oatmeal

Sure, great skin is the result of regular cleansing and exfoliation, but that doesn't always have to come in the form of a store-bought tube. Some of the best acne fighters out there are hiding right under your nose . . . or in your pantry. To see the five surprising zit-zappers you have lying around your own home, just keep reading.

The story of AVEENO® ACTIVE NATURALS® begins back in 1945 when the brand’s Soothing Bath Treatment was introduced by the Musher Foundation in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic. The Soothing Bath Treatment featured 100 percent colloidal (finely-milled) oatmeal which helped to soothe dry, irritated skin and lock in much-needed moisture. It soon became the brand that dermatologist recommended to patients suffering from any skin irritation ailments.

Fast forward to 2000, and AVEENO® released its first line of baby products on the back of 55 years of skin soothing goodness. But 2002 brought even bigger news when AVEENO® launched POSTIVELY RADIANT™ with Active Natural soy. The benefits of soy were first discovered in Asia in soybean factories – the workers who regularly handled soy found they had especially soft and even-toned hands. Experts at AVEENO® discovered a way to retain its’ natural active strength to even skin out tone and texture, making the skin’s natural appearance more radiant.

The brand continues to develop exciting and innovative products that harness the potent power of the Earth’s natural ingredients and are enhanced by scientific rigor. It’s little wonder the brand’s been recommended by US dermatologists for 60 years!

® Trade Mark of Johnson & Johnson 2157/11

Every time the seasons change, peeling skin rears its flaky, red, itchy, crappy-looking-under-makeup head. Sux. Sure, there are serums and moisturisers aplenty with long ingredient lists designed to help, but it's easier, cheaper, and a lot more Earth-friendly to go the natural route. Your kitchen holds plenty of flake-zapping solutions for you to hydrate the natural way so let's take a look and see what environmentally-friendly treats we can rustle up together, shall we?

Honey is your friend. It's a natural exfoliant, but unlike a scrub, it's skin-calming and antimicrobial. Your flakes come off without further irritating and reddening your skin, and delicate, first-day-of-school skin doesn't get awash in acne bacteria.

Keep reading . . .

Way back when, in 1945, Aveeno scientists created their first product based on oatmeal. Now, some 65 years later, the execution of the products has advanced — the oatmeal is now milled into an extra-fine powder known as colloidal oatmeal — but the key ingredient has remained.

So what makes oatmeal so special? Well it’s been recommended by leading dermatologists for years because it helps to relieve the irritation and itching that’s often associated with dry skin and conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

But by far the best bit about the dermatologist-endorsed range, is that the products don’t come with million-dollar price tag attached. In fact Aveeno Fragrance Free Skin Relief Body Wash is just $9.99. BARGAIN! As well as the hero ingredient, the body wash also features menthol properties to impart an instant cooling sensation. It’s creamy, gentle and effective: everything you could wish for if you’ve got dry, itchy skin. As we head towards the colder months when skin conditions start to flare up, it’s definitely worth stocking up on a bottle o' two.