How To Get A Clean Smooth Face

The current unrealistic beauty standards claim that fairness and brightness are signs of healthy skin. However, the reality is far from this assumption. Healthy skin is characterized by high elasticity, smooth texture, and even tone. This awareness will prevent you from bombarding your skin with expensive, heavy, and synthetic skin care products. In this article, you will get to know what helps and what doesn't in achieving clear and acne-free skin.

Makeup is a temporary solution as it can only camouflage, not cure your skin problems. Using cheap or bad quality cosmetic products can make your skin greasy and further aggravate the problem. One of the easiest ways to get clear and spotless skin is to stick to natural home remedies as they are safe and reliable and don't burn a hole in your pocket. Here are 14 home remedies that will help you get the clear and spotless skin you always wanted.

In This Article

How To Get Clear Skin
- 1. Detox Water For Clear Skin
- 2. Coconut Oil
- 3. Green Tea
- 4. Lemon
- 5. Honey For Glowing Skin
- 6. Aloe Vera
- 7. Olive Oil
- 8. Oatmeal
- 9. Rose Water
- 10. Potato
- 11. Turmeric
- 12. Tomato
- 13. Apple Cider Vinegar
Diet For Clear And Healthy Skin
Additional Tips To Get Clear Skin

How To Get Clear Skin

1. Detox Water For Clear Skin

Cucumber has cooling properties and rejuvenates the skin (1), (2). Lemon helps manage endocrine dysfunction, thus eliminating one of the most common reasons for developing spots and acne (3), (4). Mint aid in regulating indigestion and clearing any internal infections (5).

You Will Need

2 L water
1 cucumber
1 lemon
A handful of mint leaves
A pitcher

What You Have To Do

Slice the cucumber and lemon and drop the pieces in an empty pitcher. Add the mint leaves as well.
Pour water over these and refrigerate.
Keep sipping this water all day long.

How Often Should You Do This

You can continue having this detox water every day for long-lasting healthy and clear skin.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil moisturizes your skin. Its antimicrobial properties may help keep the skin clean and infection-free. It contains phytochemicals that are powerful antioxidants that scavenge free radicals (6). These activities may contribute to making your skin clear and acne-free.

You Will Need

Virgin coconut oil
Cotton ball or cotton pad

What You Have To Do

Lightly warm up the oil.
Dot the oil all over the skin with your fingertips and massage the area for a minute or two.
Let the oil soak in for a couple of minutes. Wipe away the excess oil with a cotton ball/pad.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this 2 times a day.

Caution: Do not try this remedy if you have acne-prone skin as coconut oil may aggravate the condition.

3. Green Tea

Doctors recommend the daily consumption of green tea for a healthy body and clear skin. Green tea contains antioxidants that can nourish, heal, and detoxify your body (7). This, in turn, reflects on your skin. You can also use skin care products like face wash, moisturizer, and facial packs that contain green tea for clear and healthy-looking skin (8).

You Will Need

Green tea bag
A cup of hot water
Honey (to taste)
Lemon juice (to taste)

What You Have To Do

Steep the green tea bag in hot water for a few minutes.
Remove the tea bag and add honey and lemon juice.
Sip this herbal tea while it is warm.

How Often Should You Do This

Drink 2-3 cups of green tea in a day.

4. Lemon

Lemon juice is a rich source of vitamin C, which helps in skin lightening (9). This remedy may help you get rid of spots and blemishes and achieve clear skin (10).

You Will Need

A lemon

What You Have To Do

Cut a lemon in two halves.
Rub one half directly onto your skin in a circular motion.
Do this for 5 minutes. Rinse your face with cold water.

How Often Should You Do This

You can do this once daily.

Caution: If you have sensitive skin, do not try this remedy as it may cause redness and irritation. Do a patch test on your inner elbow and wait for 30 minutes to check if there is any reaction. If your skin is irritated, do not proceed with this remedy.

5. Honey For Glowing Skin

Honey contains vitamins and minerals that nourish the skin. It also contains antioxidants, called flavonoids, which can give you clear and healthy-looking skin. Honey has emollient properties that moisturize your skin and soften it (11).

You Will Need

1 teaspoon raw honey

What You Have To Do

Apply a thin layer of honey on a clean and dry face.
Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
Rinse with lukewarm water.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this every day.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has skin-friendly, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It stimulates fibroblasts that produce collagen and elastin fibers, increasing the skin's elasticity. It also acts as an astringent and tightens pores. Aloe vera is an excellent moisturizing agent and helps eliminate dryness and flaking of skin (12).

You Will Need

A leaf from the aloe vera plant

What You Have To Do

Remove the thorny sides and the green outer covering from the aloe vera leaf.
Cut the gel into small cubes.
You can either grind the cubes to a pulp or rub them directly onto the skin.

How Often Should You Do This

Include the aloe vera remedy in your daily skincare routine for spot-free, flawless skin.

Caution: Aloe vera might not work for all skin types, so it's advised to do a patch test before using it on your face.

7. Olive Oil

Olive oil contains vitamin E that hydrates the skin and restores its elasticity (13). It also contains phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. These properties reduce oxidative damage, promoting skin reconstruction (14). This, in turn, can improve your skin health.

You Will Need

Extra virgin olive oil
Soft washcloth
Hot water

What You Have To Do

Apply a few drops of extra virgin olive oil on the skin.
Follow this up with a gentle massage in circular motions.
Leave it on for a few minutes.
Wipe it off using a washcloth dipped in hot water.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this every night before going to bed.

Caution: Make sure that the water is not scalding hot.

8. Oatmeal

Oatmeal soothes the skin and exfoliates the dead skin cells. It also moisturizes the skin and exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities (15). These properties make it a good cleanser, moisturizer, and anti-inflammatory agent.

You Will Need

2 tablespoons oatmeal
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey

What You Have To Do

Mix all the ingredients to form a thick paste. Add a little water if required.
Apply this mask on the face and neck. Leave it on for 15 minutes.
Rinse with lukewarm water.

How Often Should You Do This

Apply this mask 2 times a week

9. Rose Water

Rosewater is one of the most commonly used natural remedies for clear and glowing skin. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (16). It has anti-aging properties and promotes the production of collagen and elastin for healthy-looking skin. It is also a natural astringent and tones the skin.

You Will Need

Rosewater
Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

Place the rose water in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Apply it all over a clean face and neck using the cotton ball.
Let it air dry. Moisturize as usual.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this 2 times a day.

10. Potato

Potato contains enzymes and vitamin C that can nourish your skin. It also exerts an antiseptic action on the skin and leaves behind a youthful glow. The pulp is acidic and helps in sloughing off dead skin cells, revealing glowing skin underneath (17).

You Will Need

A potato

What You Have To Do

Cut the potato into round slices.
Take a slice and rub it onto your skin in circular motions.
Rub the slices for five minutes and wash it off with cold water.

How Often Should You Do This

Follow this routine once daily for best results.

11. Turmeric

Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and therapeutic agent and is widely used to treat minor cuts, wounds, pimples, and acne (18). It also has skin lightening properties that can help in getting rid of spots and blemishes.

You Will Need

2 tablespoons turmeric powder
1/4 cup water

What You Have To Do

Mix two tablespoons of turmeric with water to make a thick paste.
Apply this paste over your face.
Let it stay on for about five minutes. Rinse your face with cold water.

How Often Should You Do This

Apply the turmeric face pack daily.

12. Tomato

Tomato contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from UV damage and oxidative stress (19). This can keep the skin healthy and youthful.

You Will Need

A tomato
2 teaspoons rose water

What You Have To Do

Make a pulp of the tomato and mix it with two teaspoons of rose water.
Apply this mixture on your face and keep it on for 10 minutes.
Wash your face with cool water and pat dry with a soft towel.

How Often Should You Do This

You can do this daily.

13. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar possesses antimicrobial properties that can help in preventing and treating infections (20). The acids present in ACV exfoliate dead skin cells and reveal a fresh and healthy layer of skin cells. ACV also acts as an astringent that can prevent your pores from getting infected and inflamed.

You Will Need

1 part apple cider vinegar
1 part water
Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

Mix ACV with water and soak the cotton ball in it.
Apply the cotton ball to the skin and leave it on overnight.
Wash the area in the morning.
You can also add a teaspoon of ACV to a glass of water and drink it every morning.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this every night before going to bed.

In addition to following these remedies, you also need to make changes in your diet to get clear and healthy skin.

Diet For Clear And Healthy Skin

Although research on the connection between diet and healthy skin is still in its primitive stages, a study shows that a low glycemic diet can help prevent acne (21).

The low-glycemic diet involves consuming foods that have a low glycemic index. Foods with a low GI can help control blood sugar levels (22).

Here's what you need to consume and avoid to keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Fruits: Apricots and orange
Vegetables: Green leafy vegetables and tomatoes.
Nuts
Beans and lentils
Avoid processed carbs and aerated drinks

You can drink this healthy green juice for clear and radiant skin.

Green Juice

This green juice or smoothie contains vitamins and minerals, which are healthy for the body and skin. It acts as a beauty detox.

You Will Need

1 cucumber
A handful of kale
5-6 celery stalks
1/2 green apple
A handful of cilantro leaves
Juice of one lemon
Water

What You Have To Do

Grind all the ingredients with a little water to make this healthy green juice.
Drink the juice in the mornings.

How Often Should You Do This

Consume this juice once daily.

Apart from the home remedies listed above, here are a few clear skin tips to get radiant and spot-free skin.

Additional Tips To Get Clear Skin

Drink Water– Drink lots of water. It will flush out all the toxins and help maintain your skin's hydration levels. This will help you get clear, glowing, and healthy skin.
Follow A Balanced Diet – One of the most important tips to get clear skin is to include fresh fruits/juices and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
Apply Moisturizer Daily – If you have extremely dry skin, it starts compensating for the dryness by producing natural skin oils, which can lead to acne and breakouts. To avoid this, moisturize your skin daily, and do twice as much during winters. This will help prevent flaky and dry skin. Remember to use non-comedogenic moisturizers that will not clog your pores.
Wash Your Face Twice Daily – Always wash your wash before you go to bed to get rid of the day's grime that may have settled in your pores. Ensure to wash your face with cold water (cold water closes the pores) for 35-40 seconds with a dime-sized amount of face wash to get rid of the dirt and oils.
Be Gentle – Scrubbing your skin too hard can leave it red and irritated. Skip harsh washcloths and loofahs as they can cause breakouts and aggravate dryness.
Slather SPF – Sunscreens can make your skin less oily. This may help prevent pimples.
Exfoliate – Exfoliation can remove layers of dead skin cells, dirt, and oil that clog your pores. Use products with glycolic acid and lactic acid as they help absorb the oils and grime settled in your pores (23). Make sure you moisturize your skin later to avoid dryness.
Stop Touching Your Face (Don't Pop) – Your hands have millions of bacteria that can transfer onto your skin. If you pop your pimples, your present condition can get worse, and there are chances of infection too. Use a cotton pad to check on the problem areas.
Try The 3-Step Skin Care Routine – This routine is meant only for acne-prone skin. The steps include a salicylic acid cleanser, a toner or astringent, and a non-comedogenic (oil-free) moisturizer. These products create an exfoliating effect on your skin, removing dead skin cells right away. However, this routine can cause skin dryness and irritation. Therefore, do a patch test before proceeding with the routine.
Go To The Dermatologist – If home remedies are not helpful, seek a dermatologist help to resolve the issue. Learn about your skin and use prescribed medications to achieve healthy skin.
Try Prescription Medicines – Your doctor may suggest topical retinoids, creams, gels, and pills resolve different skin issues. Use them as recommended for faster and better results.
Relax Your Mind – A study shows that stress is directly proportional to skin disorders (24). Emotional stress can take a toll on your skin and lead to skin disorders. Hence, look for healthy ways to de-stress by doing yoga, exercise, or listening to music or attending art therapy, meditation, etc. Most importantly, get 7- 8 hours of sleep every day.
Clean Makeup Brushes – Clean your makeup brushes at least once every two weeks. Bacteria breed in moist areas, and brushes that come in regular contact with liquid/creamy makeup products are potential breeding grounds for bacteria. Thus, they need to be cleaned every week. Brushes that are less frequently used or used for dry makeup products can be cleaned every three to four weeks. Wash the brushes with shampoo and let them dry overnight.
Remove Makeup – Remove your makeup before going to bed. Your skin regenerates and repairs itself while you sleep. If you don't remove the makeup from your skin, you'll end up with clogged pores, and your skin will be prone to breakouts. Use the olive oil home remedy or a makeup remover to remove all traces of makeup from the face.

Following the above tips and remedies may help you get clear, glowing skin in a few weeks, but not overnight. Make sure to consult your dermatologist before trying any of these remedies to pick the one best suited for your skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can apple cider vinegar give clear and glowing skin?

Although apple cider vinegar is commonly used to treat skincare issues, there is no scientific evidence to prove its efficacy in treating skin issues.

24 sources

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