Acne 101 – Best Ways to Treat Blemishes

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition caused when excess oil and dead skin cells clog pores and hair follicles. It’s not the prettiest image. The causes can range from hormonal changes, excess sebum (oil) production, environmental pollutants, diet, and stress. The most common types of acne are whiteheads, black heads, and cystic acne.

Acne Solutions

Not all acne solutions will work overnight. It depends on the type of pimple and how far along in its development journey. The most standout ingredients for fighting breakouts include:

  • Tomatoes
  • Charcoal
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Sulfur
  • Witch Hazel
  • Tea Tree

To be really effective, you may need multiple products with different ingredients in your regimen. Good thing our Yes To Tomatoes collection has you covered with a full line up to build a custom routine.

Yes To Tomatoes Acne Products

Our Yes To Tomatoes product line is specially formulated for blemish-prone skin. The Daily Blemish Toner is packed with a powerful combo of blemish fighters like Charcoal, Witch Hazel, AHAs + BHAs, and Tea Tree Oil, which is naturally antimicrobial. Dermatologist Dr. Christine Choi Kim explains, “The Tomato Extract provides antioxidants to protect and brighten the skin, which is helpful when you are waiting for an old pimple to fade.”

We like to apply this toner with a cotton swab to help gently exfoliate the dead skin cells on the surface of your face and neck – just once or twice a week to start. With its potent 10% fruit acid formulation, it’s like giving yourself a mini-peel in the comfort of your home.

The Charcoal Detoxifying Overnight Moisturizer is also great for combination to oily skin types that are prone to breakouts, but still need hydration. It balances the pore-clarifying properties of Salicylic Acid and Charcoal with soothing ingredients like Coconut Oil and Aloe.

Dr. Kim points out, “The Tomato Extract provides natural antioxidants like Vitamin C and Lycopenes to combat free radicals.” We say, bonus points for the hygienic airless pump bottle that helps you to use a consistent amount at each application.

You may be the cleanser, moisturizer and go type, but if you’re looking for additional treatments that can help banish existing breakouts then spot treatments like our Zit Zapping Dots, which can be worn up to 10 hours overnight and have a medicated dose of Salicylic Acid in them to reduce the appearance of blemishes, might be right for you. If you want to pamper and purge pores, pick up our Charcoal Mud Mask. Your skin and your mood will thank you for the detox.

Kiss your next breakout goodbye before it even starts, thanks to your new Yes To Tomatoes skincare routine.

Avocado in Skincare

Did you know avocados are your new secret weapon to ultra soft skin? It’s the omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant powered Vitamins C and E that make avocado an ideal solution for parched skin in need of natural nourishment. This is why we are so excited to introduce our new Yes To Avocado product line, specially formulated to majorly moisturize dry skin.

Yes To Avocado Products

Yes To Avocados is the most natural of all our collections. Our luxurious Avocado based formulas are proven to work on dry skin with immediate hydration and plumping effect without irritation. Each product is effective used on its own, or the entire line can be applied as a full skincare routine. From moisturizing cleansers to hydrating masks, and even a daily hand cream, Yes To Avocado products keep skin looking and feeling soft, supple, and happy. And, it’s all completely fragrance-free.

“A lot of natural skin care products contain essential oils and aromatic extracts, which is fine (and even fun!) if you have normal, tolerant skin,” explains Dr. Christine Choi Kim. “However, as a board-certified dermatologist, I recommend choosing fragrance-free products as much as possible if you have sensitive, dry skin.”

Avocado Collection

Dr. Kim continues to say, “Yes To’s Avocado line is specifically tailored for dry skin, so it incorporates nourishing ingredients such as Avocado Oil and Coconut Oil. Coconut Oil is naturally anti-inflammatory and moisturizing. It contains both Linoleic Acid and Lauric Acid; the latter even has antimicrobial properties.”

“Yes To’s Avocado Daily Cream Cleanser is ideal for dry, sensitive skin types because it is packed with nourishing Avocado Oil and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid,” recommends Dr. Kim.

This cleanser has been proven to work. In a 4-week blinded study, over 90% of participants felt the cleanser was gentle to their skin and left it feeling soft. Over 85% felt it cleansed without leaving skin feeling tight, feeling nourished, and was a good addition to their routine.

The perfect pairing for the Daily Cream Cleanser is the Fragrance-Free Daily Eye Cream. Formulated with skin-plumping Hyaluronic Acid, this fragrance-free daily eye cream hydrates the skin around your eyes, helps smooth fine lines, and stands up to bags and circles. It’s a light, non-greasy eye cream that hydrates with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and of course, Avocado Oil. In a 4-week blinded study, over 90% of participants felt the eye cream left the undereye area visibly less dry, and feeling moisturized, nourished and soothed.

Whether you have dry, parched skin or you’re looking to restore hydration without fragrance, green means GO! Check out our new full line of Yes To Avocado products.

The hardest working ingredient in every one of our Grapefruit products is—surprise—Grapefruit Extract. It’s rich in Vitamin C and Lycopene (two antioxidant heavy hitters) which naturally help to make your skin tone more even and enhance glow, promoting healthier-, smoother- and softer-looking skin.

Any one of our Grapefruit products will help boost brightness, but to go all-in on glow, here’s how to build a simple yet effective grapefruit-infused regimen.

Brightening skincare routine

Step 1: Cleanse with the Grapefruit Daily Foaming Cleanser

  • This gentle foaming cleanser can be used AM or PM to remove makeup and cleanse skin without stripping, leaving it soft and prepped for AHA/BHA/PHA treatments by loosening dead skin cells.
  • Grapefruit Extract and Vitamin C work together to brighten skin and provide antioxidant benefits even on non-exfoliation days.

Step 2: Treat with the Grapefruit Daily Exfoliating Toner

  • A liquid toner that contains natural exfoliators to help skin appear smoother and brighter, this treatment is formulated with antioxidant-packed Grapefruit Extract and 10% fruit acids (AHAs + BHAs).
    • Lactic Acid (AHA): A gentler, exfoliating AHA to help keep skin soft
    • Glycolic Acid (AHA): A chemical exfoliant that penetrates skin deeply, helping skin feel firmer while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
    • Willow Bark Extract (BHA): Used in many skin treatments, helps clear pores and brighten skin

Step 3: Moisturize with the Grapefruit Daily Nourishing Lotion

  • After cleansing surface impurities and exfoliating away dead cells, your skin is ready to soak up a moisturizing blend of Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Avocado Oil. 
  • Packed with fatty acids and vitamins, these emollient natural ingredients help form a protective barrier over skin to hold in moisture, nourishing skin and helping to improve skin elasticity.
  • Those moisture-sealing properties make this lotion an ideal follow-up to acid-based exfoliation.

Step 4: For sun (and screen) protection, follow with the Grapefruit Daily Mineral Lotion SPF 15

  • This broad-spectrum UVA/UVB mineral sunscreen (formulated with Non-Nanoparticle Zinc Oxide) uses Grapefruit Extract and Vitamin C to help keep skin glowing while providing an essential shield against sun damage and long-term blue light exposure.
  • Since AHAs can cause photosensitivity, this mineral lotion is a crucial step on exfoliation days.
  • Its creamy texture and Zinc Oxide blend in and absorb beautifully without leaving behind a greasy residue or white cast.

Bonus: Get an extra dose of glow with the Grapefruit Brightening Bubbling Paper Mask

  • Not necessary for everyday use (go ahead and pamper yourself once a week), this gentle cotton mask bubbles on contact to infuse skin with oxygen (to help purify) and Grapefruit Extract and Vitamin C (to help brighten skin’s appearance).

Happy glowing, and happy National Grapefruit Day!

To meet all your dry skin needs and give you fragrance-free fans a collection of your own, we’re introducing Yes To Avocado, our most natural skincare collection to date. Full of rich textures and majorly moisturizing formulas–thank you Hyaluronic Acid for your hydrating help–this fragrance-free skincare line has everything from cream cleanser to mineral lotion with UVA/UVB protection. The full line-up, which includes a dreamy (not greasy) hand cream, is cruelty-free, dermatologist tested and perfect for banishing your winter skin woes.

Because we’re not shy when it comes to introductions, we couldn’t stop with adding a new line. Enter our new simplified packaging. No fluff, just the facts. Front and center on each product are our natural seal (always at least 95% natural ingredients in the formula), the key ingredient (fruits and veggies), the skin benefit and the ideal skin type to use the product.

Yes To New Packaging

You'll notice some changes coming to our site too. Not only have we launched new items to round out your skin care routine in our Tomatoes, Grapefruit, Cucumbers, and Watermelon collections, but we've added how to recycle each product to the product details page and have more updates just around the corner. Make sure you don't miss a thing by subscribing to our newsletter.

Here's to a fresh start, fresh face and your new fragrance-free fave.

Each of our toners address a different skin need, meaning there is something for everyone, just the way we like it. Our three formulas are alcohol-free and contain a mix of star ingredients to effectively help your skin appear smoother and healthier. Sure there are those who are genetically blessed and can get away with barely touching their skin. For the rest of us who want a little extra TLC, get out your reusable cotton rounds and keep reading.

To soothe sensitive skin post-cleanse, turn to the Cucumber Calming Toner. This refreshing and gentle toner is packed with Cucumbers, Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera to help cleanse, moisturize, calm and balance the skin’s pH. The most universal of formulas, this alcohol-free toner can be used by anyone as your go-to toner no matter your skin type.

If you’re looking for something that treats the skin further, then our other offerings – loaded with AHA and BHAs – may be your new skin savers. You can use these as your only toner or alternate every few days with the Cucumber Calming Toner.

The Tomatoes Blemish Fighting Toner is ideal for those with oily and blemish-prone skin. Formulated with antioxidant-rich Tomatoes and detoxifying Charcoal, it also contains Witch Hazel, Tea Tree and a blend of 10% acids that exfoliate the skin, helping improve skin tone and texture.

Blemish fighting and brightening toner

And since everyone wants their skin to shine (we’re talking dewy, not greasy), we’ve formulated an exfoliating and moisturizing toner that will help your skin appear brighter and smoother. Thanks to the combination of grapefruit and 10% AHA and BHA acids like glycolic acid, lactic acid and willow bark extract, the Grapefruit Daily Exfoliating Tonic will help your dull and uneven skin achieve a more radiant glow.

What are Acids?

Acids are a group of ingredients that perform a ‘chemical exfoliation’ to resurface the outermost layers of skin. The chemical exfoliation sloughs away dead skin and encourages new cell turnover for fresh, clean skin. The two most common types of acids–as you may have guessed–are AHAs and BHAs.

AHAs loosen and lift the build-up of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface, while BHAs penetrate deeply into the pores to address skin build-up and help prevent breakouts, making them ideal for oily/acne-prone skin. There is another type of acid called Polyhydroxy Acid that has a larger molecular structure and focuses on sloughing off the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. It’s a more gentle option for those with sensitive skin. All three types of acids help skin appear retexturized, smoother and brighter.

You might think these sound like a chemical peel, but what sets our Exfoliating Grapefruit Acid products apart from a traditional peel is that they incorporate moisturizing ingredients to work with the acids to keep your skin from drying out (and literally peeling!). Below is a mix of acids we use in some of our products.

  • Lactic Acid (AHA) is a gentler, exfoliating AHA to help keep skin soft all day.
  • Glycolic Acid (AHA) is a chemical exfoliant that penetrates skin deeply, helping skin feel firmer while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Willow Bark Extract (BHA) has been used in many skin treatments to help clear pores and brighten skin.
  • Gluconolactone (PHA) attacks free radicals, helps protect skin from UV damage, helps reduce the appearance of redness and helps skin maintain elasticity.
  • Salicylic Acid (BHA) is a blemish-clearing exfoliator that helps calm angry skin and diminish the appearance of enlarged pores.

When Using Acids…

While acids can help us achieve brighter looking skin, they’re also potent ingredients that need to be taken seriously. Be mindful to not mix other active ingredients with acids such as retinols, as this could result in irritation from an imbalance in the skin. If you are new to exfoliating with acids, you can expect a brief period of redness after application, so it’s important to allow skin time to “acclimate” to the treatment by using acids 1-3 times per week and increasing usage gradually to once per day per product directions. It’s important to note that acids may cause photosensitivity as the constant exfoliation exposes new, fresh skin to sunlight. Therefore, following an acid regimen with moisturizer and SPF is absolutely essential.

If you’re new to acid treatments, we suggest starting with our Grapefruit Glow-Boosting Exfoliating Acid Pads. You use them only once a week and the finger pocket in the pad makes for a fool proof way to apply. If you’re a pro, then the treatment that’s right for you is our Grapefruit Glow-Boosting Daily Exfoliating Tonic.

The Holly Jolly Detox Kit

The Holly Jolly Detox Kit includes three detoxifying masks, one masking tool for mess-free application and cleansing facial wipes that remove dirt and oil in a swipe. Each product is formulated with antioxidant-rich Tomatoes and detoxifying Charcoal to help your skin be naturally clearer. Products include:

  • Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Paper Mask
  • Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Mask
  • Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Facial Wipes
  • Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask
  • Dual Ended Mask Tool

The Holiday Skin Treats Kit

The Holiday Skin Treats Kit includes soothing facial wipes that not only wipe away dirt and oil, but also calm the skin, a mess-free masking tool and three face masks from our most popular collections. Each mask works its magic to hydrate, brighten or detoxify your skin. Depending on your need (or even mood) there is a solution in this gift set. Products include:

  • Cucumber Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes
  • Watermelon Super Fresh Paper Mask
  • Grapefruit Vitamin C Glow-Boosting Peel-Off Mask
  • Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Paper Mask
  • Dual Ended Mask Tool