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Thyme: To Control Blemishes and Acne

crunched by on May 30, 2012
filed under Food On Your Face, Natural Beauty Recipes, Skin

Ladies and gents, you can chalk up a win for the crunchy movement.

A recent study, widely publicized, shows that THYME is more effective than prescription creams (containing benzoyl peroxide) at treating blemishes caused by an acne bacterium.

Yes. Thyme. Scientifically proven. Better. Than. Prescriptions.

How cool is that? There are hundreds of reports out there on this study, but I thought this one from the Washingtonian was the funniest. After delivering all of the good news, they end the article with this (by the way, no where else have I seen that “researchers caution” …):

Still, researchers caution that you shouldn’t start rubbing thyme all over your face next time you have a zit. More tests using the thyme mixture on actual skin are needed to see how effective thyme really is.

Uh, yeah. Okay. We won’t take our skin health into our own hands, experimenting harmlessly with nature, because it’s safer and less toxic. Sure. Yeah. No probs.

HAHAHAHAHA.

 

So how are we going to do this? Well, let’s look at how the researchers conducted the study first.

They created a tincture of thyme with alcohol (in addition to studying marigold and myrrh), steeping it in the alcohol mixture for “several days to weeks.” They found that the most effective tincture was simply the thyme, even when studied against benzoyl peroxide creams. In fact, the thyme tincture killed the bacteria within 5 minutes of application – that’s how effective it was.

However, and this is my humble opinion, I think using a pure alcohol tincture straight on your skin is asking for other troubles (mainly irritation and dryness), so after a lot of consideration, I went about things slightly differently.

And, remember, this is all our own experiments. At the end, I’m going to give a few other ideas of how to sneak thyme into your skincare routine in ways that may (or may not! who knows?) control your acne and blemishes.

Create Your Own Blemish-Controlling, Gentler Thyme Tincture

After much thought, I really think this is the quickest and easiest way to test how well thyme will improve the clarity of your skin and help eradicate the bacteria that’s causing your acne and blemishes.

You only need two things:

  • Dried thyme
  • Witch hazel

It’s important to note, many witch hazel preparations actually include a small amount of alcohol in them – not all, but many – and that’s not necessarily bad, but it may cause a bit of dryness or irritation.

Creating a Thyme/Witch Hazel Infusion

This is so simple. And, actually, I think you can start using it right away. Here’s what you’re going to do.

  1. Sterilize a small jar or bottle by boiling it in water for 10 minutes. Dry it well.
  2. Add 1 Tbsp dried thyme to the jar/bottle.
  3. Pour 3-4 Tbsp witch hazel over the top. Shake well.
  4. Within 20 minutes, the witch hazel should start to look like a light brown tea. This is good. It means your thyme is steeping well. You can actually use it right away, but continue to let the thyme steep in the witch hazel for a few days before straining the thyme out.
  5. Store it in a cool, dark place for up to a month, using when needed.

 

 

How to use it: Use this as a toner once a day (or once in the morning and at night if you’re really concerned about your blemishes). Just pour a small amount on a cotton round or reusable facial pad and swipe over a clean face.

Frankly, I have no idea how soon you can expect to see results. This is your experiment! You tell ME how long it takes.

Other Ways to Sneak Thyme Into Your Skincare Routine

These are just a few little ways – and I bet money (lots and lots of it) that YOU can think of even more. Don’t be afraid to experiment, my lovelies!

Make the toner, create small masks

This is just an idea for small breakouts or giant pimples that really have you down. The toner above may help stave off breakouts, but this is a way to utilize it for more hard-hitting situations.

Grab yourself some cosmetic clay. Bentonite or kaolin or french green would be excellent choices. You can find them at Mountain Rose Herbs – or you can pick up some Aztec Healing Clay (which is bentonite) at Vitacost when you use your $10 off coupon. (I really love that stuff, by the way.)

Actually! Check the end of the post if you’re interested in buying everything you need in one shot. I just broke it down, and figured out that, with the $10 off coupon (if you haven’t used it yet), you can get EVERYTHING you need for $4.97+shipping.

Here’s how utilize small thyme pimple masks for emergencies or “big ones:” In a small bowl, combine about 1 tsp clay with 1 tsp of your witch hazel toner and stir well. Apply to the pimples in question and leave on for at least 20 minutes (even overnight, if you want). Wash off.

The clay should help suck out the moisture from the blemish and the thyme … well … we know what the thyme does. It eradicates the bacteria that keep the blemish alive.

Instead of Infusing Witch Hazel, Infuse an Oil

Especially good for oily and acneic skin are:

  • Jojoba
  • Argan
  • Tamanu (though it’s best to combine tamanu with a thinner oil)
  • Sesame

In a small, sterilized jar, place 1 Tbsp of dried thyme and cover it with oil. Let this steep for 2 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking daily. Strain the thyme from the oil and apply to your skin nightly as a blemish-busting moisturizer.

Add It To a Daily Facial Scrub

Here’s the important post that you want to reference: No-Nonsense Daily Facial Scrub for Any Skin Type.

Just grind up dried thyme with your other ingredients, add it to your scrub in a proportionate amount, and use daily!

Make a Fresh Thyme Facial Mask

The only way it makes sense to harness the power of fresh thyme is with a facial mask. You can do this once a week and see how it helps.

 

Fresh Thyme Facial Mask for Acne and Blemishes

  • 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, leaves only
  • 1 Tbsp sour cream
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp unfiltered honey (optional)

In a blender or small food processor, combine all ingredients and blend until the thyme is in very small pieces. Apply to a clean face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse well. (Be careful going outside for a while afterwards, as lemon juice makes your skin photosensitive to the sun.)

Make It Easy With Thyme Essential Oil

You can actually substitute dried thyme for thyme essential oil, if you prefer to take that route. But a quick and easy way to get the most out of your thyme essential oil is to opt for adding a few drops to an oil moisturizer (like the ones listed above).

Remember, essential oils are VERY potent, so you shouldn’t add more than 2-3 drops per Tablespoon of carrier oil.

Mountain Rose Herbs and Vitacost both sell thyme essential oil, by the way.

Shopping Details on the Pimple Mask

Okay. As promised, here’s the shopping details on how you can get everything you need for the thyme toner and mask for $4.97 plus shipping (at least, that’s the cost as of this writing).

And if you already have dried thyme at home (and you probably do!) you can cut your costs even more.

If you haven’t used your $10 off Vitacost coupon yet, this is how you’re going to save some decent cash. You have to sign up at this link first to get the coupon, but here are the items you can check out once you have that coupon code in your hot little hands:

If you do decide to buy everything you need here, remember that BOTH bentonite clay and witch hazel can be used for a variety of different things – so you’ll be adding to your little crunchy stockpile of goodies either way.

Tell Us If You’re Going to Experiment …

… and then keep us updated on how it goes!

We DO NOT have to sit around and wait for a double-blind, peer-reviewed scientific study to tell us whether thyme works on our blemishes and acne. We CAN try this out on our own right now.

So, first, let us know here in the comments if you plan on trying it. Next, TRY IT! And then, finally, come back and update us on how the thyme situation is working for you.

If I have enough updates here in the comments, I’ll do another post highlighting the outcomes of everyone and what seemed to work best!

Yay for crunchy learning!

(PS. Reminder: In 24 hours Crunchy Betty’s Food on Your Face for Acne and Oily Skin EBOOK will be removed from the site for at least three months, while I test out Amazon Kindle’s direct publishing options. If you want the PDF, you HAVE to order it in the next 24 hours. Read over here to learn more.)


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    ← Older Comments
    • JJ

      can you use the thyme you’d buy at the grocery store? and if you wanted to try it with an apple cider vinegar / tea tree oil mix, would you steep it with those 2 liquids or on its own and then add it to the mixture? i have had terrible acne all my life and sometimes the ACV/TTO mixture helps dry out my pimples but it’s missing something because it definitely isn’t the miracle worker i had hoped for. thank you!

    • lesley

      I have “T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel 100% Natural Astringent For Face and Body”. Is this ok, or should I go and buy an ORGANIC one?

    • CPerry

      I just love this BLOG!

    • ani

      I am new here, but love this post. Can you only use dried thyme? what about fresh thyme? Because I would think fresh is always better. I have used this to make a steam bath while using a mud mask, then wash with the water. But I want to to this tincture.

    • ry

      Do ya think it would work to add thyme to your daily honey wash?

    • http://www.facebook.com/moriah.brockman Moriah Brockman

      I love using the thyme! In the last year, I’ve started having some issues with acne, which I haven’t really experienced before. (I”m 23 now.) After starting to read posts on Crunchy Betty, I’ve made myself a facial mask that has almost completely gotten rid of my acne, something which no commercial product was able to do! Here’s how it works!
      In one jar: Fill halfway with green cosmetic clay, add dried ground thyme to 3/4 full, add dried neem leaf to 7/8 full, and add a little bit of dried cinnamon.
      In another jar: Put contents of one single-serve container of plain yogurt, four or five strawberries, a handful of blueberries, one or two eggs, a few spoonfuls of used coffee grounds, one or two spoonfuls of unsweetened cocoa powder (optional, though it seems to make my skin a bit softer), a couple spoons of honey, a few drops each of tea tree, lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils, and a little witchazel in your blender, and mix well. I don’t bother with exact measurements, here, but it comes out to the consistency of a thick liquid, like a smoothie. Store in fridge.
      To use, mix small amounts of the contents of your two containers in your hand to form a thin-ish paste. Apply to clean face and wait for it to dry, about 15 minutes.

      • torey

        Based on my experience, the reason you probably started getting acne was because you tried a new lotion, face makeup, or even an anti-acne product. There are tons of ingredients that cause acne in store bought products. Try googling facereality, where you can find a list of pore clogging ingredients. I went to them and am now 100% clear for over a year, and even if you cant afford the program, the info they have on their website is beyond valuable.

    • jocelyne garcia

      Can I use the thyme they sell in bags and can I wash my whole face with it or just the infected areas and which recipe do you think would be more effective agains cheek acne and occasional chin acne and which which hazel do you think would be the most effective

    • jocelyne garcia

      I got confused the witch hazel has alcohol but the organic one doesn’t AMD the organic one is considered better but I thought that alcohol with thyme made it more effective

    • Kaylee Marie

      I went out and bought dried thyme and witch hazel immediately after I read this… Haha.
      Question though: I’m steeping it in a mason jar… How long should I leave it in there? I want it to be as potent as possible, but won’t it start to get moldy after a few days? I bought witch hazel with 14% grain alcohol, will that act as a preservative? Advice from anyone would be appreciated!

    • Blackhawks

      I just started using the thyme toner last night…..I made the toner using fried organic thyme and The homestead company pure witch hazel. I let the thyme steep for 2 days. I will try to update every few days since i plan to try this out for 2 weeks.

      • blackhawks

        i meant dried organic thyme

        • blackhawks

          UPDATE: its been 4 days now o using the toner just at night…..Ive experienced some purging especially over my problem areas….little white heads no cysts…..Dont know if thyme is causing this but ive read it may be a common thing….any one else experience this???

          • blackhawks

            2 weeks later: The purge has ended!!!! Dont be afraid if you getting alittle skin purging when starting!!!

    • Kacie

      Does thyme make tamanu oil smell less…well….like tamanu? I’ve tried all the typical household EOs with it and nothing comes close to covering or complimenting the scent but hey, if thyme does it, win/win on the pimple front!

    • Veronica

      Oh my goodness, I just discovered your website and this article. THANK YOU! I will be making a Thyme tincture pronto.

    • nutz4squirrels

      Ok…so I’m on day 3 of mixing raw local honey and ground thyme (the kind you get in the spice section at the grocery store) and using it as a mask at night and a cleanser in the morning, and I’m already seeing good results! Now I’m just hoping these good results last!

      Just for some background:

      I have oily acne prone skin. I’m 30, and I have had acne since my late teens. I used Proactiv for the majority of that time and it really worked, most of the time, to stop the breakouts…but it also REALLY worked to throw my skin out of balance and cause me to get acne breakouts on parts of my face that never really had a problem to begin with (my problem area is around my mouth and on my chin.)

      So, about 2 months ago I realized that I have got to be nicer to my skin if I want it to be nice to me, so I’ve begun a journey to find what makes my skin happy.

      And so far this honey/ thyme mixer has made it the happiest. I’ll post back here and let you know how it is going once I’m further into this experiment.

    • Vicki Kennedy

      Has anyone experimented with different varieties of thyme? I have several different kinds growing in my herb garden and my lemon thyme in particular is taking over! I have been looking for a good use for it. My twelve year old son has had a terrible outbreak of acne and I am looking forward trying this.

    • Denise

      The thyme/witch hazel combination worked wonders on my son’s face. He’s been battling teenage acne for about a year and a half using the medications prescribed by the dermatologist with mixed results. He started using the thyme/witch hazel and honestly, the next day we could see a difference. Two weeks now his skin is clear. He loves his momma and I am thankful for Crunchy Betty.

    • Jess

      read about the power of thyme in an issue of Women’s Health, was so pumped when i found all these awesome recipes using thyme. i hate using prescription meds, they never seem to do the trick. i just made the fresh thyme facial mask. i have it on right now. it actually feels like its working. i also plan on making the thyme tincture.

      ill keep you posted! :)

    • Melissa

      What do you think about making a sort of thyme “tea” with water and then applying that to the face. I am afraid to use witch hazel because I have very sensitive skin that drys out easily. Also, do you think there would be any advantages in using fresh thyme? Has anyone tried either of these ways?

      • Blackhawks

        The Homstead Company or Thayers makes an alcohol free witch hazel…

    • Sara Lee

      Hi I was wondering if you have to wash the thyme before you soak them into the witch hazel? Do you recomment Thayer’s witch hazel or Dickinson? I have them both at home and was just wondering if I could use either brand…..

    • Rebecca Godlove

      It worked! It worked!
      Or, rather, it’s WORKING. I’ve had problem skin since I was about 11…meaning that I’ve been battling acne for 2/3 of my life now. Sounds pretty depressing, doesn’t it? I finally gave up on all the creams, cleansers, pads, and scrubs and headed to a dermatologist last year. Although the prescriptions I received worked fairly well, only one of the three medications were safe for a pregnant woman. Although I wasn’t pregnant at the time, I’d already had a miscarriage and I didn’t want to increase my chances of another, so I stopped taking the medication. I switched back to commercial products and found varying rates of success. I read this post around the same time I noticed the unfortunate side effects of having to go back on The Pill. My face has broken out horribly, with those big painful bumps you can’t even pop – most of you know the ones…
      Anyway…I actually ran out the very night I read the post (about a week ago) and got the supplies. I could only find witch hazel with 14% alcohol, so I stopped using it twice a day and am only doing it at night. Here are my findings:
      1. It greatly diminishes the redness of the pimples (this was almost immediate).
      2. It slows, then stops the formation of large pimples.
      3. It greatly diminishes the look of blackheads (this surprised me).
      4. It does dry skin slightly because of the alcohol, however, the bonus is that my skin does not become oily by the end of the day (except under my bangs).
      5. It feels good.
      6. It does not completely stop new pimples from forming, but the new ones are not the big, painful ones, and the ones that are forming are infrequent. I’ve only gotten one or two new ones in the week since I’ve started using the toner. So that’s good.
      I don’t know if this is any “better” than commercial creams, but it’s cheaper, definitely. I was so pleased with the results that I dumped the entire jar of thyme into the bottle of witch hazel. I didn’t even bother to strain it. That bottle will last me well over a year. All told, it was about $9.00. I can’t pay that for a month of prescriptions, to be sure, and even OTC creams run about $5 a package, at least. Not to mention, I know exactly what i’m putting on my face. And yes, it feels rewarding to have made it myself!
      My next step is to try the oil cleansing method, but I’m allowing my skin a little more time to get used to the thyme before I try it. I’m really happy with the results so far. :-)

    • Maile

      I have read on several all natural blogs that those “chicken arms” are a symptom of low functioning adrenal glands. Thought I might share if you want to do some research

    • http://twitter.com/D2ECoaching Down to Earth

      “We DO NOT have to sit around and wait for a double-blind, peer-reviewed scientific study to tell us whether thyme works on our blemishes and acne. We CAN try this out on our own right now.” You are my hero! Great article, too!

    • Kaz

      Can I use Almond oil, instead of the oils you mentioned? I tend to have dry flaky skin, especially on the nose and around the nose area. Do you think Almond oil will be effective on my skin?

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