Knowing how to clear up acne fast is something many around the world, including myself, wish they did not need to know.

As someone who has dealt with her fair share of teenage and adult acne, blemishes, and dull skin, I know first-had what it feels like to face the world whilst being self-conscious about your skin.

For many many years I’ve had to deal with the annoying sensitivity of my skin (thanks puberty!). Tiny pimples, cystic acne, hormonal acne, acne on my chest and shoulders, redness, inflammation, hyperpigmentation – you name it, your girl had it!

I swear, having acne is one of life’s most annoying and very prevalent curses! All of these skin issues not only did a number on my self-confidence, but they also did a number on my parents’ pockets (and when I got older, my own)!

My parents (bless their hearts) spent thousands of dollars on dermatologist visits (that did absolutely nothing to improve my skin btw), skincare systems such as Proactiv (which also did nothing to cure me), dermatologist-recommended acne medications, and over-the-counter products.

At the time, I’d kill to not have to deal with hyperpigmentation, acne, and having to hide my blemished skin under powder, concealers and foundation. So I willingly obliged to all of these acne-curing experiments.

Fast-forward to today, however, I’ve learned SO MUCH about the skin.

Through working on my own skin ailments as an adult and seeking the advice of estheticians and other wellness experts, I’ve learned through IMMENSE trial and error that you can actually have great skin through more natural remedies and strategies without buying a single pricey skincare product.

Hallelujah, amen!

This is particularly important for my lovely ladies who do suffer from acne, blemishes, hyper-pigmentation and other skin issues but don’t want that to hold them back from facing the world with confidence, working hard in stressful or fast-paced environments, feeling beautiful, and living out their ambitions.

Don’t worry, I got you!

Let’s get started on the amazing simple ways in which you can clear your acne fast and heal your blemishes, without having to buy a single skincare product, shall we…

Every Acne Story is Different

First things first, it’s important to note that I in no way claim to be an expert or skincare professional okay, but based on my own life experience, what I do know is this – every single body is different.

Let me tell you what I mean by this.

Acne can reveal itself in different parts of a person’s anatomy. They commonly appear on the cheeks, forehead, jawline,and chin. However, some people can deal with having acne on their chest, back, shoulders and thighs.

So where you may have acne and blemishes can be completely different to where someone else has acne and blemishes.

Furthermore, acne does not come in a one-size-fits-all package.

There are a number of different types of acne.

For example, there are acne vulgaris (simple acne, usually linked to genetics) – the whiteheads and pimples some may deal with, comedonal acne (blackheads), hormonal acne (can anyone say menstruation?), inflammatory acne (inflamed red bumps and pustules), and cystic acne (the most severe type of acne).

This means that whilst you may be dealing with simple acne that can be managed with over-the-counter products, someone else may deal with hormonal acne that only pops up during their time of the month and then disappears, and then there may be someone else who suffers from cystic acne that requires strong prescription acne medication and serious dermatological supervision.

On top of that, we have our dry skin sisters, oily skin sisters (me!), and our combination skin sisters.

So you see? Every body is different. Every body handles acne differently.

Due to this, I know that these remedies and strategies listed below may not be for everyone, but they are certainly great ideas that are worth a try because they are best practices that don’t require any specific products or medications. You never know what will work for you!

Simple Reasons Why You May Have Acne

Regardless of where your blemishes chose to pop up on your body, or the types of acne that you have, you need to have an idea of why you may be getting these breakouts in the first place, in order to help calm the skin, heal the acne, and get rid of the blemishes.

There are so many reasons why breakouts occur, but these are the most common:

• Genetics
• Hormonal changes (e.g. puberty, pregnancy, menstruation)
• Medical conditions (e.g. PCOS)
• Certain medications that affect the skin
• Clogged pores caused by skin and makeup products not suitable for your skin type
• Clogged pores caused by dirty makeup brushes, dirty sheets, or dirty towels
• Poor hygiene practices
• Poor diet

Bottom line? It’s crucial to investigate the cause of your skin breakouts. Having this information will work wonders for creating a focused strategy to deal with them instead of going round and round in circles not knowing what to do, like I did for YEARS!

So pull out that magnifying glass Sherlock Holmes, and get to exploring!

Armed with this information, you can pick and choose which of these remedies and strategies can work best for you and your beautiful skin.

Top Natural At-Home Remedies To Clear Your Acne Fast (Without a Single Skincare Product)

1. Tea Tree

Tea tree oil is the bomb diggity for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Place 2-5 drops of tea tree oil on a q-tip or a cotton bud, then dab it onto your acne breakouts. Allow it to sit on the spots for a few hours (perhaps sleep with it on overnight), then wash it off with soothing warm water.

My Top 5 Tea Tree Oil Recommendations Are:

Farrinne’s Tea Tree Oil For Acne, Collagen Generation and Skin Restoration

Pure Body Naturals’ Tea Tree Essential Oil for Face, Skin and Hair

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

Now Foods Tea Tree Oil

Naturenics Tea Tree Essential Oil For Acne, Hair, Nail Fungus & Skin Problems

2. Aloe Vera

YouTube has countless videos all about the amazing effects of aloe vera on the skin, such as this one, and this one right here. So you don’t have to take my word for it at all. But aloe vera is a wonder-plant that you can apply to your acne breakouts and blemishes to soothe and repair the skin. Used consistently over time, you’ll be surprised at how much your skin will clear up thanks to the natural healing properties of aloe vera.

Best practice is to use the aloe vera that comes directly from the plant, but if you can’t access the plant from where you are, then Seven Minerals Organic Aloe Vera Gel and SALKING Natural, Cold-Pressed Aloe Vera Gel for Face, Skin and Hair are great substitutes.

3. Honey

Honey is a powerful antibacterial substance. Not only does it reduce skin inflammation, promote healing, and moisturize the skin, but it also aids in giving you that effortless, natural (product-free) glow by helping to remove the excess dirt and debris from your skin with its stickiness.

Apply the honey as a 15 minute mask, or dab a drop or two on the affected areas overnight, then wash it off with warm water when you wake up. When used consistently (perhaps 1-2 times a week), you’ll be amazed at the look of your skin.

Nature Nate’s Pure, Raw, Unfiltered Honey and Wedderspoon’s Raw Premium Manuka Honey are the BEST for your face!

4. Green Tea

Green tea is a great one for reducing redness and swelling, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties! All you have to do is brew a bag of green tea, remove the bag from the heat, let it cool, and then once cold to touch, place it on top your acne. Ideally, marinate your breakouts in green tea before bed, and don’t wash out until the next morning.

There are SO MANY Green Tea options out there, but these are my ABSOLUTE fave recommendations for your skin:

FGO Organic Green Tea Bags (awesome environmentally-conscious brand!)

Bigelow Classic Green Tea with Lemon (lemon is great for lightening those dark spots)

Kirkland Signature Green Tea & Matcha Blend

Lipton 100% Natural Green Tea

Yogi Pure Green Tea (my fave tea brand ever!)

5. Crushed Aspirin

Believe it or not, aspirin has great anti-inflammatory benefits that can help soothe and calm down the skin. This is a great quick and affordable way to help reduce your acne.

Using a 1:3 aspirin to water ratio, crush an aspirin into a fine powder and turn it into a paste with the water. Then, dot the pimple with the paste concoction. If the blemishes cover a large spot, feel free to apply the crushed aspirin as a face mask until it dries out. Then wash out.

Allegiant Health Uncoated Aspirin, and PHARBEST Uncoated Aspirin are great for crushing.

6. Facial Steaming

Face steaming is AMAZING! It opens up your pores, which helps to alleviate clogging, and it also detoxifies the skin. Not to mention, it is a simple, affordable remedy you can do today for clearer skin tomorrow. All you have to do is drape a towel over your head, and hold your head over a bowl of hot water infused with herbs or essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary or peppermint for around 10-15 minutes.

Once your head is over the bowl, all you have to do is close your eyes and breathe deeply.

If the old fashioned “bowl with hot water” doesn’t work for you, some awesome face steamer recommendations are:

Pure Daily Care’s NanoSteamer Stainless Steel Skin Kit

LONOLOVE’s Nano-Ionic Facial Steamer for Acne, Sinuses & Deep Cleaning Skin Care

Seneryla Facial Steamer for Facial Deep Cleaning (Comes with an Extraction Kit, Mask Brush and Headband, pretty cool!)

**Just don’t forget to clean your face (or whatever body part where the acne lives), before using any of these natural remedies. Okay babe?**

READ NEXT: The Ultimate Guide To Feeling Extra Confident & Comfortable In Your Own Skin (At Any Age, Weight, Shape, Colour Or Imperfection)

Top Lifestyle Strategies to Clear Your Acne Fast (Without Buying a Single Skincare Product)

1. Wash Your Hair Regularly

I’ve found that if I’m breaking out quite a bit around my cheeks, but I’ve been eating well and taking care of my skin in other ways, it’s a clear sign that my hair is probably dirty and messing with my face!

And I know it’s not just me.

The excess dirt and oil from your scalp can move onto your face and encourage breakouts, especially if you’re an oily skin girl like me.

Therefore, washing your hair regularly (at least once a week), will help to reduce the excess oil seeping onto your skin, and give the breakouts sufficient time to dry up.

The Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo is perfect for your hair and skin because it is a medicated shampoo that actually contains salicylic acid (perfect for your sensitive skin!)

2. Shower Twice Daily (Especially After Sweating)

The accumulation of dirt, bacteria and dried sweat in the pores can make acne worse if left alone. This especially affects my girls out there with acne in other places besides your face such as the chest, back and shoulders.

So don’t leave debris on your skin unnecessarily.

Wash your face and body regularly (1-2x per day), especially after a good sweat or a day of wearing makeup, to keep your pores clean, clear and under control.

One thing I cannot live without when I shower are exfoliation gloves. I feel like they truly remove the dead skin cells, sweat, and bacteria from my pores way better than a loofah or just my hands. I always leave the shower feeling clean and oh so fresh.

EvridWear has a very effective Dual Texture Bath Glove Set, and Feel Pretty has an exfoliating glove set that is made of bamboo and charcoal fibres, and comes equipped with a pink Himalayan salt body scrub to make sure that you get that deep clean every time you hit the showers.

3. Remove All Makeup Products With Pore-Clogging Ingredients from Your Makeup Routine

The very same makeup products you use to mask your acne, blemishes and hyperpigmentation can be the very same products causing the acne in the first place! So if possible, double check the ingredients in the makeup products you use and avoid any that contain ingredients such as mineral oil and lanolin. Oil-based and greasy products can greatly trigger the onset of acne on your face.

Instead, it would be great to substitute these products with more natural, water-based or mineral-based makeup products. Look for labels that say things like “non-comedogenic”, “oil-free”, “won’t clog pores”, or non-acnegenic” (just know that even with these words on the label it doesn’t mean that these products are non-comedogenic). Better yet, go makeup-free for a few days if possible. Giving your skin a chance to breathe can be the quick fix that is needed.

4. Avoid Touching The Face & Blemished Parts of the Body With Your Hands

Touching your face, arms, chest, or wherever you may have acne, with your hands can certainly deposit and spread dirt, oils and bacteria into your pores.

Think about it, your hand touches so many surfaces on a daily basis, from your cellphone to handrails to pennies, many of which are dirty AF!

Plus, your dirty hands on your face and body also encourages pimple-popping, pimple-squeezing and pimple-picking. Don’t do this! Not only does it lead to more or worse breakouts, but it can also lead to scarring.

So stop touching!

Also, go wash your hands right now!

5. Drink Your H2O

Sometimes the breakouts you’re experiencing can be your dehydrated body crying out for water. I’ve experienced this myself. To be sure you stay hydrated every single day, make sure to increase the amount of water you give your cells on a daily basis.You may be surprised to see your acne spots begin to diminish as you drink more water.

As a fun challenge, try to work your way toward 1 Gallon of water per day.

BuildLife has an awesome 1 Gallon water bottle that comes with time markers and motivational quotes to help you push through the challenge.

But if 1 Gallon is too much for you, you can try Fidus 32oz water bottle that also comes in fun colours with motivational time markers to keep you going. Try to drink 1-2 of these a day and you’ll be good to go.

The more water you drink, the better you will look.

Trust me, your skin will thank you!

6. Clean Up Your Diet

By saying goodbye to dairy milk, cheese, oils, simple carbs, fried foods and sugars in your diet, you will notice a significant positive change in the texture and appearance of your skin. I say this because it’s exactly what happened to me.

This doesn’t mean you need to give up these foods entirely however.

Instead, find substitutes.

For example, substitute dairy milk for oat milk, substitute animal-based cheese for vegan cheese, substitute simple carbs for complex carbs etc.

Doing this worked wonders on my skin within one week!

In addition to these substitutes, eating a diet rich in various plant-foods, whole grains and lean protein sources can also help to greatly reduce your acne, boost your radiance, and provide your body with the vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants needed for it to flourish.

The key thing here is to locate your acne trigger foods, and to find a healthier substitute for them (or get rid of them in your diet entirely).

Focus on composing your diet primarily of low Glycemic Index (GI) foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

There are strong links between diet and acne, so of all the things you take away from this post, make this your #1 priority!

Healthy Beet Portion Control Plates or La Boos Bamboo-Made Square Portion Control Plates (my absolute fave!) are a MUST if you want to get your healthy eating off the ground, remind yourself to eat healthier options or to just do better with what you put in your body. You need to check them out!

7. Nourish Your Skin With Vitamins, Omega 3s and Probiotics

This ties in with the previous point on cleaning up your diet. Eating nutrient-packed foods such as your fruits and vegetables, fish, and kimchi can 100% benefit your skin and bless you with a healthy gut. However, if your diet isn’t the healthiest right now, you can certainly get these vitamins, omegas and good bacteria through topical supplements.

Some vitamins that are good for the skin include: Vitamin A (helps with skin turnover), Vitamin E (helps to prevent the breakdown of collagen), and Vitamin B (the Bs help to maintain your complexion and skin moisture)

Centrum and Vimersion Health have EXCELLENT multivitamin, multimineral and antioxidant daily supplements to get in your vitamins every single day.

Find your Omega 3 Fish Oils for brain and heart health with Nature’s Bounty

And probiotics? Garden of Life has a gluten, dairy and soy free one-a-day probiotic supplement with 16 strains and 50 billion CFU, whilst Wholesome Wellness has an organic probiotic supplement with 100 billion CFU.

You’re welcome!

8. Reduce Stress

One effect of stress on the body is acne.

Strong feelings of mental, emotional, physical or environmental stress can increase the inflammatory compounds in the body which can lead to acne breakouts, or make the acne that you already have much worse.

This is exactly what I experienced whilst in high school and university. Even working in fast-paced, stressful environments led to breakouts.

Back then I never understood why. But now I do.

So it’s extremely important to minimize the stress and stressors in your life as much as possible.

How?

Here are some options:

• Exercise regularly
• Get massages
• Get quality sleep for a full 8 hours
• Get facials
• Engage in meditation or breathing practices
• Take your mind off the world by reading a book, listening to music, watching a movie
• Enjoy a peaceful walk
• Practice yoga, pilates, barre or tai-chi
• Colour
• Remove yourself from toxic work or home environments
• Play with the kids
• Journal

Engaging in stress-reducing activities that you enjoy can certainly help to keep your skin calm so your blemishes have the opportunity to heal.

RELATED READ: The Top 10 Biggest Mistakes Average Women Make When They’re Stressed Out

9. Get a Facial Cleansing Brush

In my defense, this is not a pricey skincare product. This is an investment-worthy skincare TOOL. This tool took my skincare regimen to a WHOLE OTHER LEVEL when I brought it into my life.

Sure, there are dupes on the market, I know. But for me, nothing works quite like the Clarisonic.

Having a Clarisonic helped me to penetrate deep into my pores to to get rid of the dirt, bacteria and debris that I could not access with exfoliation or washing my face with just my hands.

Furthermore, within a year of using this Clarisonic, it helped to keep my acne at bay for MUCH LONGER, and COMPLETELY removed many of my hyper-pigmentation scars; leaving me with clearer skin and a more even skin tone (at the time your girl was suffering from an acne beard all around my jawline! Not cute!).

Once I added this bad boy to my regimen, that beard went bye-bye, and never returned again.

So, if you really want to improve the appearance and texture of your skin, I guarantee you won’t regret getting a Clarisonic, or any other type of high quality facial cleansing brush such as this one, this one, or this one.

10. Change Your Towels, Sheets & Pillow Cases At Least Twice a Week

Washing your towels, sheets and pillowcases help to reduce the build up of dead skin cells, bacteria, oil, dirt, dried sweat, residue from personal care products and other debris from accumulating on the surfaces where you sleep and on the apparatus you use to dry your body after it’s cleaned.

Like…why shower and then dry your body with a dirty towel?! You know what I’m saying?

Towels, sheets and pillowcases can create a true hotbed for acne-producing opportunities.

So, something as simple as keeping these clean on a regular basis will help to keep your acne at bay.

11. Apply More Hygienic Rituals into Your Lifestyle

I was going to make each of these their own point, but then I realized that I’d be saying the same thing for each one. So I decided to place them together under the main heading of hygiene.

The main hygienic principles that come to mind as I type this are:

• Using a separate face cloth when cleansing your face (ideally using a clean one once per day). If you’re interested in using a separate towel for your face, you can find soft, highly absorbent, premium quality flannel face cloths right here
• Always washing your hands before applying makeup or other skincare products
• Cleaning your makeup brushes and tools regularly. I love the NYX Professional Makeup Brush Cleaner and the Cinema Secrets Pro Cosmetics Brush Cleaner
• Sanitizing your cellphone (or switching to headphones, speakers or other bluetooth devices). This UV Light Sanitizer disinfects your cellphone and kills up to 99.9% of the bacteria and germs that rest on your phone
• Washing your hats, head ties, headbands, head scarves, hair bonnets and other hair accessories every week (these can be the reason for the blemishes on your forehead)

Why?

Well, when used continuously without cleansing, your hands, face towels, make up brushes, make up tools, phone and hair accessories can trap A LOT of dirt, bacteria, and debris over time – and this can certainly lead to skin irritations in certain concentrated areas such as the cheeks and forehead.

So to prevent clogging the pores on your face, neck and chest with that mess, make sure you clean your hands, tools, accessories, devices, and face towels very often (for the hands, this means daily!)

And this brings me to our last tip…

12. Use Fragrance-Free, Hypoallergenic Detergents For Washing

These types of laundry detergents are not only great for your skin and home, they are also better for the environment. Win-win-win! Since these detergents are mild in nature, and do not contain any dyes or scents, you don’t have to worry about your sensitive skin battling the harshness of the chemicals used in regular detergents such as phosphate and chlorine.

Don’t let the reason you have acne be because your laundry detergent is attacking you!

Throw out the chemical-based detergent and buy yourself fragrance-free, hypoallergenic ones for your clothes, towels, sheets, and anything else that you wash which comes in contact with your body.

Top Fragrance-Free Laundry Detergent Recommendations Are:

Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear (140 loads)

All Liquids Free Clear for Sensitive Skin (110 loads)

Tide PODS Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent (96 loads)

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Unscented Laundry Detergent (106 loads)

So, As You Can See…..

Every person has a different skin type and different skin ailments. Therefore, acne remedies are not a one-size fits all.

But don’t feed into the lie.

Getting clear skin does not have to be complicated.

Whether you are a busy mom, student, career woman or entrepreneur who’s been dealing with skin breakouts and irritations these days, or maybe having skin issues is something you’ve always had to deal with like me, it doesn’t matter.

Making small tweaks and changes to your lifestyle like the ones above can make a HUGE difference to the way your skin looks and feels.

These are amazing best practices that can completely improve and transform your skin on its own without spending tons of money on pricey skincare products.

Applying these affordable, natural home remedies, and simple lifestyle strategies to your daily life and skincare journey will undoubtedly go a long way in preserving your beautiful skin.

This way, you can continue to chase your dreams, achieve your goals, hit your targets and face the world without fear, holding back, insecurity or playing small.

If you’re interested in saving your money but still maintaining clear, blemish-free skin, then these tips can and WILL help you to achieve that goal, especially if practiced consistently.

As a guinea pig for many of these practices, I know that for a fact.

So don’t give up on your skin.

Clearing up your acne fast without a big budget is possible.

It may require a bit of patience but clear, glowing skin can be yours – without the pricey products!

Have you tried any of these skincare strategies?

What other ways can you recommend for clearing up acne and healing blemishes (without skincare products)?

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