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The safe, natural way to combat your acne problems

Despite the common misconception that acne is a teenage problem, a significant number of adults still suffer from bouts of it today. It is, in fact, not uncommon for adults to get acne for the first time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s.

Common causes of acne

Acne is a disease that affects the skin’s oil glands. Pores in your skin connect to oil glands by follicles under the skin and make an oily substance called sebum. Oil inside the follicles carry dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. When follicles clog up, pimples and acne can form. While acne is not a serious health threat, if left untreated for the long term, it can cause unsightly scars.

Don’t know the cause of your acne? The skin condition is multifactorial, which means a number of things can contribute to you having more breakouts than usual. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, reasons for the onset of adult acne include:

• Fluctuating hormone levels. • Stress. • Family history. • Side effects of medication. • Unsuitable hair and skin products.

Chemicals in acne treatments

Since acne is so common, there are multiple over-the-counter treatments easily available. Before running off to the nearest pharmacy though, it’s important to note that over-the-counter treatments can contain certain chemicals that may actually be harmful to your skin.

Benzoyl peroxide, sulfur and resorcinol are common chemicals found in acne treatments, and they work mostly by killing propionibacterium acne – the bacteria that causes breakouts. These are also ingredients found in common products like hair dye. While beneficial to some people, side effects from incorrect use of these chemicals on the skin include itchiness and blistering, dryness, burning and redness.

Remedies from Mother Nature

For those with extremely sensitive skin and who prefer going the natural route, there are treatments you can find right at home. Lemon juice, baking soda and apple cider vinegar are all common household ingredients you can use to fight acne (simply dab a little on the problem spots).

Make yourself a mask with all-natural, delicious ingredients such as honey, unsweetened plain yoghurt, avocado and papaya. Honey and yoghurt is known to soothe the skin and papaya contains papain – an enzyme that reduces inflammation and prevents pus from forming.

For an added boost of acne-fighting care, combine your home remedies with a skin treatment that contains all-natural ingredients. Garden of Eden's Rosa T Acne Serum comes packed with pure Australian tea-tree oil – nature's very own antiseptic – and contains vitamin E, which helps heal acne scars and improves your complexion.

The serum is also specially formulated to fight moderate to stubborn acne without harming the skin. Not only does the serum kill acne-causing bacteria, it also effectively reduces the sebum or oil production, so you get rid of shiny-looking skin as well.

Reduce the use of chemicals on your skin and you could be on your way to a healthy-looking, acne-free complexion.

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Oil and acne-proof your skin

When it comes to treating acne, it’s best to go right down to the root of the problem, rather than simply treat it at surface level. Acne usually forms when sebum (oily substance produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands) and other compounds (e.g. dead skin cells) clog pores, leading to bacteria build-up that produces pimples and, if untreated, acne over time.

Examine your skin

Acne can be caused by a multitude of factors, from hormone changes to skincare regimens. So if you find you’re being affected by bouts of acne, take a step back and examine your skin’s texture.

Oily skin makes for more acne-prone skin, and it has been found that treating oily skin reduces the chances of developing or worsening acne.

If you have trouble with oily, acne-prone skin, look for a skincare product that serves a double function with treating oily skin while fighting acne. To do this, consider using a skincare product that contains ingredients to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduces sebum production on the skin.

Active ingredients for healthy skin

Long revered as a beneficial nutrient for fighting acne and pimples, tea-tree oil helps to reduce skin inflammation and has antiseptic and antibacterial properties to help soothe and heal irritated skin.

Studies also show that applying a product with 5 per cent tea-tree oil appears to be as effective as a product with 5 per cent benzoyl peroxide when treating acne. If your skin is particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals, try using some tea-tree oil instead.

Rosehip-seed oil is a natural oil extract that is rich in essential fatty acids (such as linoleic acid and retinoic acid) to help regulate the skin’s oil balance – thereby reducing excess oil production on the skin.

Did you know that vitamin E comes both in its natural form as well as a synthetic one? Natural vitamin E has been proven to be more easily absorbed by the body, so if you have a choice, always go natural. Grape-seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties, and is also a powerful nutrient that promotes healing and tissue regeneration. This helps with the healing of acne scarring so that the complexion appears clearer, smoother and healthier over time.

Use a product that combines natural ingredients for healthy skin

One product that’s known for its use of natural, skin-friendly ingredients is Garden of Eden’s Rosa T Acne Serum. Combining antiseptic ingredients with soothing oils and healing vitamins to treat oily skin, the serum also helps prevent acne and heals stubborn acne scars.

Suitable for a wide range of skin types, Rosa T Acne Serum is a fuss-free treatment option that can help give you the smooth skin you deserve, naturally.

With the right skincare regimen and treatments for your skin, you too can look forward to minimising acne scars, reducing outbreaks and facing the day with confidence.

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How to get smooth, clear, youthful skin

What makes youthful skin look youthful?

The answer is not as simple as “no wrinkles”. Youthful skin isn’t just about having no lines. It’s about having a smooth, clear complexion with a radiant glow that makes it look soft and supple – no matter your age.

Nutrients for healthy skin

The truth is that no matter what your skin’s age, as long as these things are achieved, it will appear more youthful-looking: reduction in pigmentation, smoother, acne- and blemish-free, and lesser fine lines and wrinkles. In short, a better complexion will make you look younger at any age.

When the skin’s oil secretion is out of balance, there tends to be too much or too little sebum being produced, which leads to either oily or dry skin – both of which can contribute to a more aged appearance.

Think of Rosehip Seed Oil as a multi-vitamin for your skin. It’s extremely rich in essential fatty acids including omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, which are vital for general good health and glowing skin. Most importantly, Rosehip Seed Oil contains trans-retinoic acid, a natural form of vitamin A that can be used to reduce the depth of wrinkles, fade fine lines, and lighten dark spots naturally. In comparison to other oils used for skincare, rose hip seed oil is light-weight and non-greasy, making it ideal for those who want flawless skin without the appearance of an oily complexion. Grape-seed oil, which is especially high in linoleic acid, is a great nutrient for healthy skin. It is also a good source of antioxidants and contains oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs), which are known to be powerful in slowing down the ageing process. It also helps skin enjoy better protection from damage caused by free radicals.

Additionally, grape-seed oil also promotes collagen production, which aids in the skin’s suppleness by firming it up and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – helping your skin look more youthful.

Vitamin E is another key nutrient that helps reduce inflammation and promotes skin-cell growth and replacement. It is especially effective in healing blemished skin for a clearer, younger-looking complexion.

Use all-natural ingredients in your skincare

Instead of harsh chemicals in your skincare, go the natural route and see the benefits that Mother Nature can provide for your skin.

Having a good skincare regimen with products you trust helps to keep your skin healthy. Besides cleansing, toning and moisturising twice daily, consider including a serum like Garden of Eden's Rosa E Pigmentation Serum in the mix to help reduce the effects of sun damage and smooth out wrinkles and fine lines.

Rosa E Pigmentation Serum helps to lessen dark spots, is rich in natural antioxidants like vitamin E and grape-seed oil, and includes essential fatty acids from natural rosehip-seed oil. The serum helps to balance your skin’s oil-production glands while keeping it moisturised and nourished so it appears healthier and less oily.

Combine your skincare regimen with the right intake of vitamin-rich foods (like cucumbers, carrots and apples) and you’ll be on your way to healthier-looking skin in no time.

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Shine light on your dark spots

A common skin problem for a lot of women is the appearance of dark spots, or hyperpigmentation – patches of skin that become darker than the surrounding area.

This change in skin colour usually takes place when there's an overproduction of melanin, the pigment found in our skin that usually determines hair and skin colour. Sun exposure or sun damage stimulates the production of melanin, which in turn causes hyperpigmentation as the skin tries its best to protect itself from UV rays.

Hormonal changes can also lead to hyperpigmentation, and can occur during pregnancy or while taking birth-control pills. What’s important to remember is that hyperpigmentation can happen to anyone of any skin type, and can occur on any part of the body including the face, hands and neck.

Remedies to treat hyperpigmentation

While it may be aesthetically unappealing, pigmentation or discoloured skin doesn’t usually affect one’s health and wellbeing in a serious way. The good news is that there are many ways you can treat hyperpigmentation in your quest to achieve flawless skin.

We’ve already established that sun damage stimulates the overproduction of melanin, so if your skin is especially sensitive, have a bottle of sunscreen handy for whenever you go outside. Rub sunscreen over exposed parts of your body about 30 minutes before you leave your house to ensure sufficient absorption, and use an umbrella or parasol outside whenever you can to shield yourself from as many harmful UV rays as possible.

Increasing your intake of vitamin C can help to reduce the amount of melanin your skin produces. Loading up on antioxidants can also help reduce damage caused by free radicals in your skin, so be sure to include a good amount of foods like strawberries, cranberries and spinach in your diet.

Clinical therapies such as laser or microdermabrasion treatments are also employed in more advanced cases of hyperpigmentation, but you should consult with your dermatologist about these as results can differ between individuals.

Go the natural route

There are also a number of all-natural ways to treat hyperpigmentation of the skin. Castor oil and vitamin E serums or oils can be directly applied to pigmented skin surfaces daily in small amounts to help reduce discolouration. Pure aloe vera should also be applied to sun-damaged skin to help soothe and get rid of any irritation caused by exposure to UV rays.

Depending on the severity of your pigmentation, consider using a skincare brand that makes use of only natural ingredients to treat your dark spots. Garden of Eden offers one such treatment – its Rosa E Pigmentation Serum – which promises to not only lighten pigmentation and acne marks, but improve your overall complexion.

While other facial treatments may contain harmful chemicals that could be detrimental to sensitive skin, Garden of Eden's Rosa E Pigmentation Serum contains pure rosehip-seed oil, complemented by grape-seed oil and natural vitamin E, and works to lighten skin tone, repair and regenerate skin while reducing fine lines.

Thanks to the essential fatty acids from the oils in its ingredients, the serum moisturises and nourishes skin while doing its work promoting cell regeneration and repair. To use, apply the serum nightly and look forward to waking up to clearer, smoother skin in the mornings.

No matter what treatments you use, every woman deserves to have beautiful, clear and youthful skin. Shine some light on your dark spots and regain your confidence today.