With homemade and traditional Chinese approaches to acne, an end to breakouts could be steps away.
Gentle Face Mask
Ingredients
¼ cup organic plain yogurt
¼ cup apple cinnamon oatmeal
2 tablespoons organic honey
Directions
When my aunt, Certified Integrative Holistic Health Coach Teressa Siu, noticed I had breakouts, she recommended a gentle face mask.
Organic yogurt’s enzymes and lactic acid remove dead skin cells, while its Vitamin E and Vitamin B encourage moisture and keep bacteria and dry patches out of the skin. Apple cinnamon oatmeal works best for the face, as apples provide acne relief, and cinnamon dries oily skin and restores blood and oxygen flow to the skin surface. As well as killing germs, honey will moisturize your skin and therefore balance the rough texture produced from oatmeal.
To make the mask, mix ¼ cup of organic yogurt and ¼ cup of oatmeal into a bowl. Then, add two tablespoons of organic honey into the bowl to condense the mixture.
Since everyone reacts differently to natural remedies, leave the mask on for only five minutes, then wash it off with warm water. I have put this mask on multiple times, and my face has felt its freshest and smoothest after wearing it.
Ginseng Tea
Ingredients
1 ginseng tea bag
1 teaspoon honey
Directions
To my surprise, drinking ginseng tea daily for the past year actually has prevented embarrassing breakouts I experienced before. Along with its health benefits, ginseng metabolizes skin cells quickly, which helps rid of acne and brighten the face. Clear your “tea” zone—purchase ginseng tea bags at an Asian market and make a cup to drink every morning and night to prevent any breakouts. To mask the bitter taste, add one teaspoon of honey to each serving to sweeten the drink. Honey also blocks the formation of pimples.
Five Flower Tea
Ingredients (to make 10 servings)
1 ounce five flower tea mix
½ cup brown or cane sugar
Directions
Many believe that this beverage detoxes the liver, which tackles the root of skin conditions like acne.
“Acne and zits we have on the face mostly are a reaction to the liver not being able to detox,” Ms. Siu said. “I do not advise seeing a dermatologist because laser scrapes will only fix the issue skin-deeply.”
As its name suggests, five flower tea contains five types of flowers, including chrysanthemum and honeysuckle. Chinese herbal shops, such as Wing Hop Fung in Monterey Park, sell the mix in varying amounts for as low as $5.
Using my grandma’s recipe, place 1 ounce of the mix into a pot and add water until it covers the flowers. Boil for 20 minutes. After, put ½ cup of brown or cane sugar into the pot and stir. You can drink this tea hot, warm or chilled.