If you are looking for an alternative acne treatment to use instead of those over the counter remedies then how about taking advantage of the gentle healing powers of some of natures finest natural ingredients as a safe acne removal treatment.

Treating your acne with natural ingredients is always going to be so much better for your skin as they are much less likely to irritate and aggravate than many of the harsh chemicals contained in many of the preparations used to treat acne. Learning how to make acne reducing facial cleansers and masks at home using natural ingredients is simplicity in itself. All you need to know is what to mix together and how best to use them. Here are some of my favorite recipes for homemade cleansers and facial masks; many of which are ideal for oily or acne-prone skin. All of these mixtures are extremely gentle and should not cause any irritation to your skin, however as with any product you use you must discontinue their use if you have any adverse reaction at all. Also, when removing your mask, consider rinsing some of these over your kitchen sink rather than the bathroom sink, as some have ingredients that need to go down the garbage disposal! No sense having beautiful acne free skin if your bathroom sink is blocked up.

Simple egg yolk mask - Eggs are full of protein, vitamin A, and fatty acids that are very good for the skin. Take one beaten egg and apply it to the face with a cotton ball, or add a bit of vitamin E oil to the beaten egg. Let it dry on the face and sit for about 15 minutes, then just rinse it all off with cool water. This will keep your skin hydrated and is a great treatment to try once every week.

Honey and oatmeal mask - When it comes to home remedies, this mask is probably one of the oldest there has ever been. All you need to do is simply mix honey and oatmeal in proportion to make a paste and apply to your skin for a good 15 minutes. The excess oils and dirt in your skin are absorbed by the oatmeal while the honey helps to condition and moisturize. This also makes a great scrub for exfoliating; just apply it to your skin and rub in a very gently circular motion for several minutes, then rinse away.

Oily skin mask - Take a quarter of a tomato, peel away the skin and then put it through a strainer to get all the seeds out. Add two tablespoons of plain yogurt, a few slices of mashed cucumber, a quarter cup of oatmeal, two teaspoons of vitamin E oil, and a crushed mint leaf. Mix all these ingredients together, apply to your face and leave on for about ten minutes. Then use a warm damp cloth to remove. Wonderful!

Yogurt and honey mask - This is a mask has also stood the test of time. Here you need to mix equal parts of room temperature natural yogurt (Note: do not use fat free or low fat) with honey that has been warmed enough to become runny (put in the microwave for a minute) and apply to your face; leave the mixture on for 15 minutes and then rinse off with a warm cloth. Just make sure the honey is not too hot before you apply it! Adding a bit more honey than yogurt will increase the moisturizing benefits.

Milk of magnesia mask - Milk of magnesia is actually very natural and comes from magnesium, which is an element that naturally absorbs acids and other harmful ingredients in the stomach. However, we have discovered that it makes for a great facial mask and is brilliant for very oily skin. Simply apply a very fine film of it (make sure its plain and unflavored) to your face, let it set for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with cold water.

Face Mask for oily skin - Lemon and strawberry - Oily skin really benefits from the natural astringent properties of Lemons and strawberries. One teaspoon of lemon juice or the juice of one lemon should be combined with the whites of two eggs, a few tablespoons of honey that has been warmed enough to be runny, and a cup of strawberries. Blend or mash the ingredients together and apply to your face, leave to set for ten minutes, and then rinse off with a warm cloth.

Acne reducing masks and cleansers and How to use them - If you have acne and an oily skin you will also usually suffer with a very sensitive skin and even though these masks and cleansers are made from pure natural ingredients they are still very potent and may cause redness, peeling, stinging, and so on. Therefore, It's always better to start with a very light application of any mask and leave it on only for a few minutes before gently rinsing away. Be aware of how your face and skin react; if you feel any discomfort, stop using it. But if you seem to be getting some results then you can try leaving it on for a few minutes longer. You might want to consider using a mask only once per week initially, and if you're pleased with the results then increase the application to say twice per week and then to every other day. One final thing to remember with your alternative acne treatment, just because a small amount of something works well this doesn't necessarily mean that more will be better. Stick with mixing the ingredients exactly as directed rather than adding in extra of anything.

Your face is a mirror which reflects your diet and eating habits.

Your food may be divided into acid- or alkaline-forming groups. Alkaline forming foods are best, although you can eat small portions of acid-forming foods. Acid-forming foods include fried foods, rice, white breads, milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Alkaline foods are fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Acidic foods build up toxins in your body while alkaline foods eliminate such toxins and maintain a clean digestive system. This helps to keeps your skin clear and clean.

Additionally, your body needs sufficient fatty acids from foods rich in Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9.

These fatty acids control the excess production of sebum and other hormones and help to develop a strong immune system with fewer inflammatory disorders.

You gain essential omega acids from sesame seeds and oil, avocados, pumpkin seeds, salmon, sardine, dark green leafy vegetables, walnuts and other nuts, olive oil, olives, flaxseed and its oil, grape seed oil and sunflower seed oil, etc. Fish oils contain EPA and DHA fatty acids, which produce prostaglandins to control excess hormonal secretions.

Drink water in sufficient quantities to keep your body cells hydrated and add a supple look to your face. Stay away from sugary foods and beer.

Because your face is a reflection of what you eat and drink, eat healthy foods to avoid toxicity and constipation. Natural and permanent cure of acne through proper diet is best as drugs provide only temporary relief and you may suffer from their side effects too.

In summary, foods to avoid if you want to reduce acne are -

1. Fried fatty foods like beef, butter, and cheese.

2. Artificially flavored and preserved foods which may leave unhealthy wastes in your body.

3. Processed foods cause constipation, as they lack fiber and need lot of digestive enzymes, minerals, and vitamins for their digestion.

4. Stay away from sodas, coffee, alcohol, beer, iodized salt, chocolates, white bread, etc.

5. Vitamin B12 in excess of your body's needs causes acne.

6. Milk and milk products are difficult to digest and sometimes cause mucus and allergies. Excess of such mucus causes acne.

Cow's milk contains iodine, and various hormones are present in high percentages in the milk of pregnant cows. These hormones create androgen, which leads to sebum production.

However, maintain necessary calcium levels in your body by eating calcium-rich foods other than milk and milk products if your doctor advises you to reduce or avoid milk products.

Reduce your intake of acne-encouraging foods steadily, not quickly.

Always seek your doctor's advice before making changes to your diet.