Finding the
Best Acne Cleansers

In searching for acne cleansers, many people begin at their nearby drug store - Long's, Walgreen's, or Rite Aid. The aisles are full of various popular brands of cleansing bars, scrubs, toners, masks, deep cleansing lotions, black head removal strips, and more.

Every person buying one or more of these products does so 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: cornmeal and oatmeal 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.