Blemish Spot Treatments: all links so far

blemish spot treatments

• Essential oils don’t just smell good, they really help with problem skin! (coming soon!)

• Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it (new!)

• Help for Breakouts

• Neutrogena On-the-Spot acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide (new!)

yonka products for spot treatments

• EMULSION PURE—Toner and blemish spot treatment

• JUVENIL—purifying concentrate and spot treatment

• Juvenil vs. essential oils for problem skin: What’s the difference? (new!)

 

Neutrogena On-the-Spot acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide

I found a product from Neutrogena that is a spot treatment for blemishes. Do you know this product, and what are your views?

The product is Neutrogena’s On-the-Spot Acne Treatment. The package says “maximum strength,” and “less irritation, won’t dry out skin” and contains 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. This is far from “maximum strength,” however this lesser percentage of benzoyl peroxide, which is a drying ingredient, is actually preferable to the higher 5% and 10% versions.

Looking at the inactive ingredients, bentonite clay is listed second after water. That means this product is primarily clay along with the benzoyl peroxide. I tried it on a few blemishes, and although I find geranium oil and/or clay mask dotted on my skin helps to diminish the spots more effectively, I did find this product to be OK. It was also without the usual drying effects of higher strength benzoyl peroxide spot treatments.

Note: This Neutrogena product will leave a whitish film wherever it is applied; bentonite clay has an off-white color to it. Dotting other clays can leave anything from a greenish to a brown color, depending on the clay’s color. Essential oils like geranium or lavender will leave no visual sign you are wearing it, just a strong aromatic.

If you have true acne, this type of spot treatment is only going to take you so far. Acne is the external manifestation of internal issues—always concerning hormones but exacerbated by sugar specifically and a poor-quality diet in general. You can’t effectively use an umbrella in a hurricane, but if you choose to use this product hopefully it will help with your infected blemishes.

For more information, see:

• Help for Breakouts
• Trends & fads in skin care
• Mid-40s with oily, irritated skin: Questions from someone who has “spent a fortune” on skin care

Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it

As you may already know, essential oils as a whole have antibacterial abilities, among many other beneficial components, and that is why I recommend them for spot treatments. Below I discuss geranium almost exclusively; not because it is the only essential oil you can use on your skin, more so because early in my career it was my favorite to recommend.

Over the years, due to “aromatic” complaints, I have shifted my recommendation to essential oil of lavender. It has a lovely “nose” and because of this more acceptable fragrance, it is favored over geranium by my clients. There are dozens of essential oils to choose from; geranium and lavender continue to be my favorites due to their pointed abilities on infected blemishes specifically.

Something to note: When discussing essential oils, no matter which one, I use (in this case) geranium, geranium oil, geranium essential oil, and essential oil of geranium interchangeably throughout my writing. There is no “geranium oil” as in a true oil. They are termed oils from long ago and somewhat unfortunately. If you want more information on that subject, see Essential Oils: a primer listed below.

Following are questions from people about the uses of geranium and my answers on how to and how not to use essential oils as powerful tools to help your blemishes fade away.

---

In your book, Timeless Skin, you recommend applying geranium oil to blemished skin. What would I mix it with? Also what do you think about virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer for the face? Could this be used to dilute the geranium oil?

You don’t actually “mix” the geranium with anything. You just put a tiny drop of this (or any) essential oil on the infected blemishes—that’s it. You don’t mix the essential oil with coconut or any other carrier oil; you don’t want to dilute the essential oil. Simply put it on the blemishes after you have done your evening Basics routine (cleansing, toning, night treatment cream). Please—do not mix this or any essential oil into products you’ll be applying to your entire face or any large area. Use geranium or your favorite essential oil on the infected blemishes—only!

Here is another client question reiterating my statements. I include it here for emphasis:

How often should I apply the geranium and where? Do I dab it on my blemishes or put it all over my face?

Do not mix geranium or any essential oil in with your creams, and under no circumstances should you rub it all over your face! In reference to the previous email, this is no doubt why manufacturers say not to use it neat—as a precautionary measure because someone may unwittingly put it all over their skin.

Geranium is best used on infected blemishes only. If the spot is red, which generally indicates bacterial infection, do use geranium oil. If not, don’t. In other words, using this essential oil on blackheads or whiteheads won’t do them any good. Just dab geranium on infected places for 2-3 days or until there is a lot of improvement in the spot(s). Apply it at night after your Basics 1-2-3 routine or right before bedtime.

If I put geranium on overnight, should I wait until the mask dries then put on the geranium, or can I put both on at the same time? 

Here is a client who is using what I call an “advanced technique” for healing blemishes. It’s only advanced because I find most people want the easiest solution to a problem and simply dabbing on some essential oil is relatively easy. Including clay mask in the mix just adds another step, however it is a very effective step if you really want your spots to go away.

In response to this client’s question: I recommend waiting until the mask dries. Otherwise, when you apply the (wet) geranium to the wet mask, your finger will usually stick to the clay and take the dollop of mask off. Just wait a minute more or less after applying the mask, then put a drop of geranium on the semi-dried clay. Geranium (or Lavender)—spot remover for breakouts

Here is a similar complaint/comment from another client:

I let the clay dry before applying geranium but when I do, the oil immediately dissolves the clay. This seems counterproductive to me. Am I applying it incorrectly?

My initial thought is you might not be putting enough clay on your spots. It can be a tricky balance: you don’t want a big dollop because that will probably fall off once it dries. At the same time, you don’t want just a thin coating of clay not only because it won’t really do much if it is a really thin layer, but it could possibly dry the skin where you (barely) put the clay.

Try using a bit more clay first, then see how that goes. But if applying the geranium after dotting clay on a blemish causes problems, you could try using the geranium first, then put the clay over it after the oil has dried. Or you can use the geranium alone or just use the clay by itself. Honestly, some evenings I just don’t want to go to bed with clay dots on my face! So using geranium oil alone is perfectly fine. It’s just more powerful if clay and geranium are used together, but it’s not essential. 

As I mentioned before, I now tend to recommend lavender due to its more pleasing aromatic over geranium. And although the actions of the two essential oils are somewhat different, it’s not enough of a difference that I prefer one over the other. I do have a few clients who just love essential oil of geranium, strong aromatics and all. Whichever you choose, do use essential oils on your problem spots to help them to heal faster and keep your skin clear. 

For more information, see:

• Essential Oils: a primer
• Using essential oils undiluted (neat) on your skin—don’t believe everything you read
• Help for Breakouts
• Lavender: A Medicine Cabinet Must!—updated

You definitely do not want to “lick” essential oils!

Yonka’s Juvenil vs. essential oils for problem skin: What’s the difference?

Just so I have this right: The ampoule of brown liquid you gave me is the same one that is in the first blog article you sent—yes? It says you can put it all over your face, and I got a different impression from you today, so I guess I’ll need some clarification.

Yes, the blog post you mentioned was for Juvenil [listed below], the same brown liquid I gave you today in my office. What I was talking about when I saw you was about the ability to use Juvenil in larger areas than you would ever want to apply an essential oil. Juvenil is very aqueous (liquid-y) and a little goes a long way. In short, yes you can use Juvenil all over the face. With that said, it would be a waste to use it in places where there is no breakout since this product helps to diminish bacterial infections (red, infected breakout).

For clarification: you can use Juvenil on any breakout—widespread or not. With lavender oil you don’t want to use it “liberally”—just on the individual spots. Lavender or any essential oil is too strong and intense to apply on a big surface area of skin; you just want to use it locally vs. generally. Juvenil, on the other hand, can be used liberally, although it too can be used as a spot treatment only. I hope you and your son find some help with Juvenil!

Here is a short followup from my client:

Okay, my son got a nice dose of Juvenil on the “bad” spots this morning. He didn’t complain too much about it, so we’ll see how it goes! 

You can’t go wrong with either of these products (Juvenil or essential oils), but in some cases one is preferable than the other. If you have widespread breakout I’d recommend Juvenil—often and liberally. If you just get a blemish now and then, you might be better off with an essential oil like lavender of geranium. Personally, I like to have my arsenal of skin care weapons chocked-full, so if you can have both on hand for any problems that appear on your skin, then do!

Another client who just had her first facial with me was asking about Juvenil. She has a slight case of rosacea along with some problems with occasional breakouts.

I was wondering about the calendula product you used on me during the facial and also the geranium oil I read about in the booklet you gave me. Could I use these on not only my breakout but on the rosacea places too?

The calendula product I used is called Juvenil. It’s great for taking the redness out of infected blemishes. Although I don’t have any anecdotal experience using Juvenil on rosacea, I’m certain it wouldn’t hurt that skin. Calendula is very soothing and calming, so it might help with the redness in your rosacea skin. Try it and see!

If you want a sample of Juvenil to try on your rosacea places, I’m happy to give you one. Yonka doesn’t actually make “samples” of their concentrates, but for facials I get Juvenil in little glass ampoules. I can give you one and put a little rubber dropper top on it for ease of application. Then you can try it and see what you think.

Geranium (or lavender) essential oil is also great for bacterial infections—same as Juvenil. Essential oils can be found in any health food store. You’d use essential oils on the spots only versus Juvenil that can used a little more widespread on your skin if you have a lot of breakout.

Although you are essentially using Juvenil or an essential oil for the same thing—infected blemishes—they really are to be used in two different ways. Well, that’s not exactly true! Here is the short version of what I’m trying to get across here:

• YONKA’S JUVENIL
• Use directly on any infected spots
• Can be used on entire face if you have a lot of breakout widespread
• Can sooth irritated skin, so it’s OK to use on a large area

• ESSENTIAL OILS (geranium or lavender are best)
• Use a small amount directly on spots—only!
• Do not use in a large area or spread on your entire face—please!

For more information, see:

• Essential Oils: a primer
• Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it
• Yonka’s JUVENIL—purifying concentrate and spot treatment

Yonka’s EMULSION PURE—Toner and blemish spot treatment

EMULSION PURE is the third toner from Yonka-Paris and is best for problem skin and acne. It does not spray like the other toners: Lotion PS and PNG.

Pure contains the highest the concentration of essential oils of all the toners, giving it a better effect on inflammation and infections (essential oils have strong antibacterial properties). In a more diluted form, like in Lotion PS (the lowest concentration of essential oils of the three products), essential oils are more soothing for sensitivities yet still have the beneficial properties of stimulating circulation, helping with cellular respiration.
 
Emulsion Pure is an excellent spot treatment when used as a compress on a specific blemish. It can also be used over your entire face as an extra-strength toner. This concentrate of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary essential oils starts the healing process by helping to calm infections and reduce inflammation.

From Yonka headquarters:
Address the unique needs of your skin with this purifying and regenerating treatment emulsion that is essential for those who suffer from chronic breakouts. With a potent concentration of Yon-Ka Quintessence, this multi-action medicine cabinet in a bottle can be used before and after waxing, on sunburn, on insect bites, and on old scars for purifying, soothing, and regenerating effects.

Essential ingredients:

• Yonka “Quintessence” 4.3% (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary)—purifying, regenerating 
  • Thyme—antiseptic 
  • Lavender—healing, soothing, stimulates cell metabolism 
  • Cypress—vasotonic, clarifying
  • Geranium—normalizes sebaceous secretions
  • Rosemary—regulates lymphatic circulation 
• Botanical emulsifier—stabilizing

Directions for use:

To use Pure as a compress: 

• Take a piece of cotton 2-3x the size of the spot (in other words: use a small piece)
• Soak in PURE
• Compress (press) onto the blemish 
• Keep it there at least 5 minutes, no more than 15 minutes

You can compress while watching TV, reading, or talking on the phone; whenever you have 5 minutes to sit still and give the compress the time needed to do its magic.

To use Pure as a toner: 

• After cleansing
• *Splash PURE over face and neck or
• Use **cotton soaked in PURE and go over face and neck
• Then apply your moisturizer
• You can also mix PURE  into your cremes

*I’m not a fan of using the cotton method. Why not? First you waste a lot of product as it soaks into the cotton. Also, you simply don’t get much or enough product on your skin. For best results, use the splashing method (**pour Pure into your palm, rub hands together, then apply to face and neck.)

Not sure what toner to use? Please read: 

• Yonka toners: Which one should I use? 

And for more spot remover ideas, see:

• JUVENIL—purifying concentrate and spot treatment
• Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it
• Blemish Help Quick Tip

Yonka’s JUVENIL—purifying concentrate and spot treatment

JUVENIL is a calendula, ichthiol, and bleu chamomile-based brown liquid that is a wonderful tool to help calm and heal your problem skin. Used for widespread breakout, it can also be used on individual problem spots. Apply Juvenil to entire face or wherever breakout is occurring.

Juvenil’s ingredients are different than Emulsion Pure (another Yonka product for problem skin), although the action on blemishes is similar. Calendula is soothing and anti-inflammatory, and chamomile (azulene) helps to heal and calm, while ichthammol is antiseptic and antibacterial. The medicinal aromatic reassures you that action is being taken against your blemishes. This healing concentrate can also be mixed into your cremes. (Juvenil can stain clothing—so be careful!) Breakouts disappear, and inflammations are soothed. The skin is purified and healed.

A very effective acne treatment with a unique approach from other standard acne products. Juvenil is non-stinging and doesn’t dry out the skin. It will effectively balance sebaceous secretions, control breakout causing bacteria, and soothe and heal the infections. The balance of the formula clears the complexion and diminishes post-breakout spots. Juvenil is an important product for men as an aftershave for soothing sensitive skin and eliminating ingrown hairs.

My upstairs neighbor friends just got married. The day before the wedding, the groom came to me with several red spots (“zits”) on his face. I ran to my office and got him some Juvenil. After giving him the instructions, I kind of forgot about it. The day after the wedding I saw them both, and he remarked to me what a miracle that little brown liquid had been. And sure enough, he had no evidence of redness or breakout on his face. Hurray! And congratulations to the newlyweds!

Essential ingredients:

• Ichtammol (sulfur derivative)—purging, antisepticizes, healing
• Lactic acid—antisepticizes, acidifies, eliminates cellular buildup
• Yonka “Quintessence” (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary)—purifying, calming, healing
• Calendula—antisepticizes, anti-inflammatory
• Azulene (German chamomile)—antisepticizes, rejuvenating, soothing
• Sweet lime—regulates, balances

Directions for use:

In the morning and/or evening:

• Apply JUVENIL after cleansing *before toning and moisturizing
• Use a few drops to specific breakout or
• Several pumps to entire face if breakout is more widespread
• Next, apply (spray on) Yonka Lotion toner
• Then apply your day or night treatment creme (perhaps Creme 15) 

You can also mix some Juvenil into your day/night creams. You can use Juvenil mixed in only or in addition to using it as a spot treatment. You really can’t use too much of this wonderful treatment product.

*I prefer to apply Juvenil on dry skin vs. after spraying Lotion toner. However, don’t worry! You can clean, spray toner, then apply Juvenil if you prefer that method. Truly, you can’t go wrong as long as these products are on your skin.

For more information, see:

• Emulsion Pure—Toner and blemish spot treatment
• Help for Breakouts
• What is causing your breakouts?

Help for Breakouts

Why does skin break out? 

Quite simply, hormones cause breakouts. Hormonal imbalances can occur at any time in life. As puberty starts, the hormones are activated. For women, our monthly cycles can cause breakouts; pregnancy causes great hormonal changes and can either improve your complexion or cause mild to severe breakout; and perimenopause brings yet another change in a woman’s hormone levels. Men, too, have fluctuations in their hormones, which can affect how clear or broken out their skin is. Diet is a huge consideration when looking for the cause(s) of breakout, and stress should not be overlooked as being a factor in skin troubles. There are several beneficial things you can do for breakouts that will help them go away without causing damage to your skin.

• A clay mask is my number one at-home treatment for breakout. It has a calming effect and helps to temporarily lift redness from the skin. Clay draws to itself, helping to encourage movement of the debris in an embedded pore. Clay has antiseptic properties, which helps to keep bacteria away.

Clay can be used in two ways: as a mask, covering the entire face and left on for 15 minutes once or twice a week, or dotted on the blemishes at night before bed and left on while you sleep. If the spot is small to medium without a lot of infection, this dotting method can really reduce its size overnight. For deeper cysts and large infected areas, clay can still do wonders, but not miracles.

• Essential oil of geranium is my next wonder treatment for breakout. Throughout the years I’ve been seeing clients, more and more I have been recommending lavender essential oil over geranium. This change is solely due to aromatics. Simply put, many people just can’t take the smell of geranium oil! Lavender has a wonderful aromatic and is generally accepted by most noses.
• After you have completed your Basics 1-2-3 routine (cleanse, tone, hydrate), dot geranium or lavender oil directly on any infected (red) blemishes. Please note: Do not get geranium, lavender, or any pure essential oil in or around your eyes! 

Essential oils are not “oily” oils; they are more gaseous and vaporous. They have a thin viscosity and do not feel oily. By their very nature, essential oils are antiseptic, antibacterial, and in many cases soothing, which makes them perfect for infections.

Essential oil of geranium is especially good for problem skin. It has antiseptic and astringent properties as well as a balancing action on oil production. Geranium also helps to stop bleeding and promote healing of injured areas. Lavender has many equally wonderful properties and many clients still have great success with this essential oil. 

She has the right idea, however she’s used way too much clay!

Combining a clay mask with geranium oil is the most effective, overnight treatment for blemishes. 

• After you’ve completed your evening 1-2-3 program, dot some clay mask on any problem spots and let it dry for a minute or so. 
• Then take your geranium oil and dab a bit on top of the clay and leave it overnight. 

In the morning you should see some reduction in size along with diminished redness of the blemish. Continue this dotting method for several consecutive nights or until the blemish is gone.

Breakout is one instance when essential oils and clay are ideal. Even though you may have to contend with red spots already present on your face, these products will go a long way to help expedite the healing process. 

There is no fast and easy way to get rid of blemishes. They weren’t created instantaneously, and they will not disappear overnight. Give a clay mask and essential oils a try, and see if they don’t work better for your skin than the blemish-control products you’ve been using.

For more information, see: 

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program
• What is a clay mask and why use one? 
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions (There is important information in this article you will want to know about before using your clay mask.) 
• Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it