Natural Ways to Get and Keep Clear, Healthy Skin

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How To Get Clear Skin

I’ve been asked over and over how old I am. I chuckle quietly to myself while someone tries to guess – often well below my actual age. I have good skin, and although I hit 51 last December, my skin is one of my best features. How do I do it? By using quite a few herbs and supplements that promote healthy, younger looking skin.

Want to know how to get clear skin that is healthy and beautiful? Here are 20 tips to get you there!

How to Get Clear Skin

  1. Lemon and Orange – Citrus fruits contain fruit acids, which work like a mild chemical peel on your skin. Applying the juice to your face is like a gentle microdermabrasion. Wipe fresh juice on with a cotton ball, leave for a few minutes, and rinse off with cool water. You can do this every other day. Overuse may irritate the skin.
  2. Shea Butter – Shea butter contains moisturizers that can penetrate deep into the layers of your skin. It’s long lasting and cost effective. Use pure shea butter as some creams have dimethicone, an unnatural chemical, to provide “slip” so that it’s smooth and easy to use. (Find unrefined organic shea butter here.)
  3. Coconut Oil – Coconut oil contains the highest amount of saturated fatty acids of any of the vegetable-based oils. It will last far longer on the skin than other oils and provide more moisture and protection (even from the sun). It’s inexpensive and can be found at most grocery stores now. It is also shelf stable and not prone to rancidity. (Find unrefined organic coconut oil here.)
  4. Lavender essential oil – Lavender oil has been known as a healing oil for a few hundred years and is still very effective today. It is one of the only essential oils that can be applied “neat” or undiluted to your skin. It’s anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, healing, and is a great sleep aid. (Find organic lavender essential oil here.)
  5. Cocoa Butter – Like shea butter, cocoa butter is very moisturizing. It works wonders on fresh scars to minimize the appearance, and it smells great too. And bonus – your skin will get a healthy dose of antioxidants from cocoa butter like those found in dark chocolate. (Find unrefined organic cocoa butter here.)
  6. Aloe Vera – Another great healing herb. Aloe Vera is also a humectant, meaning that it attracts moisture from the air and attaches it to whatever it is on – in this case, your skin. You can use the fresh leaf or buy convenient bottles or jars. Just be sure to get pure aloe vera as some have a lot of added chemicals. (Find a pure, organic aloe vera gel here.)
  7. Rosehip Seed Oil and Hemp Seed Oil – Rosehip seed oil is very high in essential fatty acids, as is hemp seed oil. They both also contain vitamins A and C which are essential to skin and cell development and contain antioxidants to combat aging. Rosehip seed oil is shelf stable, but hemp oil must be kept refrigerated to keep it from going rancid. (Find organic rosehip seed oil here and organic hemp seed oil here.)
  8. Vitamin E – Like lavender essential oil, Vitamin E oil helps speed healing and lessen the appearance of scars. You can mix this with other oils, butters, or essential oils to boost the benefits for your skin. (Find non-GMO Vitamin E oil here.)
  9. Grapeseed Oil – Grapeseed oil has been found to be one of the oils that most closely resembles the collagen in our own skin. It’s been touted as a beauty secret used by the stars. No secret now, and you can get it at almost any grocery store.
  10. Oatmeal – While not actually an herb, it’s used in a similar way to add moisture to the skin. Grind finely, add enough water to make a paste, and spread on your face. Leave on for about 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. You can do this every day, but if you use it as a scrub, limit its use to twice a week to avoid irritation.
  11. Potatoes – Potatoes contain vitamins B and C. Cut a potato in half, squeeze out the juice, and apply to your skin with a cotton ball.  Rinse off after 15 minutes.
  12. Strawberries, Blueberries, or Bilberries – Crush a few berries and apply to your skin like a mask. Your skin will soak up all the nutrients like Vitamin C, antioxidants, and even salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is one ingredient known to clear blackheads from the skin.
  13. ACV – Apple Cider Vinegar will tone and balance the pH and oils in your skin. Use straight or dilute 50/50 with water. Apply with a cotton ball as a toner.
  14. Sugar – Sugar can be a mild exfoliator. Add a bit of oil, like grapeseed oil, and gently scrub your skin. Use brown sugar, as the crystals are smaller and less irritating.
  15. Tomatoes – Tomatoes contain high amounts of Vitamin C and are great for the skin. Wipe on with a cotton ball, wait 15 minutes, and rinse.
  16. Cabbage – Cabbage contains Vitamin C as well as sulfides. These help to kill bacteria and heal the skin. Steam cabbage until soft and blend into a smooth paste. Let cool and apply to the face. Rinse off after 15 minutes or so.
  17. Ginseng – While ginseng isn’t used on the skin, it’s taken internally. Ginseng is an adaptogen, helping your body to deal with stress. Stress can affect the skin in many ways, including causing breakouts.
  18. Turmeric – Often taken internally, turmeric can be also be used externally for inflammation and counteracting oxidization. Try to find a light colored tincture as large amounts can turn your skin yellow temporarily.
  19. Colloidal Silver and Colloidal Copper – Colloidal silver is antibacterial and can be used as a spray or a soap. It also comes in a gel. (Find a colloidal silver spray here.) Colloidal copper contains micro-particles of copper, which is essential to collagen and skin development. It can be found as a spray which you would use like a toner. It also comes in a soap. (Find a colloidal copper spray here.)
  20. Steam – Steam isn’t an herb or supplement, but it can be used to help loosen dead skin cells and unclog pores. To make a facial steamer, place hot water in a bowl. Add some herbs, such as lavender or chamomile and place your head above the bowl. Drape a towel over your head and around the bowl to catch the steam and direct it towards your face. (Read more about how to make a great facial steam.)

Have you used herbs to keep your skin healthy? Tell us about it!

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About Debra Maslowski

Debra is a master gardener, a certified herbalist, a natural living instructor, and more. She taught Matt and Betsy how to make soap so they decided to bring her on as a staff writer! Debra recently started an organic herb farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina. You can even purchase her handmade products on Amazon!

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DISCLAIMER: Information on DIY Naturalâ„¢ is not reviewed or endorsed by the FDA and is NOT intended to be substituted for the advice of your health care professional. If you rely solely upon this advice you do so at your own risk. Read full Disclaimer & Disclosure statements here.

Comments

  1. Avatar photoKristen says

    Do you have any natural remedies for seborrheic dermatitis? I’ve had it around my nose for years and would love to find a natural way to help the flaking, itching and burning.

    • Avatar photovinnie says

      I’ve never heard of this seborrheic dermatitis, I knew it needs antibiotic to clear/control after my research.

      The natural antibiotic is VINEGAR do you know if you make 1 tsp of vinegar with a cup of water and drink it every morning before breakfast, it can reduce tummy fat? It also fight all infection from coming into your body, TCM believe in using vinegar to kill virus.

      Use organic Apple Cider Vinegar, you may TRY to mix 1 tsp vinegar with 4 tsp water to apply on the area. I use it as my toner on overall face & neck for whitening purpose 🙂

      Do you know the first thing that pops-up in my mind is ENZYME but this is expensive. I have been drinking this to retain my youth ha ha, younger look. The Dietitians told me to apply a thin layer of enzyme on face as mask, it serve as king of mask & no other mask can compete it 🙂 it can cure scar as well, so you may want to TRY & see whether it helps.

  2. Avatar photoShal says

    Hi! I’ve always had somewhat greasy skin and used to break out a lot, even as a young adult. Once on hormonal birth control, however, my skin cleared up quite a bit! After almost three years on bc, I recently stopped, and am frustrated that I am breaking out again. Are any of the items you mentioned particularly good for acne caused by hormonal changes after stopping hormonal bc? Thanks!!

    • Avatar photovinnie says

      Barley Drink
      1/2 cup of barley
      10 cups of water
      50g of dried sugar winter melon
      Bring to boil & simmer for an hour, then let it cool at room temperature before drink. You can drink this for the whole day to replace water. If you can not find the sugar melon, can use rock sugar or normal sugar. Adjust the sweetness, you can drink alternate day or 3 times a week up to you until you don’t have breakout anymore. It also help for whitening & slimming as well.

      The answer for balance up hormone, younger looking skin and longer life is SWEET POTATO 🙂

      Ask more, then I reveal more ha…ha…

  3. Avatar photovictoria ingham says

    Hello and thankyou for the great suggestions you have shared im definately trying these your website is full of helpful information well done keep going kind regards from vicky uk

  4. Avatar photoEmily says

    What are your thought on tea tree oil for use to combat acne? I use tea tree oil for many things and find it very useful!

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      I have and do use tea tree oil for acne, Emily. I left it out because I thought it was too obvious, but now I see I should have included it. It is a wonderful healing agent. Thanks for reminding me!

    • Avatar photovinnie says

      Drink lots of barley water to cure acne, you can grind barley then mix with water to make a paste as a mask too. Your skin will looks fair and radiant. Use turmeric mix with little oil and milk to make a paste as a mask to cure acne and whitening, turmeric mask will give you younger looking skin. Drink winter melon water to fight acne and for smooth skin. One of my secret: it helps to balance up hormone, younger looking skin and longer life 🙂 guess what is that?

  5. Avatar photoSimo says

    Hi! Thanks for the great suggestions. I will try them all! 🙂 Also, my grand mother used to wash her face with organic wine (as a tonic). Could this “homemade method” be considered as another way to help our shin remain fresh and healthy, or is it better not to try it. What do you think? Thanks! 🙂 Simo

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      Wine, Simo? I’d have never thought of that, but it makes sense. While is full of antioxidants and the alcohol content is lower than some toners. Hmm..you all are giving me some great ideas! Thanks!

  6. Avatar photoandrea says

    ive had acne since i was 9 years old, I am now 36. i have tried all sorts of topical applications of dermatological (accutane 3 times) and natural variety (including some and unusual wives tales too). At some point I became desperate as a teen and fell into depression for various reasons, acne just being one of them. None of it works because I have digestion problems. This past year I found that if I eat refined sugar or maltodextrin fructose etc. i get cysts, blackheads and small pimples in addition to ones that already appear each day. i’ve eliminated these items from my diet and no longer eat processed foods, I eat a mainly vegetarian diet of fresh produce, with little cheese and dairy and grains/bread. I’ve also determined that if I don’t eliminate properly everyday it flares my acne due to constipation. I think this article like many others on a similar topic indicate that if you apply the right items to your skin that your acne will clear – this is not the case. Acne is often related to the digestion system not working properly and no topical products whether 100% natural, organic, pharmaceutical or otherwise will help unless digestion is focused upon. Thank you for all your information.

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      Thanks Andrea, and what you said is true. A lot of times it takes internal help as well as external. For this article I was focusing on the external side of things, but now you’ve given me an idea for a different article…hmmm….Thanks!

  7. Avatar photoCarolyn Reed says

    Would you be willing to share your daily skin care routine. I am very interested in natural products. I have daily taken care of my face, and at 76 looks good. However, my hand and arms look my age. Is there anything I can do, to make a difference?

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      Hi Carolyn! I did share my routine above for my face, but I didn’t mention my hands and arms. I don’t do much with my arms, but there’s no reason you couldn’t treat them the same as your hands. So..here’s what I do. Every night I wash my hands and moisturize them. Twice a week I use a salt and oil scrub. You could use sugar too. Take some finely ground salt or sugar and place it in a small bowl. Add at bit of oil and stir together. You can add some essential oil if you like. Rose and chamomile are good for skin as well as ylang ylang and patchouli being good for aging skin. Take this mixture and rub it into your hands well. Rub for about 5 minutes, then rinse off. Moisturize if needed, I usually get enough from the oil.

  8. Avatar photoKathleen says

    I forgot to mention that I use coconut oil and baking soda to wash and scrub my face each night. It has done wonders for my skin. My teenage daughters are now using it and love it!

  9. Avatar photoTerressa Ferguson Zook says

    You listed all the ingredients I use, with the exception of just a few I have yet to try. We are kindred spirits, I believe, which is why I appreciate you & this blog so much. Health & happiness to you & yours.

  10. Avatar photoKathleen B. says

    What is your skin care routine? You can’t possibly use all of these products at once?!

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      No, you’re right Kathleen, I don’t At night I use a cleanser, scrub and tone, then moisturize. Twice a week I use a mask, once a clay type and once an enzyme type like pineapple. In the morning I rinse with warm water, tone and moisturize lightly. I have oily skin, so I don’t scrub in the morning since it stimulates circulation. Sometimes in place of moisturizer during the day I’ll spray on some colloidal copper and let that dry. About once a month I try one of the other things listed, or if I have a problem like sunburn or acne breakout.

  11. Avatar photoKathleen says

    Thank you so much for this list. And thanks for posting where to purchase.

    Could you please let us know what supplements you take for your skin and where to buy them?
    Thanks, Kathleen

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      Sure Kathleen! I take a good multivitamin, an extra B-Complex and plenty of fruits and veggies, exercise and water. I switch brands on the vitamins and haven’t seen much difference. I think the one I’m on right now if Schiff. I don’t go to the gym or run or anything. I get plenty of exercise hauling feed for my goats and chickens, soil and supplements for my gardens and plants and other items back and forth from shows. I do all this 3-4 times a week which seems to be working. I get my supplements at food co-ops and health food stores. The ones we have in town here are Earth Fare, Greenlife, French Broad Food Co-op and Fresh Market.