Because OTC (over the counter) pimple remedies contain chemicals foreign to the skin, you can do more harm than good while using them. Your skin works hard to maintain the proper pH and OTC products often upset the complexion's delicate balance. When this happens, your glands often produce even more oil, resulting in more pimples. It's a vicious cycle that can usually be broken only by abandoning the medicines that keep your acne under control. But you have to do something, right? Look to your kitchen for everything you need to treat your pimples, gently and naturally!

Banishing pimples can be as easy as reaching for breakfast-oatmeal! Plain oatmeal mixed with water is a great facial scrub. It will exfoliate dead cells that clog the pores but is so gentle that it won't damage the skin or leave it raw as many commercial scrubs do. When you combine oatmeal with plain yogurt and honey, it becomes a good spot treatment for pimples. Simply leave it on the site until it dries and wash it off with warm water. The healing properties of oatmeal are actually good for your face and won't over-dry it.

A very effective treatment for pimples is to dab on some apple cider vinegar and let dry before rinsing it off with warm water. This is also good for the entire face. It will leave your complexion clean, soft and supple while making the pimples disappear.

Tea is wonderful beverage but also good for treating pimple. A few teabags steeped with two teaspoons of basil is an excellent way to rid yourself of pimples. After the mixture cools, apply it with cotton balls to the affected areas and let dry. Store the remainder in the refrigerator for future use. Using this treatment a few times a day will quickly rid your face of pimples.

You may be wondering how to keep your face clean if you abandon the commercial products you've been using. Salt water is the best cleanser for your skin! One half teaspoon of salt in a quart of water is the right mixture for most skin; use it at lukewarm temperature for a healthy, well-balanced complexion. The salt will rinse away excess oil and dry the skin just enough to discourage pimples while not over stimulating oil glands.

Vegetables are not only good for your body but also for your pimples. Rubbing a tomato wedge on your pimples will make them disappear, sometimes in less than twenty-four hours. Cucumber slices do the job a bit more slowly but are a less acidic method. You can also use potato slices. Raw garlic rubbed on the pimples a few times a day will also banish them just as well as the tomato but can be unpleasant unless you enjoy the scent of garlic.

Treating your pimples at home with natural ingredients is not only good for your skin, it's much kinder to the wallet!