Natural Support for Teenage Acne
 
Teenage acne is extremely common and usually linked to hormonal changes during puberty. Hormone changes increase oil (sebum) production, which can clog pores and lead to spots. Here are some practical tips that usually help manage it.
 
1 - Keep a Simple Skincare Routine - Consistency matters more than lots of products.
 
Morning - Wash face with a gentle cleanser (not harsh soap), then apply a light oil-free moisturiser. If hot, sunny weather, use SPF sunscreen if going outside
 
Evening - Cleanse again to remove oil, sweat, and dirt. Apply a spot treatment if needed
 
2. Don’t over wash - Washing your face twice a day is enough. Too much washing can irritate the skin and actually trigger more oil production.
 
3. Avoid Picking or Squeezing Spots - Picking spreads bacteria and can cause scarring and darker marks after spots heal
 
4. Watch Hair and Makeup Products - Choose non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) products.
Hair gels, heavy conditioners, or oily makeup can make acne worse if they touch the skin.
 
5. Lifestyle Habits That Help, these are small habits make a difference:

• Change pillowcases regularly
• Shower after sports or sweating
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat balanced meals (some teens notice fewer breakouts with less sugary or ultra-processed foods)

 
 
As teenage acne is often linked to hormonal changes, excess oil (sebum), clogged pores, and bacteria. Gentle, natural ingredients can help calm inflammation, reduce oil, and support healing without irritating young skin. Here are some safe and effective natural ingredients commonly used for teenage acne:


1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree

• Natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
• Helps kill acne-causing bacteria
• Can reduce redness and swelling

How to use:
Dilute 1–2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil (like jojoba) and apply to spots.
Always dilute to avoid irritation.

2. Raw Honey
Honey

• Natural antibacterial and soothing
• Helps reduce inflammation and redness
• Supports skin healing

How to use:
Apply a thin layer as a 10–15 minute mask, then rinse with warm water.

3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera

• Calms irritated skin
• Helps reduce redness and swelling
• Supports healing of acne marks

How to use:
Apply pure aloe gel as a light moisturiser or soothing treatment.

4. Green Tea
Green Tea

• Rich in antioxidants
• Helps reduce oil production
• Anti-inflammatory

How to use:
Use cooled green tea as a face toner with a cotton pad.

 5. Oatmeal
Oatmeal

• Soothes irritated skin
• Absorbs excess oil
• Gentle natural cleanser

How to use:
Mix ground oats with water or honey to make a gentle face mask.

6. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba

• Similar to skin’s natural sebum
• Helps balance oil production
• Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)

How to use:
1–2 drops as a lightweight moisturiser.

 7. Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel

• Natural astringent
• Tightens pores and reduces oil
• Helps calm inflamed spots

How to use:
Apply as a toner after cleansing.


Important tips for teenage skin:

• Keep routines simple (cleanse, treat, moisturise)
• Avoid harsh scrubs and strong essential oils
• Always patch test natural ingredients
• Maintain a consistent routine rather than trying many products

 HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy is sometimes used as a gentle, holistic approach for teenage acne. It aims to treat the underlying imbalance (hormones, digestion, stress, skin sensitivity) rather than only the spots themselves. Acne in teens is usually linked to hormonal changes during puberty, excess oil, bacteria, and sometimes diet or stress.
From a medical perspective, acne is a form of Acne Vulgaris.
Below are some commonly used homeopathic remedies for teenage acne. In homeopathy, the remedy is usually selected based on the individual’s overall symptoms and personality, not just the skin.


Common Homeopathic Remedies
1. Sulphur
Often used when:

• Skin is oily with many blackheads
• Spots are red, itchy, and burning
• Acne worsens with heat or sweating

 
2. Kali Bromatum
Used when:

• Large, deep acne on the face, chest, or back
• Acne leaves scars or dark marks
• Often seen in teenage boys

 
3. Natrum Muriaticum
Helpful when:

• Acne around hairline or forehead
• Skin is oily but with dry patches
• Teen may be sensitive or introverted

 
4. Hepar Sulphuris
Used when:

• Spots are very painful and pus-filled
• Skin is very sensitive to touch

 
5. Silicea
Helpful when:

• Slow-healing acne
• Recurring deep cystic spots
• Skin tends to scar easily

 
And a Gentle Recap of Lifestyle & Natural Support (this is very important)
Even when using homeopathy, these habits help acne improve:
Diet

• Reduce high sugar, processed foods, and excessive dairy
• Increase vegetables, zinc-rich foods, and water

Skin care

• Gentle cleanser twice daily
• Avoid heavy oily products
• Do not squeeze spots (prevents scarring)

Gut & hormones

• Probiotics or fermented foods
• Adequate sleep

Important Note
Homeopathy works best when prescribed individually by a qualified practitioner, especially for teenagers, because:

• The constitutional remedy may be different from the skin symptoms alone.
• Potency and dosing vary according to the patient’s needs
• There are many different methodologies to work with when using homeopathy, everyone’s needs are different.

 
If you would like some support for your teenagers acne and skin health, please do get in touch to arrange an appointment.

We all have days where are good intentions to eat healthy falls to the way side. It could be the hectic season of Christmas, fitting life in and around Uni visits, ferrying your children to extra club/ after school activities, having deadlines imposed by work schedules, or just hormone cycles (or maybe a combination of the above!)

What ever the reason(s), it happens to everyone, you are not alone, and you are certainly not a failure. We all have to just pick ourselves up, and get our head around the cravings, fatigue and plan to get back on it.

But, what if we plan for the failures... what if we say... these obstacles are going to happen, what if we are one step ahead of the game and make our freezer fail proof!

It certainly makes life easier to prepare for the busy / yuk days. Think making extra portions when you cook. Think having an afternoon a week or month to freeze down family favourites, think about making easy kits and menu cards you can pull on when your brain craves health and your body craves the sofa.

I add a caveat, plan to make healthy versions of what you will crave on those days... not what you want to eat today. If you know you want curry and chips on a hormone day,... then prep a healthy curry that you can pull out the freezer, and pop a note with it to remind you to make some healthy jacket wedges to have along side. Think about what future you will want to do.... and make it easy for you. You will still have days where it does not go to plan, but hopefully they will be easier on your body.

The video below is an FB live I recorded with lots of tips and ideas to help you. 

Imagine you have a budget, you have £100 to spend each day, and when it is gone, it is gone, you have to wait until the next day to have some more.

That sounds pretty cool, but out of the budget comes every single expense you have for the day... food, water... communication.... is that enough.

Then lets flip that thought, and apply it to our time... every thing you do for the day comes out of your daily allowance, and when it is gone, you have nothing left until the next day.... assuming you sleep sufficiently and eat properly.

When you think of your time as a finite amount, you become aware about having enough energy to last the day. Do I have enough energy to make my meals, do the daily chores, work, look after the people I need to support, and have enough left over to look after my own needs.

It is really important when we budget our time that we think about how we are going to fit ourselves into our own time budget.

Here is the FB live that I share my thoughts about spending your time.  It is good to give your time... just make sure you give some to yourself too, otherwise you do not have enough energy to heal, and you start overspending your reserves (like dipping into your overdraft) and long term, that is not sustainable. 

Fibromyalgia is a health condition that is characterised by fatigue, aches, pains and other health issues with no  known medical cure. There may be issues with sleep, and cognition and other symptoms.

Whilst medically there is no known cure, there is a lot you can do to support your health holistically.

There is often stored emotional pain, poor diet (due to complete exhaustion and physical discomfort) amongst other issues to resolve.

When working with Fibromyalgia clients, I use my Biofeedback equipment to help identify what is going on for them, what to work on as a priority, and what herbs, supplements and remedies are needed. We also explore the emotions that come up on the system, and what they mean for the client.

In addition, we work on diet. For this I may suggest a HTMA test (they are available from my self for my clients) to explore the underlying nutritional needs and heavy metals that may be present.

The one thing that can be worked on easily yourself is diet. Now easily does not mean it will be easy, we all have affinities for particular food cravings, or have days where we would rather grab a treat than cook a proper meal, where we are fuelling on coffee and unwinding on wine. But, if you can just stop the wheel, break the programme and start afresh, you start the healing and regeneration cycle, and you put the the breaks on a part of the self destruction.

​In the video below, I share a little on how easy it is to make a few changes to your diet, with a little will power, you can start the healing.

Are you a person who loves to give and nurture others. Perhaps you bend over backwards to please, or drop everything when someone asks for help.

Perhaps you feel generally exhausted or struggle to have enough energy to do what you want to do.

Maybe you also had experience in early life where you were not nurtured, or had a parent who was not in a position to nurture you due to mental or physical health issues.

I see so many of my clients with struggles like these, exhaustion, depletion, over caring and worn out.

This little video has some top tips just for you, please watch it now, if you put it off until later, someone else will ask for your time, and the moment will be lost.

Take care of yourself, you can not help others if you do not help yourself first, lets fill your cup.

Drop me a comment if this resonates with you or someone you care about.

​

Post Christmas, many of us are on a mission to get fit, lose a few pounds or work towards the body we want for Summer.

This is often coupled with the dilemma of boxes / tins / fridges / cupboards filled with tasty delights that excite our taste buds and cause our waistlines and cellulite despair.

So I want you to think strong and hard about what you want, and why you are keeping the treats. A fridge filled with celery, salad, soups and homecooked stews will nourish you - the seasonal mass produced sugar rich goodies will deplete you. 

If you have good self control, and enjoy making the treats last, then by all means keep them, but if they call to you in the night, and you find yourself eating them without thought, give yourself permission to put them in the bin or pass them on to someone who will appreciate them.  With the foods you do not want out of the way, you are more likely to reach for nourishing options (and of course, you will have room for them too).

With your cupboards now spacious and stocked with nourishment, I am going to ask you to look at what you are drinking. Hydration is really important to flush toxins and help you feel bright.

To help you keep hydrated, aim to reduce caffeinated drinks (so energy drinks, coffee, tea etc) and switch to herbal teas and water. If you do not enjoy cold water in the winter, look to have hot water with a slice of lemon and ginger, or perhaps a dried hibiscus flower. Of course, if you find this difficult, aim to transition, switching out one drink at a time. It is better to do a little than nothing at all.

​Your body will thank you for it.

When I first created my "holistic Advent Calendar in 2020, I really wanted the experience to be like a traditional paper advent calendar (minus the glitter that would cover everything). Sadly, I did not have the tech know how.

Here we are, 5 years later, and I have finally worked out how to create a version of the calendar that I am happier with.

It is still not quite how I would like it, but it is a step closer.

Please do download the pdf below, and you can "click" on the window each day, and it will take you to the blog post for that day (my ideal is to be able to click on the image on this screen - but that will be a future me issue!).

The pdf is laid out in the same way as the image attached to this blog post. Each day gives you a story, or fun, wholesome activity that leads you gently through the festive season.

Have a wonderful advent.
​

A few years ago, I created my holistic advent, 24 days of posts to help you through the Christmas Season (I actually created this in 2020 to support those feeling alone during lockdowns). The posts are all still here on my blog, I will create a summary blog post for you use use next week, ready for the coming festive season.

But may be you are bored with the advent, you have seen it for a few years, or maybe you want to make something festive and fun unique to you and yours.... this post has you covered.

This year, why not make a reverse advent. Instead of taking something out of the box each day, why not pop something in the jar (or box, or lunch box, or tine, or whatever you have to hand).

I have found a cute red and gold tin I found in a cupboard. I have had it for years, and it will be fun to put it to use. Then, each day, pop in a slip of folded paper with a note of something that you are grateful for. It could be something from the year, a person who brings you joy, a memory from your childhood. Absolutely anything, you are making the rules here. As an alternative you could create a could do list for the year ahead. If you want to be adventurous, have different coloured paper for different activities, perhaps blue paper(or blue felt pen writing) for cold day activities, and red pen or paper for hot/ sunny day activities (again, you are making the rules).

If you feel really adventurous, you could have two tins / jars / containers. One for activities, one for gratitude / memories. Then each week in 2026, you can pull a piece of paper from one of the tins, and give yourself a smile or fun activity.

It is the advent that will give back to you all year round.

I would love to hear your thoughts, please do pop your comments below.
​

Here are 5 natural tips to help you feel calm, that are simple, grounding, and easy to fit into your day:
 
Breathe Deep and Slow
Practice slow, deep breathing — inhale through your nose for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale through your mouth for 6. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and calming your body naturally.
 
Herbal Support
Sip calming teas such as chamomile, lemon balm, or lavender. These herbs have gentle sedative properties that ease tension and promote relaxation.
 
Grounding in Nature
Spend a few minutes outside, try walking barefoot on grass, breathe in fresh air, or simply observe your surroundings. Nature naturally regulates stress hormones and restores balance.
 
Gentle Movement
Try stretching, yoga, or mindful walking to release physical tension and quiet the mind. Movement boosts endorphins and helps you reconnect with your body.
 
Create a Calm Space
Light a candle, diffuse essential oils like lavender or bergamot, and play soft music. A peaceful environment signals safety and serenity to your nervous system.
 
Lets expand a little on the herbs and essential oils
 
Here are five herbs and essential oils known for their calming and stress-relieving properties, perfect for supporting relaxation, better sleep, and emotional balance:
 
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
 
Form: Essential oil or herbal tea
 
Benefits: Reduces anxiety and promotes calmness, Improves sleep quality, Eases headaches and muscle tension.
 
How to use: Add a few drops of lavender oil to a diffuser or bath, or sip lavender-infused tea before bed.
 
2. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
 
Form: Herbal tea or tincture
 
Benefits: Soothes nervous tension and irritability, Supports better sleep, Gentle mood enhancer.
 
How to use: Enjoy as a tea or take a few drops of tincture during stressful moments.
 
3. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
 
Form: Tea or essential oil
 
Benefits: Calms the nervous system, Eases digestive discomfort linked to stress, Promotes restful sleep.
 
How to use: Drink chamomile tea in the evening or inhale the oil’s aroma with a diffuser.
  
4. Frankincense (Boswellia )
 
Form: Essential oil
 
Benefits: Deepens breathing and promotes meditation, Grounds emotions and relieves anxiety,
 
Supports mindfulness practices.
 
 How to use: Diffuse during meditation or apply diluted oil to pulse points.
 
 5. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
 
Form: Herbal tea, tincture, or capsule
 
Benefits: Reduces racing thoughts and anxiety, Helps with insomnia and restlessness, Balances mood gently without drowsiness.
 
 How to use: Take as a tea before bedtime or use a tincture for daytime calm.