Acne is a stubborn problem for which numerous creams, chemicals, and treatments exist. The sufferer can begin durations of antibiotics or slather their face with harsh, drying chemicals. These can work to clear skin, but if your acne persists, or if you're looking for a more natural and less harsh treatment, try one of these--probably in your kitchen already and used for years by acne sufferers! One caveat--natural treatments tend to take longer to work than chemical treatments, but they can be just as effective. Keep faith and stick with it, your skin will thank you.

The citric acid and vitamin C in lemon juice can result in helpful effects on acne, though not everyone reports stellar results with this treatment.

• Coat your face with pure lemon juice on a cotton ball and let dry, then rinse off residue.
  
• Mix 1/4 cup lemon juice with 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar and using as a toner.
  
• Mix 1/4 cup lemon juice with 2 Tbsp honey or an egg white and leave on the face to dry, then wash off. This pulls impurities out of the skin and help calm inflammation.

Oatmeal works as an astringent, and can absorb oil and impurities from your skin. It is a popular treatment for measles, eczema, and can be effective against acne as well. While there are cleansers and creams that contain oatmeal and can be effective, it is also easy to make your own remedies.

• Begin with colloidal oatmeal (rolled oats) and grind into a fine powder. Mix this with warm water and apply to skin like a scrub.
  
• Cook oatmeal as you would to eat and let cool. When warm, apply to your face and relax as it dries. Wash off after 15 minutes. The oatmeal has sucked the impurities from your pores and you’ve just washed them away!

Tea tree oil is obtained from the leaves of an Australian plant and has excellent antimicrobial activity. The ability of tea tree oil to kill bacteria, protozoans, and fungi is well documented (see the scientific review). In controlled trials, tea tree oil worked better than placebo to ameliorate acne, and in comparison to benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil took longer to work but eventually resulted in similar results and with fewer side effects like itching, redness, and irritation. While these scientific studies are limited in scope, numerous personal testimonies laud the effects of tea tree oil in the treatment of acne, both as an ingredient in face washes and creams, and as a spot treatment. One side effect people complain about is the smell, which is a strong, almost eucalyptus odor. Don’t worry—it will ebb with time and you’ll be left with clear skin!

• The oil can be applied directly to a pimple with a q-tip; however this may irritate the skin and can dry out the area dramatically, so be careful and don’t go overboard when using this method.
  
• Mix the oil with water (up to 10%-15% parts oil per water) in a bottle. Shake (the oil will separate from the water) and apply to the entire face with a cotton ball.
  

Ever notice how honey never goes bad? That’s because it has antimicrobial activity—which means it can be effective against acne. While not extensively studied scientifically, people have been lauding honey as an acne treatment for years.

• Apply straight to a pimple and let dry, then wash off with warm water.
• Add 2 Tbsp to 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or 1/4 cup lemon juice and coat face with a cotton ball.
  

Eg whites have a ton of protein, which can help rebuild and reinforce your skin. Results of egg masks are lauded by numerous acne sufferers that claim eggs reduce redness, dries out zits, and clarifies skin.

• Apply egg white directly to the face and let dry, then wash off. This treatment should be used a couple times a week and in tandem with other treatments.