Aloe Vera for Acne Scars and Dark Marks

DIY Skincare

Growing up my aunt always kept Aloe Vera plants in her garden. I’d sometimes see her cut off a piece and take it into the kitchen but I never really knew what she did with it. I suppose I should have asked! It was only when I was in my teens that I learned about the healing properties of aloe vera for the skin. And it was only in my 20s when I tried actually using aloe vera for acne scars.

Aloe Vera is a species of plant that is used medicinally to treat skin conditions and digestive ailments. It is native to North Africa and has been used both topically and internally as a healing treatment for at least 6,000 years. Pure aloe vera gel from inside the stem of the plant can be used directly on the skin to benefit from the healing properties.

I discovered aloe vera as a skincare treatment when I was looking for products to get rid of the dark marks on my face, and a friend suggested I try aloe vera for acne scars. It’s a gentle and natural option to treat hyperpigmentation and obtain a fantastic skintone.

What makes aloe vera so good for acne scars?

Aloe vera contains natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for treating skin ailments. With its nutrient rich properties, aloe vera is a good at home remedy for treating mild to moderate acne and areas of mild hyperpigmentation, including acne scars and melasma. When aloe vera is applied on dry skin, it allows for skin tissue regeneration and promotes good blood circulation.

You can apply aloe vera directly to the skin or combine it with other ingredients to make a face mask. You can make a simple skin lightening face mask by mixing one honey with one part aloe vera gel. Apply it for 20 minutes before washing off.

If you’d prefer to use pure aloe vera without mixing it with anything else, you could apply the gel to your face before going to sleep and washing it off in the morning. Your skin will feel tight as the aloe vera dries on your face but continue doing this and you will notice that your dark marks begin to fade.

Where to Buy Aloe Vera

You can buy an aloe vera plant from a garden centre so that you can cut off a stem whenever you need to. Aloe vera plants are very low maintenance but if you don’t want to do that, you can buy 100% aloe vera gel from your local health shop or online. There are many products that contain aloe vera juice or gel but the best thing to go for is pure aloe vera gel that contains no additives or other added ingredients.

Click here to buy the bestselling 100% aloe vera gel from Amazon

Using aloe vera for acne scars is very effective but as with all natural ingredients, it does work quite slowly. If you want a faster method to treat your acne scars, you may want to consider using a skin lightening cream that contains natural ingredients such as Meladerm.

Find out more about Meladerm for treating acne scars and dark marks

5 Ways to Include Green Tea in Your Skin Care Regimen

DIY Skincare

This article was submitted by EJ Poole a wife, mother of 2 and It Works Global distributor residing in the state of North Carolina. Her favorite It Works products include the Ultimate Body Applicator and Hair Skin Nails Nourishing Complex.

Green tea, now considered a super-food has been a staple in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for centuries. Botanically it is known as Camellia Sinesis and comes from the same plant as the 3 other forms of tea: white, oolong and black. Green tea however, is not fermented during processing and for this reason it retains more nutrients.

Whether taking orally or applied topically, the benefits of green tea are numerous. Green tea is extremely high in antioxidants giving it potent anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are also critical in helping to protect the body against free radicals; free radicals are a primary factor in premature aging. This is why green tea is often the primary ingredient in all the best skin care products.

Incorporating green tea into your daily skin care routine is easy and because of it’s popularity, it will also be relatively inexpensive.

1. As a drink: Although there are no definitive studies of how much green tea one must drink in order to experience the various health benefits, researchers agree that one to two cups of tea per day is a start. Keep in mind that green tea contains natural caffeine so you don’t want to go overboard. When possible, purchase organic green tea from natural food stores such as Wholefoods or specialty stores such as Teavana.

2. As a steam treatment: Steam treatments enhance circulation, increase perspiration (which helps to remove toxins) and is a nice way to open your pores and soften the build-up within them making it easier to remove. Instead of using just plain water, break open a green tea bag and empty the contents into your steaming bowl.

3. As a toner: Make your own skin toner by steeping a pot of green tea, allowing it to cool and then putting the liquid in a sterilized container with a lid or spray bottle. Apply with a cotton ball or spritz on your face as needed.

4. Adding it to your skin care products: Steep your tea bag in hot water for a roughly 30-45 seconds or enough time to allow the tea to soften. Take about 2 or so tablespoons and add it to your favorite cream-based facial cleanser and then mix it well. What you’ll have is similar to a mask, apply it to your face and leave it on for 5 to 30 minutes, then rinse.

5. Skin care products that include green tea: Whether for fighting acne or anti-aging, the best, most effective skin care solution systems all include green tea as a primary ingredient. After having tried some of the most expensive department and specialty store brands, I’ve found my favorite skin care products in the line by It Works! Global. You may be most familiar with the company’s Ultimate Body Applicator “body wrap” (which also contains green tea extract) but the skin care line which includes a facial mask, cleanser, toner, lip & eye cream, and both age preventing and age repairing moisturizers – are also wildly popular items. Green tea extract is a primary ingredient in all these products.

With a bit of effort, green tea can be seamlessly added to your existing skin care regimen. Try cleansing and moisturizing with green tea skin care products in the morning followed by a cup of green tea and weekly green tea steam treatments and facial masks.

How do you use green tea? Leave a comment below sharing your favorite green tea use!

What Exactly Is The Oil Cleansing Method?

DIY Skincare

Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) Review

The oil cleansing method (OCM) is a natural yet controversial way to cleanse the skin using various therapeutic oils. It contradicts the basic foundations of cleaning the skin. Typically you want to remove the oils from the skin to cleanse it properly. With OCM, you are adding oils to the skin purposely to treat, cleanse and clean it.

This method is popular because it is natural and it lets you select what chemicals you are putting on your skin. There are several success stories online but there are also stories that contradict this.

This method goes against logic because you are using oils to combat problems on the skins that may be caused by oily skin. If you are brave enough to try this skin care routine, research it completely so you don’t aggravate your already sensitive skin.

Type of Oils

When cleansing the skin with oil, you want to start with a carrier oil. This oil will be the base for the cleansing formula. Examples of cleansing oils are extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or castor oil.

Other oils are added to accentuate the cleansing formula. These oils may include sunflower, coconut, grape seed, and jojoba oil. They can be accentuated by added essential oils like lavender, tea tree, and other beneficial oils.

How to use the OCM:

Step One: Make your oil combination. Experiment with castor oil as the base and then add sunflower oil.

Step Two: Apply it to your face. Rub the oil in so you are massaging the skin. This will also remove the makeup, oil and dirt from your skin.

Step Three: Wet a wash cloth and place it in warm to mildly hot water. Place the cloth on your face and let it remain there until the cloth cools. Repeat a few times and then use the cloth to remove the remaining oil.

Repeat this a few times a week and document your progress. Below are two videos

Youtube personality, African Export, has had success with the oil cleansing method. She shows you her routine in the brief youtube video:

Dr. Shultz is against the oil cleansing method. He gives his reasons in the brief video below

Have you ever used this method? Did you have a positive experience? If so, what was your oil cleansing routine and mixture? If not, what methods did work for you?