Acne 101: Causes, Tips, Routines to Help Ease Breakouts
Acne can be a deeply personal experience and, for some, a challenging one. Working with natural acne treatments can help address blemishes and excess oil, and aid skin recovery. Let’s explore Acne 101, causes, tips and routines to find balance and clarity, from the inside, and out.
Acne 101 – Causes, Tips and Routines to Help Ease Breakouts
Different Types of Acne
Acne, the most common skin condition, can manifest in various forms.
Blackheads and whiteheads are common, non-inflammatory types of acne. Blackheads are open comedones that darken upon exposure to air, while whiteheads remain closed under the skin, forming small, white bumps.
Small red bumps, or papules, are inflamed and can be tender, arising when clogged pores become irritated. Cystic acne is a more severe form, with large, painful lumps beneath the skin's surface caused by deep inflammation and infection.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) may occur after acne heals, leaving behind dark spots or discoloration that can be managed with gentle, consistent care.
What Causes Acne and Blemishes?
Acne and blemishes occur when pores become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and impurities, creating an environment for bacteria to thrive and leading to inflammation and pimples. Skin produces oil to protect and nourish itself, but overactive sebaceous glands producing more than needed, in turn clogging pores, can lead to acne.
Hormonal shifts, diet and lifestyle choices, and incompatible skin care practices can play a role in increased oil production, influencing skin's behavior.
Whether acne stems from a food allergy, stress, hormonal changes, or contact dermatitis (a direct reaction to an irritant), it’s essential to avoid treatments that exacerbate irritation.
Harsh products, such as astringent soaps and toners containing isopropyl alcohol, can disrupt the skin’s delicate balance, stripping it of its natural oils. When the skin’s protective barrier is compromised, it becomes inflamed and dehydrated, creating the ideal conditions for acne and other skin irritations to continue. This cycle of dryness, inflammation, and increased oil production can make managing acne feel like an uphill battle.
Key Plant Remedies to Help Diminish Acne
Tea Tree Leaf: A potent remedy renowned for its antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, and astringent properties. A herbal ally to cleanse, detoxify, and offer anti-inflammatory properties while naturally boosting circulation. This potent remedy is found in Clarifying Dermagel.
Bergamot: With its gentle touch, Bergamot serves as a natural skin toner and detoxifier, graced with anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and astringent properties. This natural treasure is found in Essential C Tonic.
Spearmint: An invigorating purifier, Spearmint stimulates circulation and decongests, increasing the flow of nutrients and oxygen. It acts as a natural astringent with anti-microbial properties, bringing freshness and vitality. You can experience its benefits in Purifying Cleansing Gel.
Thyme: Known for its antiseptic qualities, Thyme is a natural remedy that enhances circulation by releasing oxygen, supporting the body’s detoxification process. This humble yet powerful herb is found in Clarifying Dermagel.
Gentle Protocol for Acne and Blemish Prone Skin
Morning Ritual
Cleanse
Purifying Cleansing Gel is an invigorating herbal facial wash–perfect for cleansing oily or overactive skin. Refreshing Spearmint and Alfalfa Leaf gently remove excess oils and impurities, balance sebum production, and increase skin’s vitality. This is such a refreshing way to wake up skin by purifying, decongesting, and brightening.
Tone
Sweeping the skin clean with Essential C Tonic revitalizes the complexion with Ginseng and citrus essences—Bergamot, Orange Peel, and Grapefruit. This fresh, energizing tonic clarifies and balances skin’s pH. Bergamot and Grapefruit detoxify, while Ginseng Root nourishes and promotes a bright, clear complexion.
Treatment
Lightweight and blended with Thyme, Tea Tree, and Myrrh, Clarifying Dermagel, our celebrated spot treatment, helps clear active blemishes without drying or irritating skin.
This innovative blend combines potent re-balancing and detoxifying herbal remedies including Thyme, Tea Tree and Myrrh in an Aloe base that protects skin from over-drying and further damage.
Moisturizing
A lightweight daytime moisturizer, Luminous Morning Crème is blended with uplifting Citrus Essences, including Neroli and Sweet Orange, for gentle clarifying and illuminating action.
Neroli’s antibacterial properties help reduce acne and soothe inflammation, while Sweet Orange provides a burst of Vitamin C to help promote collagen production and healing. Skin is left balanced and refreshed, ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Evening Ritual
Cleanse
In the evening, Purifying Cleansing Gel serves as the perfect start to your nighttime routine to gently yet thoroughly remove excess oils, impurities, and any buildup from the day.
Toner
Follow with Essential C Tonic to refresh your skin after a long day and help it better absorb products in your evening routine. This toner, rich in Vitamin C and citrus essences, invigorates and balances your skin, maximizing the regenerative and healing power of rest.
Treat
Treat skin again with Clarifying Dermagel, which is ideal for nighttime use to support skin healing while you sleep. Awakening Eye Gel’s soothing nature is perfect for tired eyes at the end of the day.
Moisturize
Finish either with Luminous Morning Crèeme, as in the morning routine, or for dryer skin types with Celestial Rose Crème, a mid-weight moisturizer with the soothing scent of Rose and Manuka Honey. It melts into skin, providing rich nourishment and creating a barrier to shield skin overnight. This crème helps rehydrate and de-stress, making it ideal for each skin type, including sensitive skin.
Weekly Treatments for Acne
Two or three times each week, treat your skin to a deep yet gentle two-step purifying ritual, ideal for oily or acne-prone skin.
To begin, gently massage in Epi-Peel, a versatile micro-exfoliator and facial mask blended with Moroccan Rosemary and Far West Native Spearmint. Epi-Peel deeply cleanses, refines pores, and draws out impurities, enhancing clarity and radiance. This step not only exfoliates but also stimulates circulation, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Follow with an application of Purifying Luculent Masque, featuring a wealth of ancient detoxifiers, including Fo-Ti and Great Burdock. This masque detoxifies, minimizes pores, and soothes inflammation, making it perfect for calming and purifying the skin after exfoliation. The formula’s Illite Clay base enhances detoxifying properties, ensuring that skin feels clean, balanced, and deeply nourished.
Gentle Acids for Acne
The mainstream approach to treating acne often includes strong formulations with salicylic acid and harsh astringent soaps and toners that contain isopropyl alcohol and aggressive chemicals. When you wash your face with these types of formulas, you can strip the skin of its precious natural oils and weaken its protective barrier. The result is often a complexion that is dehydrated, irritated, and prone to inflammation.
Instead, consider gentle, natural AHAs like those found in White Hibiscus, which Tammy loves to work with. These natural remedies provide the benefits of gentle rejuvenation without the harshness. Tammy's approach involves deep cleansing that detoxifies and purifies the skin while bolstering its natural defenses.
This method soothes inflammation and supports deep healing with rich nutrients, promoting a balanced and radiant complexion.
Holistic Acne Skin Care
Taking a holistic approach to acne involves caring for your skin from the inside out and the outside in. Our holistic philosophy recognizes that, as our largest organ, the skin is a reflection of overall wellness and Tammy always recommends simple lifestyle shifts that make all the difference when working to dissolve acne. You can so effectively work at the roots, reducing triggers.
Embrace Whole, Fresh Foods
Diet and lifestyle have an important impact on skin. Consuming processed foods or sugar can sometimes lead to increased sebum production. It's fascinating how the foods we choose can affect our skin. Incorporating specific foods can greatly support skin and encourage balance.
Vibrant fruits like berries, citrus fruits, and watermelon are rich in antioxidants and vitamins to nourish and protect the skin. Leafy greens, cucumbers, and carrots provide essential nutrients and hydration. Water-rich foods like cucumber and watermelon help maintain skin hydration, while citrus fruits, with their high vitamin C content, support collagen production and enhance skin texture.
Cultivate Tranquility
Gentle activities like yoga, stretching, leisurely walks, and meditation can beautifully reduce stress, improve circulation, and nurture skin from within. Finding joy and laughter in everyday moments brings a remarkable lightness to your spirit, which in turn reflects in your complexion.
Stress, that fight-or-flight response, heightens our sensitivities and sends the body’s systems out of balance. It’s how our bodies react to threat, even when the threat is perceived, not real. Working in the holistic tradition helps treat acne, which erupts on the surface, as well as the deeper imbalances that can lead to skin irritation.
Symptoms often arise first in the skin, the biggest organ, and emotional turmoil can be a primary factor in triggering breakouts when hormones like cortisol increase sebum production. Excess cortisol can also cause premature aging, breaking down the healthy collagen that gives skin its structural integrity and elasticity.
Spending time in nature, whether it's a peaceful walk in the park or simply sitting in a garden, is a simple yet profoundly soothing practice for the mind and body, helping to alleviate stress. Incorporating ways to decompress and release into your daily rhythm, including meditation and exercise, will have a great effect on your complexion.
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