Table of Contents
Acne Remedies
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DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA
[YEA] 01/26/2006: KLC from Stratford, CT writes: "I've actually been using combination of baking soda and Apple Cider Vinegar to clean my face and my results have been very successful. Here is what I do daily:
Morning: I use a deep cleansing face wash. Lather and let sit for 1 min, then rinse with ACV.
Night: I add baking soda to the deep cleanser (excellent make-up remover!), lather and let sit for 1 min. Then rinse with ACV. I get a quick foaming reaction that gives a deeper pore cleansing!"
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APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
[YEA] 06/16/2008: Eleny from Graham, WA writes: "I have had acne ever since I was a teenager and I recently started using ACV and 3% Hydrogen Peroxide on my face and it has worked wonderfully. I also put about a pea size amount of Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil on my face and it leaves my skin feeling nice and silky. I love it. The very first day I used it I had some pimples on the lower region of my face and the ACV And 3% HP got rid of them, THE FIRST DAY!! I was so excited about it. In the past I have tried many things that NEVER worked and spent so much money on products that seemed to make my acne worse. The other benefit about using 3% HP is that it lightens old acne scars. I hope that this info is helpful for anyone looking for a quick remedy that works."
06/13/2010: Lisa from South Euclid, Oh replies: ""What were the ratios of the apple cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide 3%? 50/50? Thanks."
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APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND TEA TREE OIL
[YEA] 01/11/2009: Cubensis from Bristol, Ct USA writes: "tea tree oil & acv cured my acne.
i've tried many, many, many methods to eliminate my acne over the past several years. from accutane to proactiv, from antibiotics to retin-a. after tossing all the over-the-counter stuff out the window, i've also tried lemon juice, baking soda, among some other more natural methods. however, none of the above mentioned sufficiently reduced my acne... and if they did, they left my skin red, dry and irritated.
...until i began experimenting with tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar. i tried TTO first. i purchased dr. bronner's organic TTO castile soap, and also organic TTO to use as a spot treatment. however, as i later found out, this particular soap only contains about 1-2% TTO. i later removed the TTO from my regimen, and experimented with ACV, while washing with unmedicated soap. my skin "felt" cleaner from day to day while ingesting the ACV, but my acne did not go away.
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after much trial and error, i came up with a fantastic regimen combining both ACV and TTO.
the necessary items for the regimen are:
*16oz bottle liquid Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild
*1oz organic Tea Tree Oil
*organic ACV (i purchased a 32oz bottle, as it is more cost effective in larger quantities)
first, i poured about 1oz of dr. bronner's soap out of the bottle, to make room for the TTO. into this, i mixed the 1oz of organic TTO. this is equivalent to around 6-7%, or 1/16. i used the baby-mild so that i am able to determine the EXACT soap/TTO ratio by mixing in it myself... and also to avoid any other essential oils that may be otherwise drying or irritating.
so now for the actual regimen:
when you wake up, use a small squirt of the soap/TTO mixture (less than the size of a dime) to wash face. massage for a minute and rinse. do this again at night before you go to bed. this one bottle should last you several months.
(this can also be used to wash your back/chest in the shower, if applicable)
as for the ACV, as previously mentioned all over this website, mix 2 tablespoons with about 8oz of water and drink. do this 3 times a day.
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honestly, you will feel this starting to work within the first few days. you will see VISIBLE improvements. however, it may be a few weeks before your acne is completely gone. i've been struggling for years with this condition, and i was definitely no longer interested in destroying my skin with harsh chemicals, swallowing and depending on antibiotics, and spending hundreds of dollars trying new things when the next thing in line failed. try this. it's that good."
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1 YEA
[YEA] Earth Clinic writes: ""
EC: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR STEAM:
Steam your face by putting it over a pot of boiling water with a towel over your head to trap the steam (you can also use an electric kettle if you have one, but be careful to be far enough away from the kettle as it will spit boiling water!). Steaming will loosen dirt and oil. Apply apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball afterwards to remove the dirt and oil buildup. Use this method once a week.
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APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, MOLASSES
[YEA] 03/18/2006: Lisa from West Plains, MO writes: "I started drinking acv two times a day, morning and before bed. My routine goes like this: 2 little paper cups, one with a little hydrogen peroxide and the other a little acv. I take a cotton ball and soak it with the peroxide and I then use it all over my face (like astringent), careful to avoid my eyebrows. Then I wet a q-tip with the acv and dab any pimples. It is very effective with whiteheads. I hate to throw out the acv so I drink what's left. Drink in small amounts, one big swig will leave you feeling like your gonna get sick. I know from experience. When I started this routine I broke out a lot, I think this was because it was getting all the icky bacteria and toxins out of my body. It took a couple weeks but I had faith and kept up the routine. I also take two tbs. of blackstrap molasses morning and night. I am able to go from a laying down position to sitting up on my own. I am disabled and pretty much bedridden. Is this a miracle? I think so. I have more energy and don't sleep during the day which left me feeling more tired and unable to sleep at night. I take the molasses before the acv."
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2 YEA
[YEA] Cortez from Douglas, GA writes: "I have 2 remedies!
1: crush 6 aspirins and add to witch hazel astringent. apply to face overnight (should work considerably in less than week)
2: Wheatgerm provides vitamins your body needs to prevent acne such as zinc. (eat a tablespoon once or twice daily)."
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[YEA] Marvin writes: "Crush Aspirin and add a little bit of water to make it a paste and then heat it in a microwave and add to the face as a mask. This removed the redness from my skin were my pimples were."
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3 YEA
[YEA] 02/04/2008: K from Princeton, New Jersey writes: "Aspirin and Honey mask is slowly curing my skin!
I've always had lousy facial skin. Being of South Asian descent, in addition to acne and the scars left over from teenage pimples and acne, I've also had one huge dark circle around my mouth. I've been trying to lighten this for years with lemon juice, over the counter skin lightening creams, you name it to no avail. I generally just ended up wearing heavy makeup around that area (you can imagine how disgusting that looks, it looked worse without it!)
Fast forward to just yesterday (Sun, Feb 3rd '08). I'd been suffering from some adult acne on my cheeks and decided to try something I had been very wary of - an aspirin face mask. Yes, thats right, aspirin. I took 5 aspirin, crushed them, mixed them with about 1/2 a spoon of honey, applied it to my face (like a mask) for 15 minutes and washed it off.
WOW! The results were PHENOMENAL. I truly wish I had taken some before and after pictures for this site because the pimples had reduced by HALF THEIR SIZE. HALF! On top of that, that ever persistent dark circle had ACTUALLY lightened. On top of that, my skin was literally glowing! I STILL can't believe it. Today I had to wear hardly any make up at all. Guys, this remedy truly works for me, and I highly suggest everyone give it a shot at least once - if not for acne, then for GLOWING and BEAUTIFULLY SOFT SKIN.
Some Notes:
1. Try to buy uncoated or lightly coated aspirin.
2. Once crushed, it will be very grainy, don't worry about this. If you like, you can sprinkle a few drops of water on the pills beforehand, let it sit and then add the honey. You won't need to crush them and look like a drug addict in the process.
3. Play around with the number of aspirin you use. 5 may be too much for people with sensitive skin.
4. Aspirin dries out your skin, so use PLENTY of moisturizer after and don't plan on doing this more than once a week if your skin is dry to begin with. (I'll be doing it about 3x a week)
5. I used witch hazel as a toner after I washed the mask off. Feel free to use ACV or tomato juice *thanks Earthclinic =)*
Please try this mask and let me know what you think!"
[YEA] 05/14/2008: Sophie from D replies: "Acne Remedy: While removing the aspirin & honey face mask if you rub in circular motions & use it as a scrub, works great! xx"
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[YEA] 04/02/2006: Corrine from Arlington, VA writes: "I read a blog on the internet about aspirin masks. I tried it and it is unbelievable! My skin looks and feels amazing after just one mask. If you can find aspirin powders, that works best, otherwise plain aspirin will do the trick as well. I emptied 2 aspirin powders in the palm of my hand with a little calamine lotion (just enough to make a creamy paste) and applied to my face in a circular motion and let dry (approx. 5-10 mins.) I then added a little water and and again massaged in a circular motion and then rinsed it all off. A great exfoliator and it worked BETTER than any store bought product I've ever bought! (Aspirin contains salicylic acid which is in a lot of acne products) It also immediately got rid of the redness my skin is prone to having--AMAZING! A MUST TRY."
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ASPIRIN MASK, CASTOR OIL AND COCONUT OIL CLEANSE
11/01/2009: Dawnna from Naperville, Il writes: "Your website is a wonderful treasure!! I don't have to dig to find what I'm looking for; The site is nicely organized & easy to navigate - I appreciate that so much!
Some of the things I've tried:
Making an Aspirin Face Mask
Using Castor Oil mixed with Coconut oil to clean pores "because it takes oil to dissolve and dislodge oil".
THANK YOU!
Dawnna"
EC: Thanks for your kind words of support. Glad you find the site helpful!
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AVOID LIQUID MAKE-UP, USE ALPHA HYDROXY
[YEA] 09/19/2007: Kris from Omaha, Nebraska writes: "My decade-long bout with facial acne ended when I (1) Quit using liquid make-up, and (2) Started using a facial wash with alpha hydroxy acid. My absolute favorite is the brand Alpha Hydrox Foaming Facial Wash. Awesome AND inexpensive. I think that quitting using concealers and liquid make-up to cover up the skin is crucial to stopping the acne cycle. Even if a liquid make-up claims to be non-codemogenic it may aggravate the acne. For a while I used powder make-up, which didn't cause break-outs, but now I rarely even use that."
05/18/2008: Ginny from Charlotte, NC replies: "How long did it take for the Alpha Hydrox to really heal for you?"
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5 YEA
1 BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
[YEA] 10/29/2009: Sweetpea from Henderson, Nv, U.S. writes: "Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) for Acne
My son is 12 years old and has bad acne for about 1 1/2 years. I tried many of the over the counter products: cleansers, facial scrubs, toners, astringents, and moisturizers, but nothing worked. While doing some house cleaning using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water it occured to me to try that for a face wash for him. I made a paste and have him use it every morning and every night ~ he uses it like any other facial cleanser and it has been fantastic! The pimples have shrunk in size and many are gone. His pores are much smaller. It doesn't burn, sting, or dry out his face. And best of all, it is really inexpensive."
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[YEA] 09/28/2009: Pauline from Sebring, Florida writes: "to Azg from Toronto:
Hi Azg,
Combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a drizzle of water until you make a soft paste. Massage the baking soda paste around the face using small circular motions. Focus on the areas of the most scarring and red spots.
After around 30 seconds rinse your face well with warm water. Repete this process once per day to help diminish red spots from acne. Baking soda can help diminish red spots and skin discolorations quickly, especially when used as a facial scrub.
Avoid wearing makeup, do not pick or squeeze pimples. Change pillow cases and sheets every other day. The pillow case absorbs oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil.
Eat foods rich in Zinc. Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil- producing glands of the skin. A diet low in Zinc can actually cause acne breakouts.
I have give this to many of my friends for acne. They all said, it helped them. I hope it helps you too. Let me know!
Pauline"
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[BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS] 05/07/2009: Sid Davis from Springfield, Missouri USA writes: "I read that some people use baking soda on the face for acne, and since I have had a life long problem with minor acne, I thought I would try it. I wash my face twice a day, once in the morning when I shower, and once before bed, so I bought a large box of baking soda and poured it into a plastic kitchen storage container so I could easily scoop out a hand full to use instead of face soap. I wet my face and hands first and then used the gob of baking soda like I would a face scrub.
It quite definitely cut back on outbreaks, and what few did develop were very mild. I am guessing that the sodium in the baking soda is killing bacteria on my face (like when you pour salt on a garden slug).
The only problem I have is that where I have had a pimple develop it seems that it takes an extra long time to heal, and that it leaves what looks like a little reddish burn scar which is something that never happened when I did not use the baking soda. I think the whatever is killing the bacteria may also be damaging the new tissue that grows to heal where the pimple was.
Has anybody using baking soda on their face for acne experienced this problem?"
05/07/2009: Keke from Clinton, Iowa replies: "Does anyone know how to naturally produce collagen in your face? I have holes in my skin left from acne. Any recommendations? I dont want to just cover them I want my skin back"
05/08/2009: Tim from LA, CA replies: "Hi good to hear about your success with BS on your face. For pimples try tea tree oil... it will dry them out in no time. It smells bad so use it at night. Good luck. Tim"
05/08/2009: Tim from LA, CA replies: "PS maybe you are doing it too often. I don't think using an abrasive agent on your face daily is good for it?"
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[YEA] 10/09/2008: Ange from Clarkston, WA writes: "The first time I tried baking soda on my face, I could see a visible difference in a couple hours. It took a lot of redness away and made the zits shrink. I'm really bad about picking at my face, and if I have one of those zits that doesn't want to pop, I'll squeeze it until it gets much bigger and redder...so this is a much better option. Not only that, but I had little bumpiness on parts of my face and those have gone down and in some cases disappeared. I've only been using it for about 4 days, and it's done better than anything I've ever used, including prescription medication.
All my zits are gone except the few that I had picked at pretty bad and those get smaller and less red every time I apply it. The first day I started using it, it also pulled the bacteria out of a lot of zits and made them form white heads right away so I could pop them and be done with it.
This is how to use it:
Mix one part baking soda to two parts water- I used 1 tsp to 2 tsp. and that'll last you at least a few days. Apply it like a toner- on days that I am able to not go anywhere, I've been applying it every few hours and have been avoiding wearing makeup to help my skin detox. If you can do that on the weekend or something, that will help speed the process. But if you have to go to work or school, apply it in the morning after you wash your face. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes, and then I put face lotion right on top of it. Make sure you use a non-greasy face lotion, like Eucerin or the generic version of it. Apply it again at night after washing your face. It'll dry your skin out a smidge (really not bad though, nothing compared to how much Salycilic acid dries your skin out) so only put it on trouble areas, not your whole face.
Also, avoid your eyebrows and if you have dark skin, you may want to start with once a day and see the results because it may have a slight skin lightening effect."
04/08/2009: Sally from Perth, Australia replies: "I was just wondering, when you mean baking soda.. are you talking about the powder? thanks."
EC: Please read this thread for more information: http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/baking_soda.html#BSBP
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[YEA] 07/04/2008: Lexie from Clifton, NJ writes: "I've suffered from acne for over 15 years and have been on accutane, minocycline, and every topical with no sucess.
This has worked - I've had great success with using Baking Soda as a facial cleanser. To use wet your face first, and create a paste with about 1/2 tbsp of baking soda and water. Gently apply to face, lightly rub for 30 seconds then wash off. I use tea tree oil on new spots if any. Many people use this method and have also had great success.
I hope this helps someone!"
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[YEA] 02/25/2008: Missy from Thief River Falls, MN writes: "I have been using baking soda in the mornings with my face wash for over 6 months now and I have been acne free since. I am 35 and was still experiencing mild acne with more breakouts around my menstrual cycle. I don't even experience a single pimple around that time of the month! It's truly amazing to me! I started using Hydrogen Peroxide after I washed my face and shortly after I added the baking soda, so I thought it was the combo, but I started to get lazy and stopped using the peroxide, and didn't get any flare ups so now I know it was just the baking soda doing the work!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] SC from India writes: "Grind basil leaves with a little water, then squeeze the paste to extract the juice. this can be used for a week if stored in the refrigerator. mix this juice with turmeric or lime or milk."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/15/2009: JEM from Fort Worth, TX writes: "I kept getting breakouts on my chin and around my mouth. I somehow stumbled onto blackstrap molasses. I take two tablespoons a day (in Stash's double spice chai tea- really good) and it really seems to help. No new breakouts. Just the fading red marks from the old ones. I pretty certain it's the molasses because I stopped taking it for about a month while I was on vacation and the acne came back within a week.
I also did some research- blackstrap contains copper which helps skin repair itself and a bit of zinc which when taken consistently has the effect of an antibiotic/anti-acne prescription. Just make sure you get the right ratio of zinc and copper- they block the absorption of each other and can cause an imbalance."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 12/30/2007: Teresa from Sumner, WA writes: "re: dermodetic mites on face. BORAX and PEROXIDE. Thank you Ted for your wonderful postings. You are truly the answer to peoples' prayers. I have been to many doctors and was told that what I had was acne and folliculitus. I read your cures and decided to try it since nothing the doctors gave me (antibiotics, steroid creams and even Accutane) have helped. I thought it couldn't be that simple but it was. So to all the skeptics give it a try (borax and peroxide) You are truly an honest man and compassionate. Thank you"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 05/13/2006: Lisa from West Plains, MO writes: "Boudreaux's Butt Paste is a diaper rash creme but it works for many skin problems. Incl. acne. If you have a zit and you have a busy social day ahead of you don't pop it. We all know how painful it is. Put a dab on the zit (smearing or rubbing it on I found does not work as effectively) and leave it on for several minutes. The longer the better. The zit pops itself without you having to do anything. It works every time, I swear. I got mine at Wal-Mart. Target carries it too. FYI I found out about Butt Paste from a show on Oprah."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 07/17/2010: Leriejane from Seattle, Wa, Usa writes: "Yeast cured my acne
Before sleeping and after washing your face:
Take a package of yeast, and mix 1/4 teaspoon with a couple drops of water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste with a cotton swab to the affected areas of your face. Let it dry on your skin before going to bed. The pimples will be gone or significantly reduced by morning. This will smell unpleasant, so you'll probably want to change out your pillow case everyday (I used t-shirts as substitutes)."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/18/2008: Melody from Brooklyn, NY writes: "I'M GOING INTO MY 40'S AND I'M NOW HAVING TROUBLE WITH PIMPLES ALL OVER MY FACE I TRIED USING THE PIMPLES CREAMS AND THEY DIDN'T WORK. SOMEONE TOLD ME TO USE CALAMINE LOTION AT NIGHTIME BEFORE I GO TO BED AND IT WORKED. IT TOOK ABOUT TWO TO THREE DAYS. THE PIMPLES WERE DRYING UP AND MY SKIN DIDN'T HAVE ANY REACTIONS LIKE IT DID FROM THE PIMPLE CREAMS. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IF CHICKENPOXS CAN DRY UP FROM THIS STUFF WHY CAN'T PIMPLES. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.
MELODY
BROOKLYN,NY
PS. CLEAN YOUR FACE WITH WITCHAZEL ALONE IT STILL WORKS BUT THE TWO MAY WORK EVEN FASTER. PRICE TOGETHER AROUND $7.00."
10/20/2008: CES from Brooklyn, New York, USA replies: "You may also want to try sauteed garlic. Put it on a fresh green salad every day for a week. (Use only if you love garlic.) Use half a bulb, chopped or minced and sautee in oil for about a minute and a half to two minutes. I heard that the sometimes acne can be the caused of unclean bowels. Garlic has worked wonders for my skin. I barely get zits now. Garlic is a natural anti biotic and is great for the intestines. If this does not work then it could be hormonal.
*You may also consider 50 mg zinc capsules as well."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/01/2006: Sara from Southampton, MA writes: "After reading Natural Cures, I realized that I needed just candida cleanse to get rid of my acne forever. And it worked. We take a lot of antibiotics, which clogs up our skin with toxins and most disgusting stuff-acne. I recommend candida cleanse, it not only cleared up my acne, but also made me much healthier."
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3 YEA
[YEA] 02/12/2009: Theresa from Washington D.C., USA writes: "I have been an avid reader of Earth Clinic since finding a great sore throat cure here in desperation last winter.
I suffer from moderate adult acne and I wanted to share with you my results from drinking freshly made carrot juice, blended with fresh parsley, apple and ginger.
Anecdotal evidence (my own) suggests that the Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) in carrots is helping heal my skin. Parsley contains high amounts of chlorophyll and Vitamin C, and Apples also contain vitamin C. Ginger is a potent herb known for it's curative properties.
To get the full benefits of this regimen, use ORGANIC produce.
I recommend starting on the juice regimen as a daily practice.
NB: You will need a juicer, NOT a blender! I use the Breville brand of juicers, they are the absolute best and easy to clean.
The recipe I use:
12 organic carrots - do NOT juice the greens - they are toxic
2 organic apples (do NOT juice the apple seeds. They contain a trace amount of cyanide)
1 very large bunch of fresh organic parsley
1 hunk of fresh ginger (about 1 - 2 inches long)
Carefully clean and rinse produce. Chop off the top and tip of the carrots. Leave the peel ON.
Divide the apple into four quarters. Chop off the part where the seeds are.
Wash the parsley and place on a paper towel.
Scrub the ginger well with a vegetable brush. Cut off any dead looking areas.
Carefully inspect the juicer and turn it on.
S-L-O-W-L-Y feed the parsley into the juicer with the safety pusher
then slowly feed your apples through
then slowly feed the ginger through
then slowly feed the carrots through.
STIR THE FINISHED JUICE WELL BEFORE POURING.
DRINK IMMEDIATELY! Juice starts to lose it's vitamins on contact with air. If you do make too much juice, refrigerate it in a GLASS CONTAINER and use it within 24 hours."
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