While skincare products like salicylic acid cleansers and retinol night creams go a long way in fighting acne, holistic methods are a great way to supplement your topical routine. These elixirs, like antibacterial spearmint tea and anti-inflammatory amla juice have no side-effects (had in moderation) and won’t dry out or irritate the skin like other topicals can do. “Before we talk about things that help, I want to talk about things that might not,” says Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, founder and medical director of ISAAC Luxe. “There have been many studies that prove that the lactose, plus the chemicals and preservatives in milk have been linked to breakouts. I advice my clients who have active acne to eschew regular milk to an alternative source,” she says. “Fizzy drinks and colas have lots of sugar and carbs that can cause issues like dullness, inflammation and acne. Same goes for packaged juices and sugary cocktails.”
Your AM and PM skincare routines can only do so much if your body isn’t getting the support it needs from within. These herbal teas and infusions are packed with naturally occurring antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help support clearer skin while complementing your topical routine. Think of them as a simple, everyday ritual that works alongside your skincare rather than in place of it.
If you’re wondering how to get rid of acne, we asked Dr Mittal Gupta, lifestyle nutrition consultant Tripti Gupta and nutritionist Nmami Agarwal to share the ingredients they recommend adding to drinks that may help support clearer skin, so you can add them to your AM or PM repertoire. Scroll ahead for their recommendations.
5 drinks to sip on if you’re wondering how to get rid of acne
Spearmint tea
“If consumed daily, one to two cups of organic spearmint tea can reduce acne breakouts by 25 percent to 50 percent and this information is well documented by dermatologists. It can also keep those stubborn zits at bay,” says Agarwal. Spearmint tea is said to be the most potent mint to kill acne-causing bacteria and yeast and has anti-inflammatory properties that can calm active acne.
