Well to be fair, my skin has never been great and even when I don't have school, I do get the occasional pimple here and there. It is something that has troubled me since junior high and I even remember a guy in high school telling me to try out some acne cream - needless to say, that would be a stab to any girl's self-esteem. So for anyone who may be dealing with skin issues, yes, I do know how it feels to be in your position and it's a terrible feeling to be self-conscious.
Well, I've tried numerous acne products (Benzaclin Topical Gel, Tactuo Acne Cream, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment...etc) and none of them work as well as the natural products I'll introduce now - Lemon Juice and Extra Virgin Olive Oil!
Lemon Juice:
First, I'll tell you what lemon juice is supposed to do and then what it has actually done for me after a month of application. Lemon juice contains citric acid which has a lower pH than what P. acnes (the bacteria that causes breakouts) can withstand. So when you apply lemon juice to your skin, the bacteria that resides in your pores should be killed. Also, lemon juice has exfoliating properties that quicken the removal of dead skin cells. This is the reason why lemon juice is also supposed to reduce acne scars and even out our skin tone. Furthermore, lemon juice is a natural bleacher that should be able to whiten our skin.
After a month of applying lemon juice, my skin is virtually clear except for the occasional one on my chin so I definitely do believe that it can prevent breakouts! I have also noticed that my acne scars have softened but have not completely disappeared. However, given that I had only used it for a month, I can't ask for anything more. In terms of its effects as a skin bleacher, I haven't noticed any changes in my skin colour. It's also not something I would want since I only apply it to certain areas, hahaha...not sure if I would want blotches of pale skin.
Overall though, I'm quite impressed by how effective it is at keeping my acne under control. It's definitely something I would recommend others to try. I usually apply fresh lemon juice onto my T zone for a few minutes and then wash it off with water. I would do this every other day. Like many others who suffer from acne, I have combination skin where my cheeks are dry but forehead, nose and chin are more oily. That is why I only apply lemon juice onto my T zone since it would be too irritating for my cheeks.
I've read online that some people dilute the lemon juice with water and that was what I initially did but then I became too lazy, hahaha. I haven't noticed any harm with applying undiluted juice onto my face but I wouldn't recommend it for those with more dry and sensitive skin. Also, as a warning, when applying lemon juice for the first time, it will likely sting. It did sting for me but now, I don't feel anything. Maybe I got used to it? Anyways, just a heads up, but it's not that bad.
One last thing - it's VERY important to put on sunscreen if you had applied lemon juice to your skin. Lemon juice makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays so you should find a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB - a higher SPF won't hurt either. If you don't...you'll end up with blotchy skin since the areas where you had applied lemon juice would tan more easily.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the highest class of olive oil with the lowest acidity. It contains antioxidants like vitamin A and E which, when applied to the skin, would help repair damage from the sun, diet imbalances, lack of sleep...etc. In this way, olive oil is supposed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. As an oil, it can serve as an effective moisturizer for dry skin and it can also be used as a cleanser to prevent acne breakouts! That might sound a little counter intuitive - apply oil to my acne prone skin to...prevent acne? Well, I'm no chemist but I do vaguely recall that "like attracts like". Olive oil is a hydrophobic substance (meaning it is repelled by water but attracted to fatty substances) and it will stick to other hydrophobic substances like skin oils and greasy makeup. When olive oil is used as a cleanser, it will stick to the dirt and oils that you do not want on your skin; when the olive oil is then removed with a towel, the unwanted substances will be removed as well. As a side, olive oil is also supposed to increase the growth of your eyelashes and eyebrows.
Now, after about a month of application, I have noticed that my skin is smoother and more moisturized. I actually use olive oil in place of my moisturizer since it's much more effective (not to mention, so much more cost-friendly)! I don't have wrinkles so I'm can't attest to its anti-aging properties but I have used it as a cleanser/makeup remover and it has been effective for removing even waterproof mascara. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed any differences in my eyelashes but it's only been one month so I am still hopeful!
As a cleanser, I would just apply EVOO onto my face with my fingers (making sure they are clean) and gently rub it onto my skin for 1-2 minutes in a circular motion. Then I would run a towel under hot water and place the hot towel onto my face to open up the pores. When the towel has cooled, I would rinse the towel and use it to wipe my face one more time to remove any excess olive oil. After that, my face should be clean and I would apply my moisturizer....which happens to be more olive oil, hahaha.
This cleanser is effective and I've read many positive reviews about it online. However, the process does take some time and I usually run late in the morning so I've reverted back to using my normal cleanser - La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Gel. This is a product that I also highly recommend as I've tried numerous other cleansers specific for acne prone skin but this one seems to suit me best. It effectively removes any impurities without irritating or drying my skin. So yes, olive oil can serve as an effective cleanser although its application takes too long to suit my lifestyle. Who knows, it might suit yours though!
This cleanser is effective and I've read many positive reviews about it online. However, the process does take some time and I usually run late in the morning so I've reverted back to using my normal cleanser - La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Gel. This is a product that I also highly recommend as I've tried numerous other cleansers specific for acne prone skin but this one seems to suit me best. It effectively removes any impurities without irritating or drying my skin. So yes, olive oil can serve as an effective cleanser although its application takes too long to suit my lifestyle. Who knows, it might suit yours though!
As a moisturizer, I would apply EVOO onto my face with my fingers (making sure they are clean) and leave it on for 2-3 minutes. Then I would just wipe the excess oil off my face and I would be left with softer and more supple skin. I still use EVOO as a moisturizer and I don't think I will revert back to any drugstore products since nothing has even matched its effectiveness when it comes to nourishing my skin.
As a make-up remover....honestly, I just rub olive oil all over my face to dissolve the makeup and then wash it off with water.
*Well, that is that! Results and effects will vary from person to person but I can say that lemon juice and olive oil are both very effective natural skin care products for me. It has helped improve my skin and hopefully it may do the same for yours as well. If anything, no harm in trying, right? Anyways, I'll talk to you later!*
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