10 Ingredients to Work into Your Beauty Routine (They Just Might Cure your Acne Once and for All!)
As anyone who's dealt with a pimple knows, finding the perfect acne-fighting skin care regimen is tricky enough without having to interpret all the scientific mumbo jumbo on the label. We can all agree that words like methylparaben and polyquaternium mean very little outside a chemistry classroom. But if you're serious about combating acne, it turns out the most effective MVPs are a lot easier to understand (and pronounce!) than we thought. Why? Because they're all natural!
Celeb estheticians and facialist extraordinaires Ling Chan and Sonya Dakar explain how the 10 ingredients above are the secret to maintaining a flawless complexion—no science degree needed. Click through to find out the superstar ingredients you should incorporate into your beauty lineup stat.
Photo: Sebastian Kim1/11Two top facialists break down the words you should look for on the label.
Photo: Courtesy of Bioré2/11Charcoal: Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer
The same sooty black stuff you use to heat up your grill in the summer is actually useful on your skin, if you can believe it. "When used in skin care products, charcoal has the ability to absorb up to 200 times its weight in impurities, allowing it to effectively remove dead skin cells from the top layer and slurp up trapped contaminants sitting deep within your skin," says Ling Chan, NYC aesthetician and founder of Ling Skincare & Spa. Think of it as a cleaning service for your pores.
Photo: Courtesy of Birchbox3/11Marula Oil: Marula The Leakey Collection Pure Marula Oil
Though we’ve wad poetic about coconut oil, argan oil, and just about every other type of oil out there, the thought of piling oil onto your acne-prone skin still might feel counterintuitive. But hear us out: Specific oils, like marula, are rich in essential fatty acids that mimic those that exist naturally in the outer layer of skin. "It’s great for balancing excess oils and it helps maintain healthy skin function," says Sonya Dakar, NYC aesthetician and founder of the Beverly Hills-based skin clinic Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic.
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora4/11Avocado: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer
"The high vitamin E content [in avocadoes] makes it great for preventing blackheads and pimples while reducing redness at the same time," says Ling. Who needs a single-purpose ingredient, when you can have it all?
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora5/11Aloe Vera: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Egyptians credited cactus juice, also known as aloe vera, as a "plant of immortality" and used the ingredient in herbal medicine for centuries. While we can’t promise aloe will help you live forever, it does have some pretty awesome skin-healing benefits. "Cactus juice not only helps soothe your skin from sun damage, but also reduces redness, sensitivity, and irritation that accompanies acneic skin," says Chan.
Photo: Courtesy of Lush USA6/11Garlic: Lush Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask
This super popular cooking ingredient is also a bona fide bacteria killer. Since eating it raw appeals to, well, no one (unless you’re warding off vampires), consider applying it topically. "Its strong antiseptic and antibacterial properties make it one of the most potent natural antibiotics," says Dakar. While admittedly this thick mask doesn’t quite smell like a basket of roses, your dirt-free pores will thank you.
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Mercury7/11Lemongrass: Tammy Fender Epi-Peel
"It has unique antifungal and antiseptic properties that makes it an amazing astringent without being too drying. Use lemongrass oil to help minimize the size or your pores while creating a protective barrier on your skin," says Dakar. The amazing smell it leaves behind? That’s just an added bonus.
Photo: Courtesy of Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic8/11Bamboo Powder: Sonya Dakar NutraSphere Silver Clarifying Wash
If your struggle with a shiny T-zone gives you a headache, think of bamboo powder as your aspirin. "The rare bamboo flower consists of almost pure hydrated silica, which absorbs oil, gently removes dead skin, and promotes cell turnover. It’s also insanely mattifying, but doesn’t leave your skin feeling too parched," says Dakar. What more can you ask for in a product?
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora9/11Matcha: Erborian Perfect Morning BB Mask
If you’re the kind of beauty super fan who’s followed a 10-step Korean skin care routine your entire life, you’ll love this latest innovation from the Asian beauty market. "Matcha, or green tea, can help fight hormonal acne and is an excellent source of antioxidants almost 25 times that of vitamin C," says Ling. It’s also high in catechin, which is a fancy word for a specific antioxidant that helps fight bacteria and infections.
Photo: Courtesy of Kate Somerville10/11Honey: Kate Somerville EradiKate Mask Foam-Activated Acne Treatment
You know how honey melts into your tea? When you apply it on your face, it does the same cool disappearing act to dead skin cells. "Honey is great as a cleanser for its natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties," says Dakar. "It fights existing infections even below the top layer of skin by unclogging pores and killing the bacteria that causes acne." Since it consists of nutrients like iron, calcium, and loads of vitamins, consider future breakouts a non-issue.
Photo: Courtesy of Maya Chia11/11Chia Seeds: Maya Chia Waterless Body Love Balm
There’s a good reason chia seeds are making the jump from your green juice to your bathroom vanity: "Chia seed oil is a great source of vitamin B3 and zinc, which helps calm skin oil production and reduce acne breakouts," says Dakar. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and it’s crazy-rich in antioxidants even more than vitamins C and E.
