TRUE BOTANICALS

There are a host of acne skin care options on the market today, ranging from oral antibiotics to over-the-counter treatments to prescription medications to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The latter is an emerging, almost counter-culture approach to acne management that treats skin with herbal medicine, acupuncture, or dietary modifications instead of conventional medication. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of CAM therapies, making it hard to know whether it’s a viable treatment option. A 2015 meta-analysis of 35 studies and 3,227 participants tried to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of six CAM therapies, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, diet, purified bee venom (PBV), and tea tree oil. Their primary objective focused on evaluating the “improvement of clinical signs assessed through skin lesion counts,” which included inflammatory lesions, change in skin lesions,...

The days of brutal summer heat, dehydrating air conditioning, and excessively oily skin are coming to an end. Transitioning your skin care routine from summer to fall might not be at the top of your priorities, but your skin might need some extra help recovering from months of sun exposure and other issues. This is especially important for sensitive skin types and those who struggle with acne or chronic dryness. Calm post-summer skin and prepare it for dry winter weather with these self-care rituals to introduce into your routine. These focus on a more natural approach to caring for your skin with nontoxic ingredients and clean formulas. Hydrate Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, hydration from all fronts is crucial to skin health and natural radiance. Use a hydrating cleanser to avoid stripping your skin of natural oils while sloughing away dead skin cells, dirt, sweat, and buildup. Acne-prone skin can still be dry and needs moisture just as ...