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Ten Ways to Banish Breakouts That Actually Work

Siobhan O'Connor
By Siobhan O'ConnorAug 13, 2010
Siobhan O'Connor
See Full Bio

If you're no stranger to the kind of breakouts that make you want to put a paper bag over your head and cry, well, chin up—but step away from the benzoyl peroxide. Because they are formulated to penetrate deep into the skin, traditional acne products are extremely harsh and can contain some of the more unhealthy chemicals used in personal care products. BP is the most popular over-the-counter spot remedy in the United States, but that doesn't mean we should be using it. Studies have shown it to be free-radical-generating (that's bad—free radicals age the skin), and it has caused tumors in mice—to say nothing of its skin-peeling harshness.

But take heart. Here are 10 completely nontoxic ways to clean up your skin from the outside in, and the inside out.

This is a series inspired by No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics, a book by GOOD's features editor Siobhan O'Connor and her co-author Alexandra Spunt.

Read more on their blog

Illustrations by Brianna Harden

acneskincaretoxic chemicalsno more dirty looksnatural beautyblemishesargan oilnontoxic beauty

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