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Acne cleansers |
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Author: Christiana Acne cleansers
When I was 15, I was traumatized by my acne. I tried all kinds of acne cleansers, as well as other topical treatments, and even some internal junk, but nothing seemed to work. It was a terrible time in my life. I was just starting to try to talk to girls, and looking for a girlfriend, but my terrible complexion made me feel afraid to even approach them. I don't know if it was my imagination or not, looking back on it, but it seemed that none of them were at all interested, and that no one wanted to talk to me. It might have been adolescent insecurity, but all of the acne cleansers that I used seemed to do nothing, and my self-esteem continued to plummet.
Then I realized that acne cleansers would never take care of the problem, and that I would have to take care of it myself. My father sat me down and told me that, at my age, he had the same problem. There was the paralyzing insecurity, the acne cleansers, the various concoctions and treatments, the girl craziness. Then, he finally found something that worked. It wasn't the acne cleansers; no acne cleanser can really do anything to completely halt teenage insecurity. It was a matter of taking himself in hand, and realizing that he could do anything that he set his mind to, and that he was good enough just as he was.
Personally, I thought that this was a bunch of hokum when I first heard it, and I decided to keep trying the acne cleansers. Sure enough, eventually I found one that worked just fine, and did help me out a little, but not enough to really cure all of my acne. Then I realized that, alone acne cleansers weren't really enough. My dad had been right about that part! I needed something more.
The answer, of course, was proper diet. Once I started to exercise regularly and eat less greasy food, my acne began to really clear up. I can not say that it went away completely right away. That would be ridiculous. But it did get steadily better, until it was really not that bad. And you know what, self-esteem is great, but a good complexion and a manly physique is even better. I've been grateful to my dad for many things, but his advice about acne cleansers was never one of those things.
In searching for an acne cleanser, many people begin at their nearby Long's, Walgreen's, or Rite Aid. The aisles are full of various popular brands of cleansing bars, deep cleansing lotions, scrubs, toners, masks, black head removal strips, and more. Each person who buys one or more of these products buys them with hope, thinking perhaps they will help give them skin like that of the models on the cover of the packages. Sometimes these products work, and sometimes they don't. If they don't work for you, it gets very expensive going through the various acne cleansers in search of the one that will bring you the clear skin you've been dreaming of.
One alternative is to go to Costco. They often sell Neutrogena and other acne products at a big discount. You have to buy several bottles or at least one great big bottle, but if you've already tried the acne cleanser and you know it works for you, and want to keep using it, it makes sense to buy it in larger quantities at a store like Costco and save some money.
Some people think paying big bucks for a product that's promoted specifically as an acne cleanser is a waste of time. Do you ever wonder what people did before all these acne products were produced and sold? Some just used regular soap and hoped for the best. Some used various herbal applications and had good results.
What sorts of herbs or other common ingredients might make a good acne cleanser?
Here's one: oatmeal and cornmeal mixed with plain yogurt. This makes a gentle cleanser that has a bit of exfoliating action. For this gentle acne cleanser, use 1/2 cup of either oatmeal or cornmeal and mix it with enough plain yogurt to turn it into a paste. Then apply to the face (avoiding the eye area) and wash off with water. Oatmeal tends to absorb things (such as oil and dirt) and it also helps soften the skin.
A facial mask to use after your acne cleanser is a combination of apples and honey. Grate one medium-size apple and mix it with about five tablespoons of honey. Apply it to your face (avoiding the eyes) and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Then splash it off with cool water. This is a great treatment for oily skin, and certainly costs less than a mask on sale at the drug store.
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