Homemade Cleanser for Cystic Acne
- Dawn
- May 6, 2016
- 4 min read
Cystic acne - the devil of all skin conditions. You wake up one day with a massive inflamed bump that's tender to the touch, reaching deep into the skin tissue. Worst of all no matter how long you wait the spot never comes to a head. It seems like you're stuck with that awful lump on your face forever.
The causes of cystic acne are mainly hormonal and there are several different ways of combatting it. This could be through visiting a doctor to check for a hormone imbalance or using prescribed topical creams. Personally, for me, I found that my cystic acne died down once I changed to a vegan lifestyle. I always had an issue of recurring spots in the same area of my face. They would never be able to pop, they would only reduce and increase in size. My skin cleared after removing dairy and eggs from my diet and I can assume this is due to my hormones being balanced now that I am not consuming the additional hormones that are found in dairy products. Making changes to your diet is the most effective and long-lasting way of targeting acne problems (but if your problems do persist I recommend you visit a doctor or dermatologist).
There are many ways that you can combat your cystic acne, but you may be interested in learning about natural remedies for it. After all, natural is the best way! I make a simple cleanser out of three ingredients. Not only does this cleanser help clear up my breakups but it also helps reduce the appearance of the scars that are left behind.
The ingredients I use are freshly squeezed lemon, olive oil and castor oil. I squeeze the lemon and combine one part lemon, one part olive oil and one part pure organic cold pressed castor oil. I keep this in a plastic spray bottle (these can be purchased from any drug store). I make just enough of this cleanser to last a week as after a while the lemon won't be fresh anymore. You could even keep the mixture in the fridge to retain the freshness but I just keep mine in my bathroom.
Lately, I've been really into using facial brushes to help aid my cleansing. My favourite one is inexpensive yet effective and is from Kiko Milano. The one pictured here is one I recently purchased from Superdrug. I love the natural wooden style, and the bristles are super soft. Using a cleansing brush is great as it cleanses deep into the pores removing all traces of dirt and makeup. Since using a cleansing brush my skin has become smoother and my foundation easily glides on my skin. You could always invest in one of those fancy electronic rotating brushes but using a motionless brush in a circular motion does the job just as well.
I wet my face and the brush and work the lemon and oil concoction into my skin. If you have sensitive skin you may wish to reduce the amount of lemon juice as the lemon can sting! I then wash my face thoroughly and moisturise with coconut oil.
What are the benefits of using castor oil for the skin?
Castor oil is derived from the Castor plant (Ricinus communis). This wonderful oil can be used as a remedy for many skin conditions such as dry skin, sunburn, acne, scarring, stretch marks and can be used to delay the signs of ageing. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid which works as a treatment for acne. The oil penetrates deep into the skin, allowing the ricinoleic acid to work its magic right into your pores, clearing out bacteria. Fatty acids in the oil penetrate scar tissue and over time you will notice fading your acne scars beginning to fade.
Castor oil combined with the antibacterial properties of lemon juice is a fantastic way to clear up your skin without spending a bomb on fancy creams or over the counter prescriptions. Plus you have the added knowledge that everything you have used is free from strange chemicals and most importantly, vegan-friendly! However, the oil can be drying at times especially in combination with lemon juice, which is why I mix it with olive oil. Just be sure to make sure you moisturise well after you cleanse.
I've been doing this routine for a while and I have noticed fantastic results. My acne scars are nowhere near as bad as they were a few months ago which is such a massive relief. Once again I can go make-up free without feeling self-conscious. But remember, everyone's skin is different. Just because this method works for me doesn't mean it will work for everyone. This method may not be suitable for those with oily or combination skin. I suggest to only use this cleanser every few days until you have figured out if it works well with your skin type.
I hope you all enjoy the benefits of this wonderful oil!
xo
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