannot tackle. Mix 2 tablespoons plain yogurt with 2 teaspoons of finely ground walnuts. Wet your face and gently work the scrub into the skin. Avoid scrubbing under the eyes. Rinse after 20 minutes with warm water. Use this walnut-based scrub once a week for visibly clear skin.
Neem
Neem, an age-old plant used to detoxify the body, is excellent in treating oily and pimple-prone skin. It is considered sacred in many Asian cultures and possesses antibacterial and antiviral properties that make it an ideal clear skin remedy. A simple neem pack can be made by mixing ½ teaspoon neem powder with 2 tablespoons yogurt. Apply on cleansed face, avoiding the area around the eyes. After 15 minutes, remove using a wet sponge dipped in cool water. Use twice a week to clean clogged pores and banish pimples.
Cucumber
Cucumber has great hydrating, nourishing and astringent properties. They have the same pH as the skin so they help to restore the skin’s natural acid mantle. Regular use of cucumber prevents pimples, blackheads, wrinkles and dry skin.
With over 95 percent water content, cucumber is a cooling cleanser. Mix cucumber juice with milk and use it instead of a cleanser. Apply cucumber juice or grated cucumber over the face to soothe skin eruptions. To say goodbye to dark circles, apply grated cucumber mixed with an equal measure of carrot juice. Rest for 20 minutes and rinse with cool water. Cucumber also offers a soothing relief for sunburn and itching.
Papaya
Most people are clueless about the skin care properties of papaya. This tropical fruit contains the enzyme papain, which has great antibacterial and wound healing abilities. The enzyme also aids in removing dead, damaged skin. Papaya is extensively used in wound care, and regular facial application of papaya juice helps reduce freckles or brown spots due to sunlight exposure.
Here is a papaya-based mask for all skin types. Take ¼ cup of cocoa, 2 teaspoons of cream, ¼ cup ripe papaya, ¼ cup honey and 2 teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Mix and apply to your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water.
Rice Flour
Rice flour has been an oft-used ingredient to treat blemishes, wrinkles and pigmentation. 1 tablespoon of rice flour with 2 tablespoons of yogurt (avoid non-fat) makes for an effective cleansing milk. For a simple rice flour pack, mix ¼ cup of rice flour, ¼ cup of milk and 1 tbsp honey. Apply on your face and neck and rinse off after 20 minutes. It’s a wonderful remedy for wrinkles and it also clears up your skin