We all know having acne isn’t fun—and unfortunately, the scars it leaves can often be as bad as the cause itself. There are a lot of great products out there that claim to lighten scars or remove them entirely, but they often cost more money than college students are able to afford. The good news? You don’t have to spend big bucks to treat those dark spots. There are tons of great DIY remedies you can try at home that are not only convenient but cost effective, too. Get ready to blast away those scars with these 20 DIY remedies you can try without ever leaving your dorm.
- Witch hazel: A Reader’s Digest favorite for acne scar remedies is this astringent compound. For best results, pour onto a cotton ball and wipe your face with it each morning and night.
- Lemon juice and honey: According to Byrdie, one recipe for treating acne scars is a simple lemon juice and honey concoction. Dip a cotton ball into fresh lemon juice, apply it to any dark spots, and then spread a thin layer of honey over your face. Leave the honey on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. Repeat two to three times a week for best results.
- Vitamin E: According to Natural Living Ideas, the easiest ways to use vitamin E to treat scars is to puncture a gel capsule and apply it directly to your skin, or by mixing it in with your daily moisturizer.
- Turmeric powder: This spice has great antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that aid in healing acne scars, says Keeva Organics. Mix the powder with water to form a paste, apply it to dark spots, and then rinse off when the mixture has dried.
- Almond milk and egg whites: Cosmopolitan says the egg in this face mask contains astringent and healing properties to help diminish scars. For this simple mixture, combine two teaspoons of 100% almond milk, one egg white, and a teaspoon of lemon juice together. Smooth it onto your face, let it soak for 15 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
- Echinacea tea: According to Reader’s Digest, you can use echinacea tea as a face wash by soaking a cloth with it and then wiping it across your face. You can also dip a cotton ball in the tea and apply it directly to blemished areas.
- Aloe vera: For best results, Natural Living Ideas recommends getting the aloe vera from an actual plant leaf. After peeling off the flesh off the leaf, take the gel inside and massage it onto your face. Leave the gel on for 30 minutes, and then rinse.
- Apple cider vinegar and honey: To create this remedy, mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, two teaspoons of green tea, five tablespoons of sugar, and one teaspoon of honey together (in that order) Mix until the combination creates a thick paste. Cosmopolitan says to apply this face mask and leave it on for 15 minutes once or twice a week for optimum results.
- Cucumber: Probably the easiest remedy of all, this solution from Keeva Organics can help reduce inflammation and soothe your skin. Just add slices of the green vegetable to any dark spots and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing.
- Orange peel: To make this face mask, Cosmopolitan says to mix one tablespoon of dried orange peel powder and one teaspoon of milk. Apply the paste to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.
- Rosehip seed oil: Apply this oil to your face once or twice a day to receive maximum scar-fading results. According to Hello Glow, its essential fatty acids can help heal dehydrated skin.
- Potato slices: All you need to do for this remedy is rub a potato slice onto your face or apply potato juice directly to acne scars to lighten them. Keeva Organics recommends letting the juice soak for 15 minutes every day before rinsing it off with warm water.
- Mint leaves: Mint is great at removing pore-clogging oil, explains Reader’s Digest. For this remedy, mix two tablespoons of finely-chopped mint, two tablespoons of plain yogurt, and two tablespoons of blended oatmeal powder. Leave the face mask on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
- Cinnamon and honey: Mix one teaspoon of cinnamon powder with two teaspoons of honey and apply it to wet skin. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse off in warm water. You can do this twice a week, according to Cosmopolitan.
- Baking soda: Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda with water to form a paste, apply it to your face, and then let it soak for two to three minutes before rinsing with warm water. Keeva Organics recommends applying a good natural moisturizer after rinsing to prevent your skin from drying out.
- Coconut oil: Grab a scoop of coconut oil and let it melt in your hand as it reaches body temperature, and then simply rub the oil over your problem areas. According to Natural Living Ideas, you don’t have to rinse off the coconut oil entirely, but if you want to, leave it on for at least 30 minutes before removing with an all-natural cleanser.
- Chickpea and yogurt mask: According to Byrdie, this treatment “naturally exfoliates and bleaches the skin.” Combine one teaspoon of chickpea flour, half a teaspoon of turmeric powder, one teaspoon of raw honey, and a splash of lemon juice until the mixture has a mousse-like texture. Mix with yogurt and apply to problem spots for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
- Chamomile: Reader’s Digest suggests blending the contents of a chamomile tea bag with enough water to form a paste. Apply to scars as needed.
- Tea tree oil: According to Keeva Organics, you can either use tea tree oil alone or with some with your cleanser. If you use it alone, apply it to dark spots for 20 minutes before washing off.
What home remedies do you use to heal your acne scars? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured photo by @alwaysannawade.
