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A week before the holiday party you run through the checklist: Fabulous party dress? Check. Killer heels? Check. Flawless skin—er, not so much.
If a blemish is threatening to burst your holiday bubble, take a calming breath and tramp down that urge to make a beeline for the pharmacy. While natural skin care lines are great alternatives to those tubes of chemical ooze, natural plant oils offer up some great solutions to your blemish woes.
Lemongrass Oil
In very low concentrations, lemongrass oil is a great astringent and helps treat acne and oily skin. Add a few drops to water and apply to the face with a cotton ball or pad. Lemongrass isn't a great option if you've got dry skin, but otherwise, it's a great way to blast acne and keep it at bay.
Lavender Oil
Lavender packs two punches: it will help you relax and relieve stress while also acting as an antiseptic that will kill the germs lurking in your pores. Add a little lavender oil to your daily moisturizer, or add a few drops of lavender oil to water and swab on your face.
Calendula Oil
This oil from the marigold flower is another great antiseptic. It works below the skin and is particularly effective at treating those nasty puss-filled blemishes. Apply directly to blemishes daily.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil reduces bacteria on the skin, eliminating the source of those ugly blemishes. A study published in 2000 compared people who used benzoyl peroxide on their skin with people who used tea tree oil gel. Both groups reported improved skin, but the people who used tea tree oil reported less stinging, itching, burning and dryness. A little tea tree oil gel applied to blemishes will be sure to blast those blemishes in no time.
Raspberry Seed Oil
Organic raspberry seed oil is the go-to treatment for minimizing the look of blemishes. It constricts blood vessels, reducing inflammation and redness—minimizing the Rudolph Effect of those blemishes that always seem to make an appearance right before a big event. Raspberry seed oil is also chock full of vitamins E and A and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. A 2000 study revealed raspberry seed oil offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, with an SPF rating of 28-50, making it a great alternative to sunscreen. Be sure to get organic raspberry seed oil to ensure you aren't putting pesticides on your skin—raspberries are among the most heavily contaminated fruits.
LAST MINUTE TIP: For those surprise pimples that pop up an hour before a party, mash up a little avocado and apply to the offending area to zap inflammation and redness. (Just remember to swab it off before you leave the house!)
Cara Smusiak writes on behalf of NaturallySavvy.com about how to live a more natural, organic and green lifestyle.
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How to Go Green: Natural Skin Care
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How to Make Your Skin Younger with Green Tea
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