As a teenager, I am surrounded by a barrage of advertisements for acne-fighting products. However, once I read the ingredient labels on these items and looked them up online, I discovered that several of the chemicals used are harsh and even harmful! Here, I propose an alternative. Not to sound immodest, but I have received many compliments on how bright and clear my skin on my face is, and I would like to share the process I complete once or twice a week to keep it that way.
First of all, start off with a small healthy snack and a very large glass of water, tea, or natural juice. That way, you can be properly hydrated (which is very good for the skin) and not distracted by a grumbly tummy.
Begin with a steam sauna for your face. Boil three to four cups of water in a small pan. When it reaches a rolling boil, turn off the heat and add two chamomile teabags. (FYI: Some people are allergic to chamomile, so be careful!) If you don't have these tea bags, just the water will work fine, but the chamomile soothes the skin. Place the teabags in the water and cover with a lid. Let sit for about three minutes to allow to brew, and then carefully remove the pot. Bring it to a table where you can sit comfortably while leaning over the pot. I suggest pulling your hair back at this point so that it doesn't get in the way. Place a clean towel over your head and lean your face over the pot. Set a timer for ten minutes. Carefully remove the lid and let the steam bathe your face. During these ten minutes, the steam will help your skin expel environmental impurities while you relax. After you're finished with your sauna treatment, leave the pan out to cool off while you finish your facial so that you can bottle and drink the tea afterwards.
The next step is exfoliation to remove dead skin cells from your face. A nice and gentle scrub that I like to use consists of one tablespoon of granulated brown sugar, one teaspoon of white sugar, a quarter teaspoon of salt, and the teeniest dash of olive oil. I like the olive oil because it moisturizes, but those with oily skin would probably prefer to use a dash of the chamomile tea from earlier (remember to let it cool and make sure you aren't allergic) instead. Mix this around a few times with your finger and then apply to your face, scrubbing gently-don't overdo it-with your fingertips in a circular motion. The sugar might disolve, and if so, simply apply more scrub until all of it is used up. After this, rinse your face thoroughly.
Now, if you have blemishes, there is a surprising remedy you can apply. Though you might not have guessed it, honey has great natural antiseptic properties. Just dab a little bit on each blemish and leave it on for five to ten minutes. While you have the honey applied, I recommend splashing a little bit of milk on your face. Its slight acidity will help balance out the pH of your skin. After the aforementioned time has elapsed, rinse your whole face thoroughly, paying special attention to getting the sticky honey residue off.
At this point, if you have normal to dry skin, I suggest that you wash your face with a very gentle bar soap. For dry skin, apply a gentle moisturizing cream after washing and thoroughly toweling off your skin. For oily skin, however, I would suggest the following. This might sound a little gross, but bear with me. Take one egg, crack it in a small bowl, and discard the yolk. Use your fingertips to smear the egg white all over your face. Immediately move to someplace you can lie down and place your towel behind your head, as the egg white can be a bit drippy. Let it completely dry and form a film on your face. For those who, like me, don't have the patience to sit and let it dry, you can “cheat” by setting your blowdryer on cool temperature and the very lowest setting and pointing it towards your face while holding it a full arm's length away. Once the egg white has dried, thoroughly rinse off. Your skin will feel much tighter and less oily.
