Keep in mind that some sun exposure is absolutely vital to your health and wellness. It brightens mood, creates the uber important vitamin D for your body to use against sickness and disease, and is totally important for your mental health and happiness.

So, if you don’t want to rub God knows what chemicals all over your skin with many of the commercial sunscreens out there, you actually have some decent natural options for covering your skin against excessive UV exposure.

The first and most effective of course is to use clothes as your first defense. Wearing long sleeves, pants, hats and other sun-screening clothing completely (and chemically free) shields your skin from too much sunlight. This physical sun barrier can be a bit uncomfortable though in the high temps, to be sure, so there are also some totally natural oils that have a small amount of SPF in them naturally.

The first and supposedly most effective of the natural “sunscreening” oils is sesame oil.  This has a pleasant scent that smells just like sesame seeds. Makes perfect sense since that is what sesame oil is pressed from ?

It is estimated sesame oil can screen anywhere from 15% to 20% of the sun’s rays.  This is followed by coconut oil and shea butter.  Not only are these great moisturizing agents, but they also have sun-protective qualities.  You will only get anywhere form 10% to 15% protection from these, but that’s better than nothing.

There are also some very eco-friendly, nontoxic sunscreen options on the market today since people have become so aware of the dangers of slathering on tons of chemicals all over their body to screen it from the sun.  Some chemicals found in sunscreens have even been linked to INCREASING the risk of skin cancer if you can believe that, so it is wise to really read up and make sure your sunscreen has safe, natural ingredients, no parabens or any other questionable chemicals.

Some of the safest large-particle sunscreens are titanium and zinc oxide. These literally lay on top of the skin and form a physical barrier against the sun.  They have no known toxic properties because the particles are too large to even absorb in to the skin. 

Mineral makeup is created by using finely ground organic minerals which not only help you hide your blemishes from the world; it actually helps to make your skin healthier on a cellular level. What makes mineral makeup so much better for you is the absence of harsh chemicals and additives that can cause breakouts.

Instead of using chemical additives, most mineral makeups are made from a blend of zinc oxide, titanium oxide, organic extracts, and pure pigments.

These mineral make ups offer you a wide variety of benefits such as sun protection, anti aging properties, anti inflammatory properties, and anti bacterial properties. Due to the anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties of these makeups, mineral makeup is especially beneficial to people with oily complexions.

While mineral makeup is certainly the best option for people with oily acne prone complexions, you should be aware that all mineral makeups are not created equal. In order to choose the best mineral makeup you will have to learn to read the labels.

Think of this in the same way you purchase food, simply because a product advertises itself as low calorie does not mean it is good for you. This is the same concept that applies to choosing the best mineral makeup. Just because the word mineral or natural appears on the packaging does not mean that the product is good for you.

When reading the ingredients label, the best mineral makeup will have only all natural, high quality ingredients. Beware of products which use small amounts of minerals, low quality ingredients, chemicals, or fillers of any kind.

In addition to these warning signs, you should also avoid any products which contain Bismuth Oxychloride. This ingredient which is present in many low quality mineral makeups has been shown to cause skin irritation, rashes, and an increase in breakouts.

If you want to play it safe when choosing the best mineral makeup for your complexion, stick to the well known name brands. These brands may be a little more expensive however, they contain the highest levels of high quality minerals, and more importantly they do not use any chemicals which can irritate your skin.

If you find a bargain brand of mineral makeup at your local dollar store which claims to have high levels of all natural minerals, you can might be a bit skeptical that this product is aiming to deceive you.

It’s about choosing a great mineral makeup or other type of foundation to help make your skin look its best even when you might be experiencing a less than stellar period of time with the ever so insidious skin condition of acne.

I chose to talk about mineral makeups primarily because they are all the rage now, and when they are PURE and natural with no metals in them, they are a great natural choice that doesn’t clog pores and helps your skin look fantastic.  So let’s start talking foundation, minerals, and blending away that problem skin!

People who have an oily, sensitive, or acne prone complexion must be extremely careful when choosing cosmetic products. If you do not choose cosmetic products which work the natural chemistry of your complexion, you run the risk of actually making your skin problems worse then they were to begin with.

If you have an acne prone or oily complexion then there is a good chance that you have several scars and pimples that you wish to hide from the rest of the world. This is usually how the vicious cycle of treating an acne prone complexion begins.

You turn to hash chemicals and cosmetics to help hide your blemishes, and in turn you make the blemish worse requiring you to take even more drastic measures to hide it. There is a way that you can put an end to this vicious cycle, and that is by choosing the right mineral makeup for your complexion.

The purpose of this article is to educate you on what to look for when choosing mineral makeup for an acne prone complexion. Once you know how to identify the best mineral makeup that is best for your complexion, you will be ready to hit the stores armed with all the knowledge you need to achieve the best looking complexion you have ever had.

The first thing that you are going to want to remember is that your skin is capable of absorbing 80% of everything that you put on it. If you use products which contain harsh chemicals, fragrances, and fillers, these ingredients will eventually end up in your pores and create breakouts. This is what makes PURE mineral makeup the very best option for people who get frequent breakouts.

Individuals should wait until the area is soft and a head has formed before even attempting to extract it. A cyst or boil that is leaking could spread bacteria to other parts of the body. Individuals should apply antibacterial ointments and cover with a sterile bandage.

Sometimes the area needs to be drained by the doctor cutting a small incision and allowing the area to drain. Physicians that drain these may suggest the use of certain herbal supplements or medications to help with the problem. Major problems can result in the doctor performing surgery on the area to relief the pressure.

There are many different types of Herbal and natural treatments that people may use and are beneficial in the treatment of the area. Some of these homeopathic treatments will boost the immunity and help with the clearing up of skin irritation and infections. Individuals should use a healthy and well balanced diet with lots of water.

Silicea is a tissue salt that is useful when individuals are trying to treat themselves by releasing toxic materials in the body. Echinacea is also useful due to its antibacterial abilities to strengthen the immune system. Herbs such as Withainia somnifera and astragalus membranaceous not only help with the prevention but also help individuals have less episodes of reoccurrence of these boils or cysts.

These skin irritations can be very painful and unsightly to the individuals. Most people seek treatments such as topical antibiotics and oral antibiotics to treat infections of the skin. There are things that people can do to prevent the reoccurrence of the skin irritations.

Individuals should make sure to bathe daily and use a good soap and water to cleanse. The individuals should make sure that they use a clean white cloth to avoid dyes or debris from irritating the skin.

Avoiding things such as tight clothes, and clothing with a lot of ink in them will help people avoid dirt and debris from entering the skin and causing cysts and boils to develop. Cleanse the skin, cuts, and open sores with soap and water. Cover areas that could trap dirt and oils with sterile dressing.

The most important things for individuals to remember are to cleanse their hands prior to touching any boils or cysts. The best treatments for painful inperfections or cystic acne lesions are to use prevention. Good hygiene will help with prevention of most acne.

They also can be much trickier to treat and eradicate without ending up with a huge scar because of their depth in the skin. Many individuals have frequent bouts with boils, and cystic acne lesions and are searching for the best treatments.

Some people state these are very painful and some people are plagued with additional skin irritations as well if they happen to suffer from frequent boils. Boils are when a deeper infection causes a tight painful lump either under the skin or on top of the skin.

 There are different reasons why a person may develop these boils or cystic acne lesions on the skin. Bacterial infection and inflammation can form a boil that is hard, inflamed and will sometimes take weeks to go away on its own. It will develop into a hard red bump that is hot and will cause pain.

Symptoms of a boil or cystic acne lesions as they are also called can be swelling, redness and a tight heated area that is sore and develops a white pus filled lump. Sometimes they are caused from hair follicles that become infected, since the hair follicle is under the skin pretty far.

Other people can have diseases such as krohns disease that can result in cystic acne lesions or boils around the gland areas. Cysts can develop all over the body in fact, but the focus is usually on the face because of course this is where they are most noticeable.

Some individuals have them on the face and other people develop them in heated moist areas of the body. Searching for the best treatments is important to prevent infections.

The best treatments for a painful boil are to apply a hot compress to the area. You can take a clean washcloth and wet it. Sticking it in the microwave and then placing it on top of the boil will sometimes cause it to come to a head and rupture.

People using the hot compresses (make sure it does not burn you, you want it to be hot but not so hot it will burn your skin) will need to test the heat of the washcloth before applying to their skin. This will help the individual avoid being burnt from a cloth that is too hot.

Another one of the best treatments for a painful boil is to cleanse the area with an antibacterial soap or acne cleanser. A cyst should not be squeezed while it is hard and firm.  More to come on cystic acne and boils in the next post.

Another common ingredient found in over-the-counter acne medications is salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is used to treat non-inflamed acne. Comedonal acne is another name for non-inflamed acne. Ointments, cleansers, toners and other products used for acne treatment contain this ingredient.

Many people with acne find salicylic acid products works to eliminate their pimples. The product helps dead skin cells to exfoliate. This assists in keeping the pores clear of flakes of dead skin.

Everyone’s skin is regenerating each day. This process is called desquamation. The most inner layer of skin or epidermis has new cell development. Eventually the new skin cells reach the top layer of skin to replace the surface cells.

The surface cells are now dead flakes of skin. It take about 28 days for this process to occur. Salicylic acid has been created to make the outer skin cells be removed quicker than the usual 28 days.  By the way, you can read about addition information on salicylic acid here : Salicylic acid benefits for acne and blackheads,

Salicylic acid, also known as beta hydroxy acid is available in various strengths over-the-counter. Typically, it is applied once a day. Too much or extra applications can irritate or dry the skin. Salicylic acid should be used on a larger surface than benzoyl peroxide products. This product is designed to unclog pores excessive oil and dead skin cells; which cause acne formation.

Make sure to purchase a moisturizer to apply to the skin that is being treated with salicylic acid. Choose an oil-free moisturizer to avoid causing additional oiliness to the skin surface. You may have skin flaking, itchiness and stinging from the use of salicylic acid.

If you have severe reactions to over-the-counter salicylic acne products, you may be allergic. Consult a physician. Nursing and pregnant women are advised not to use salicylic acid products.

Many people with acne are confused concerning whether to choose salicylic products or benzoyl peroxide products. Both products are available in over-the-counter medications. Generally products containing these ingredients can be found in many stores. Salicyclic acid will help skin cells renew faster. It works nicely for teenagers who have blackheads.

For inflamed acne that is noticeable red; benzoyl peroxide may be a better choice. This over-the-counter ingredient will kill bacteria that causes acne for many people. Both ingredients can cause allergic reactions for some people.

Most people will have a reaction of dry skin while using each of these ingredients. Peeling skin may also occur while using these products. Using a good moisturizer and a sunscreen is a great skin care plan while using these over-the-counter medications.

Most people get acne at some time in their lives. Teenagers are particular prone to acne because of rapid growth and increased hormones. Typically, people will get just a few pimples or white heads. Some people get blackheads or comedones.

A few people will get cyst-type or acne vulgaris with inflammation patches of red patchy skin. Usually, the face is the area of the body that most people get acne symptoms. However, many people get acne on other areas of the body. The first plan of action for most people is choosing an over-the-counter medication to apply to the skin. People can choose products that contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

People who have acne usually purchase over-the-counter medications to try to eliminate the pimples. There are many products on the market that clear-up or prevent acne.

Typically, one of two ingredients are in the over-the-counter medication; salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know my preference is salicylic acid by a long shot as benzoyl peroxide simply does not agree with my skin. 

I try to be impartial as I know it has to work for some people, otherwise, why would it be in so many acne products still today?  For example, tea tree oil is a better antibacterial than benzoyl peroxide, and it’s much less irritating as well.  But alas, I cannot help but be a little bias. That’s why I’m writing this comparison for you today, which by the way is a two part comparison article on the two very popular acne products. 

So look for part two soon.  Both products can be found in various lotions or ointments. Sometimes the lotions or ointments are tinted to assist in covering-up the current acne pimples.

It is important to have some knowledge about each of these ingredients before purchasing a product to help cure or prevent acne. Bacteria is a cause of acne and benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria because it is a antimicrobial. It commonly causes dryness, this is because it dries the skin during the bacteria killing phase.

You may also find it causes the skin to peel. This is the problem I have with the product, it just irritates ait and really does nothing for my acne problem.  When the dryness and peeling occur, use less of the product you purchased. Add a moisturizer to your skin before applying the acne medication if your skin is dry. 

In addition, benzoyl peroxide products increase skins sensitivity to sunlight. Wearing a good sunscreen is always important for your skin’s health. However, if you are using an acne medication containing benzoyl peroxide, then it is even more important to wear sunscreen. Benzoyl peroxide may also cause contact sensitivity, so be sure not to get it on your contacts.

For people whose skin continues to peel or become dry, try switching to acne products with different ingredients. Some people are actually allergic to benzoyl peroxide, but people are allergic to pretty much anything these days.

Next time, join us as we talk about my personal favorite of the two, salicylic acid. Thanks! 

What’s the big deal, you ask? Well, the big deal is that these essential oils do not DRY OUT the skin simultaneously as they kill the bacteria on the surface of the skin that get under the skin and cause acne lesions.  Topical medications and creams often really dry the skin, which makes it look even worse by turning it red and making it look scaly and generally unattractive when it is going to work killing the bacteria.

Essential oils, which I put in my hand made essential oil-based acne soap (and many of my friends and relatives use and can’t believe how wonderfully it works on the skin), are extremely effective on the skin when it comes to acne.

The particular study that was done focused on the herb thyme, and myrrh. Both have antibacterial properties and were applied topically to acne. It was found that thyme actually killed the bacteria that causes acne more effectively than the benzoyl peroxide that was administered to other patients in the trial, which is a huge win for herbal enthusiasts like myself who have been swearing by the power of plant based herbs and oils for a long time!

I’ve never been fond of benzoyl peroxide. It is too harsh, and it always made my skin look worse. Every time I would use a product topically that had this ingredient, it would irritate my skin more than help it.

What you need if you have acne is a calming, naturally based cleanser that helps soothe the skin and make it appear much calmer, not irritate it and promote inflammation.  Essential oils do just that. They can also have potent antioxidant capabilities, which makes them appealing not only for acne and acne rosacea, but also for anti aging products.

Food is a huge factor and can often trigger rosacea inflammation. A person should avoid foods that are spicy and and they should avoid drinking alcohol. Eating the proper foods can promote new skin growth and help eliminate toxins from the body.

A person should eat more foods that contain antioxidants such as broccoli, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Other foods that help rosacea include foods that are rich in vitamin B6, magnesium, protein, and fiber. Also avoid sugar and caffeine wherever possible as these are highly inflammatory foods.

There are various natural remedies for rosacea a person can apply on their face. Aloe Vera is a natural skin soother and can be applied daily to prevent the symptoms of rosacea. It hydrates, softens, and cleans the skin. Aloe Vera contains minerals that encourages the skin to heal and regenerate.

Other natural remedies for calming rosacea redness includes a honey and milk mixture. Honey is great for the skin because it attracts and retains moisture which can help with inflamed skin. Milk contains lactic acid which removes dead skin cells that are associated with inflammation.

Honey makes a very soothing ingredient for rosacea skin care.  One spoonful of honey and a small bit of milk can be mixed and applied to the skin until it dries. Then it should be rinsed it off with warm water.

Oatmeal with milk is also a great skin soother. The oatmeal contains soothing anti-flammatory properties that help with redness associated with rosacea. Oatmeal and milk can be mixed together to form a paste that is applied to the skin. It should be left to dry and rinsed off with warm water. The paste can be applied once a week.

Green tea paste is a natural and affordable way to soothe inflamed skin. Green tea leaves can be mixed with either water or milk and applied to the face. It can reduce redness and inflammation in the face.

Vinegar, although it seems like it may irritate the skin since it is acidic, can actually calm the redness and inflammation and has also been proven to work on rosacea. It can be applied to the affected area and must sit for at least an hour to deeply penetrate. Vinegar helps remove redness. 

Apple cider vinegar is always my vinegar of choice, and it should be the organic, unfiltered variety with “the mother” which is the shreddy looking stuff in the bottom – this is where all the powerful nutrients are.

By taking a natural approach to cure and treat rosacea, a person can help rebuild their body while keeping rosacea away for good.

Often times I’ll find that if I’m ruminating or obsessing about certain things which I have no control over, or I’m worrying too much about finances and bills, I start to see it manifest itself in my skin.  I always have had a huge correlation between stress, anxiety and acne. 

It’s been that way for me since I was an angst-ridden teen, all the way up to my current state of adulthood where I face new and different stressors. And I inevitably begin to notice my skin improve when :

A. I stop worrying about the things that had my attention in a negative way

and

B. When I stop worrying about the breakout and how my skin looks, obsessing over keeping it covered up with my stick cover up which I carry in my purse when I break out, and when I stop looking at myself and thinking I’m ugly in the mirror

Somehow, when I stop putting so much pressure on myself about these things – the thing that made me break out in the first place (the stress) and then also the fact that my skin is broken out and I feel everyone must be staring at my zits when they’re talking to me – I begin to notice clearer, calmer skin.

It makes me feel good when it starts to clear up, and this thought seems to just perpetuate itself, giving me clearer skin and a clearer mind. I wish I could tell you I’ve mastered my stress and anxiety, but I sure haven’t. Hence the reason I still write this blog and still get the occasional breakout, and probably will until I reach menopause

Lesson learned here : Calm mind equals a calm face.