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Clearing Up Skin: The Organic Way

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Steffiny Kallickal Student Contributor, Mercer University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mercer chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

     Do you have issues with acne, discoloration, or oily skin? Well what if you do, but you don’t want to spend too much money on cosmetics and other chemical-induced products? There’s a solution! Just follow the Ayurvedic traditions found in the Eastern hemisphere.

1. Bothersome Blackheads
      To treat blackheads take a gel face wash and mix it with a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of sea salt. Apply to wet face and scrub face as you would with a normal face wash. Then wipe it away with a clean washcloth and some water. So why does this work? Blackheads are skin blemishes that appear on the surface of skin, typically on the nose, due to a build-up of oil and dead skin cells. The sea salt is an antibacterial agent and the baking soda is slightly abrasive, so that, when combined, these two substances rid your face from these spots.

2. Acne Anxiety
      When you wake up in the morning, one thing you do not want to see is a new pimple on your face. So what do you do to make it unnoticeable? Use some toothpaste! I know what you’re thinking. Woah! Wait a minute. Does this really work? The answer is yes. I actually use it myself to clear up any new acne. Just apply a dollop on your fingertip and place it on the blemish. After half an hour to an hour, remove with some water. Now the trick to this method is to use toothpaste when you find a new pimple; it cannot be one that has been there for a few weeks.
     
     If you have acne that has been prominent for a while, then there are other ways to reduce this problem. The first tip is to use garlic. Garlic contains natural antibiotic properties that can take care of pimples. All you need to do is rub a clove of garlic on the spot several times a day, and make sure to avoid using this when on a date (for obvious smelly reasons).
     
     Another organic way to clear up acne is with cucumbers. Grate some cucumber and cover the spot for fifteen minutes. This method also takes care of post-zit scars.

     Lastly you can use salt water to remove pimples, for the same reasons it is used to remove blackheads. For a small area on your face, you can fill a container with warm water and pour plenty of salt in it. Then dip a cotton ball in the solution for a minute and then gently apply the cotton to the pimple and hold it there for several minutes. Then dip two more cotton balls and flatten the pimple by pressing firmly on both sides of the blemish.

3. Dreadful Discoloration
     Sun exposure is the most common cause of skin discoloration, especially on the face. If over-exposed to the sun, brown, wart-like lesions can appear on the skin, which can cause skin cancer. Acne and rosacea are examples of change in skin pigmentation. Some home remedies that can assist in decreasing the change of skin tones include almonds or papaya juice.
     
     Mix five ground almonds with one teaspoon of fresh cream and a few drops of lemon juice. Then apply this concoction to the face and neck to keep skin tone the same in a more general area that you may expose. Leave the mix on for fifteen minutes and wash it off with warm water. Also try applying mashed papaya or papaya juice to the affected areas and washing that off after fifteen minutes.

 
     Yes, the challenges of college can be stressful and difficult on your skin, but these simple techniques can help keep you beautiful for a price that your limited budget will appreciate.  

Photo source: http://krizzyla.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-10-health-benefits-of-lemon-jui…

Steffiny is a senior pursuing a B.A Accounting degree at Mercer University. In addition to being the Campus Correspondent for Her Campus, she is a Contributing Writer for Her Campus Mercer. Steffiny is very active at her campus. She is the Vice President of Alumni Relations for Delta Sigma Pi (the professional business fraternity), a Resident Assistant, and she works at the Academic Resource Center. Steffiny has many other talents, one of which is Indian dance choreography. If she could be anything in the world, she hopes to be a mermaid. Steffiny likes to travel, spend time with family and friends, listen to Disney songs (especially the Tarzan soundtrack), and play in the rain. This past summer she went to New Zealand for an accounting internship. After she graduates in May 2015, she will go to Thailand to teach English for nine months!