Treating acne many times becomes a frustrating and painful exercise. Even after the acne has been treated, they may leave behind woes in the form of scars on the skin, which take months to go away.
Out of frustration, many people in their haste to remove acne scars opt for the treatment products containing harsh chemicals. These products can actually dry out the skin and make managing acne even more difficult. Further such treatments for acne are expensive too.
On the other hand, natural remedies are generally good options. They are gentler and don’t contain artificial colors or fragrances that tend to irritate the skin. One such treatment is yogurt mask. It heals current acne, stop future breakouts and helps in reducing appearance of the acne scars and redness. Moreover, this natural treatment will not pinch your pocket as you can find most of the ingredients in your kitchen cabinet.
Why Is Yogurt An Effective Natural Ingredient For Acne Scars Face Mask?
Yogurt contains several properties that make it an effective natural ingredient to treat acne.
(i) As per “Encyclopedia of Family Health yogurt contains healthy bacterial cultures that generally belong to the lactobacillus species, which when applied topically can exterminate acne-causing bacteria and promote clearer skin.
(ii) Yogurt contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which helps dissolve dead skin cells that can otherwise clog skin pores and trap bacteria that might cause breakouts.
(iii) Moreover, lactic acid’s exfoliating properties can also help brighten skin and reduce hyper-pigmentation – thus, it can help reduce redness and fade scars from acne too.
(iv) Yogurt contains powerful acne-fighting minerals. When used topically, zinc is effective in treating acne, especially inflammatory acne. Zinc helps acne by destroying and inhibiting the development of acne bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes.
(v) Yogurt acts as a natural moisturizer. A yogurt mask won’t dry out your skin like benzoyl peroxide and other store-bought acne treatment products.
DIY Yogurt Face Mask Recipes for Acne Cure And Control
You may apply plain yogurt with active cultures alone as a face mask for acne-prone skin. But you can get more effective results if you combine it with other acne combating natural ingredients. In this article you will find recipes for 5 best homemade yogurt based face masks for removing acne scars and step-by-step instructions about how to use them.
Before we tell you 5 most widely used and effective homemade acne face mask recipes, here are some natural beauty tips that you should keep in mind while preparing a yogurt face mask for acne scars:
(i) Try to use plain, unflavored organic yogurt, or use homemade plain curd/yogurt for making a facemask.
(ii) If you have oily skin, use a low-fat yogurt.
(iii) In case your skin is dry skin, use a full-fat kind yogurt.
# 1
Yogurt And Strawberry Mask For Acne Scars
According to Janice Cox, author of “Natural Beauty at Home,” fresh strawberries contain natural salicylic acid, which helps dissolve the keratin that holds dead cells on the skin. So, it prevents your pores from getting clogged that otherwise can lead to acne. Strawberries cleanse the skin deeply and clear acne and blackheads. Salicylic acid is found in numerous over-the-counter topical acne treatments.
Method: Preparing a yogurt and strawberry face mask for acne scars is very easy. All you need to do is to take equal amounts of plain, unflavored yogurt and strawberry and mash them together to form a paste – a natural acne-fighting mask.
Useful Related Post: Acne Scars Removal Products
# 2
Yogurt And Honey Acne Fighting Mask
Honey has antimicrobial, anti fungal, anti septic properties that fight off acne germs and heal wounds from popped zits. It also has antioxidants and at the same time is beneficially sticky. This stickiness pulls away the dust, dead skin, and microbes from the pores while the antimicrobial properties keep the skin from becoming infected again. The antioxidants in honey help make the skin look younger and finally, the wax makes the skin smooth, shiny, and moist.
Honey alone can be used as a mask and is effective in curing acne by cleansing your pores. It doesn’t let microbes grow due to its antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It acts as a detoxifying agent and considerably softens scar tissue and lightens acne scars when used in combination with yogurt. Honey also has skin lightening properties, which will fade out acne scars and dark marks.
Method: You can easily prepare this diy acne scars face mask at home by mixing well a tablespoon of yogurt and a teaspoon of honey. If honey is too sticky, warm it a little bit before combining with the yogurt.
Useful Related Post: Best Acne Spot Treatments
# 3
Lemon Yogurt Acne Combating Face Mask
Did you know lemon acts as a natural astringent that can tone an oily pimply face? And that it also contains citric acid, which helps to fade away already existing acne scars. Lemon juice also takes out excess sebum/oils clogged deep within your skin pores, hence averting more acne. Coupled with yogurt, this yogurt lemon face mask will help clear your face as well as soothe inflamed acne.
Method: Combine together 1 tablespoon plain yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice to prepare the acne mask.
# 4
Yogurt And Oatmeal
This oatmeal and yogurt face mask is suitable for all skin types and is a very effective natural skin cleanser, facial scrub, and a soothing facial mask.
Oatmeal contains 18 different amino acids and has hypoallergenic properties that help heal acne, blemishes, rashes, allergies and repair damaged skin. Oatmeal can absorb and remove skin impurities while providing very gentle exfoliation (perfect for exfoliating acne skin), leaving skin smooth, soft, and clean with a healthy glow. It’s gentle abrasive nature helps scrub off excess dead cells and sebum which can otherwise block pores and create acne. The polysaccharides and healthy fats contained in oatmeal help to soften, repair, nourish and rejuvenate the skin. Yogurt and oatmeal work great in combination for preparing natural face masks for acne scars. This mask works great for people with sensitive skin.
Method: To make this mask, you need equal amounts of crushed oats mixed with equal amounts of yogurt. You can also add in a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice for extra cleansing effect or organic honey to make it more potent.
# 5
Yogurt and Egg White Acne Mask
If you have excess oily skin, use egg white to control skin oiliness. Egg white helps in shrinking skin large pores, so is really effective in regulating the amount of sebum oozing out of skin pores. It helps in preventing occurrence of more acne. Egg white has toning, tightening and astringent properties that help to heal acne too. The homemade yogurt and egg mask may just be the perfect cure for treating your rough and patchy skin with large pores and acne. Packed with proteins, vitamins and minerals, the nourishing yogurt and egg white facial mask for acne and scarring is suitable for all skin types.
Method: Crack one egg, separate the egg white and take only 1 tablespoon of it and mix with 1 tablespoon of yogurt, and stir the mixture thoroughly until you have a mixture of uniform consistency.
Useful Related Post: Powerful Treatments For Removing Blackheads
How To Apply The Face Mask For Acne Scars Correctly?
Here are the steps to use homemade acne face mask properly:
(i) Make a fresh batch of the facemask for acne scars every time you want to apply it.
(ii) Take a wide soft brush or a facemask applicator to apply the mask on your face. Always wash it thoroughly before using. If you don’t have a brush or applicator, wash your hands properly and use your fingertips to apply the mask.
(iii) Apply the prepared mixture to your face evenly and let it sit for at least 15-20 minutes. Once the mask has dried, wash it off with clean lukewarm water. You may use a soft washcloth to gently remove it. You should use the facemask for acne scars only 2-3 times a week.
(iv) You can cut two thin slices of cucumber to place over your eyes while the face mask is working to clear acne off your skin.
(v) Pat dry your face with a soft towel. Never try to wipe your face.
If you develop an excessive tingling or burning sensation soon after applying the mask, wash it off immediately.
Natural Beauty Tips:
(i) If your skin feels a bit stiff after using any of the above masks, apply gently a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil into your face as a moisturizer.
(ii) Though yogurt is a natural product, but it may still irritate acne prone skin. To make sure that you aren’t allergic or sensitive to the mask, it is always advisable to try a skin patch test of any facemask ingredient on your inner elbow or wrist.
(iii) Since yogurt contains lactic acid that exfoliates skin, using the mask can also make your face more sensitive to sun. Use sunscreen after you use the mask to prevent sun damage.
(iv) Using a homemade facemask to fade acne scars helps to reduce the intensity of acne scars on your face. However, facemasks may not prove to be effective for everyone. Whereas some may find their skin glowing and clear with these masks, others may not see much improvement even after months of applying facemasks.
Are you using any acne removing face mask. If yes, please share your recipe under the comments below.