Acne skin care doesn't have to be costly. You can achieve results that are as good as, if not better than, costly remedies from the pharmacy by using some simple ingredients that you will find around the home. Organic and natural products are becoming increasingly popular as home remedies for spots. Their benefits are all too clear; they tend to work gently and in harmony with your skin so are less likely to irritate the skin. Some commercial products are very harsh containing acids and even bleach and many people have found they can irritate the skin.

So stick with me if you would like to discover some great remedies that you can make straight from your store cupboard.

Lemon juice makes a great natural treatment if you have spots. You may have seen lemon-juice being used as a cleaning product before, it is antiseptic, and astringent, and a great natural cleaner. Spots are caused by increased levels of sebum (the natural skin lubricant produced by the body). Increased sebum can block pores and feed bacteria so it increases. Take a little lemon juice and gently rub over the spot using cotton wool. The astringent properties of the juice will cleanse away oils and at the same time kill bacteria. Try to apply the juice only to the areas affected by spots. You should see a reduction in the pimple and the surrounding redness in a matter of days, if not sooner.

Oatmeal is a great exfoliator and it will absorb excess grease at the same time. You can either make a home made scrub or use the oatmeal in a face mask. To make a scrub take finely ground oatmeal and mix to a paste with a little water. Gently rub the paste over the skin. The emphasis is on gently here it is your face not some woodwork you are sanding down. The scrub will draw out oils, remove dead skin cells and dramatically reduce blackheads.

You can also make a face mask by mixing the ground oat meal with a little natural honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply all over the face, avoiding the sensitive skin around the eyes. Rest and relax for 15-30 minutes then rinse off with warm water. The oatmeal has time to draw impurities out of the skin, whilst the lemon juice is killing bacteria. Natural honey has very good healing properties and will soothe the skin.

If you are looking for a natural skin toner Apple cider vinegar works well. Just be a little careful as it is a fairly strong acid. Dilute in the ratio 1 part water to 2 parts vinegar and check how it affects your skin by applying to one small test area 24 hours before the first time you use it. If your skin reacts in any way this is not the cure for you. Most people find Apple cider vinegar is fine and their skin is not adversely affected. Once tested you will find the vinegar great for giving even skin tone and reducing skin pores. It will also kill bacteria.

If you need an overnight treatment for that large zit that always appears the night before an important date try toothpaste. Toothpaste contains anti-bacterial agents to kill mouth bacteria. It works really well on spots. Just make sure your toothpaste is not a whitening paste as these contain bleach. Apply a small blob directly on the spot avoiding the surrounding skin. When you wash off the dried paste in the morning you should find it has shrunk considerably and all the redness will have gone. Enjoy your date!

How about a really good face mask? Mix the white of an egg with a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of honey. Smooth the mixture over your face and let it dry. You should then be able to peel the mask off your face taking dead skin and blackheads with it. Gently rinse your face with some warm water and pat dry.

Finally don't forget the benefits of drinking water. Too many of us live our lives slightly dehydrated and without enough water our bodies find it difficult to remove toxins. Your skin and general health will benefit from 6-8 glasses a day. Drinking water could be the most effective acne treatment of all over a period of time.