Good Looks
Friday, December 21, 2012
Facial oils that fight acne
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It might sound contradictory (and maybe downright scary!), but one of the best things you can do for a bout of blemishes is to slick your skin with oils. Not with pore-clogging mineral oils, but with plant-based ones that can help balance and calm your adult skin."Treating oil with oil balances skin," says Vered Back, an herbalist, facialist, and beauty-product formulator. "Drying it out with harsh ingredients just engages it in a battle."
Back, who's the founder of Vered Organic Botanicals, says her top seller is an acne treatment oil blend. “There are so many people with problem skin, and nobody really dared to think about making an oil for them.” But now, they are. Here are six oil blends for acne-prone skin we love...
—Melisse Gelula
Vered Therapeutic Balancing Face OilThis handcrafted line is all about the love of oils. They're handmade by organic-obsessed master herbologist and facialist, Vered Beck, who uses anti-inflammatory and anti-viral herbs (including rare ones like niaouli, chickweed, and speedwell) that vary with the available crops and promote deep healing.
$68, veredbotanicals.com
Marie Veronique Organics Treatment OilThis is a perfectly balanced acne-fighting cocktail. Argan oil controls surface sebum, borage oil fights inflammation (thanks to its gamma-linolenic acid), and tea tree oil helps banish acne-causing bacteria. Use it alone or as part of the company’s Acne Relief Kit for even clearer skin.
$80, mvorganics.com
Susan Ciminelli Oil Control FormulaThis word-of-mouth wonder helps clear pimples and blackheads. It contains thyme, which you want because it was found to be more effective against acne than benzoyl peroxide (the controversial main ingredient in Proactiv). And a trio of anti-bacterial extracts—lemongrass, lavender, and cajeput bark—gives it a sinus-clearing scent. This simple blend of oils is actually super active, so it's probably not a fit for super sensitive, inflamed skin.
$105, susanciminelli.com
In Fiore Pur Face Oil ConcentréSometimes the best solution comes from old-world practices. Like this apothecary-style blend of wild-crafted oils. It's a beautiful skin-balancer powered by neroli, nature's stress-buster. On breakout-prone skin it brings down redness, eases congestion, and slows the pimple-making process to a halt. And a dash of rosehip-seed oil helps give skin back it's healthy, even glow.
$30-$60, infiore.net
De La Terre Herb Rich Oil for Blemished SkinThe super-skilled founder of this holistic beauty line gave this “expectorant qualities that expel impurities from skin.” The ingredients doing this dirty work sound like a wholesome tea from your acupuncturist: burdock, fennel, and ginger. Together they'll also help your skin better manage the amount of oil it's pumping out. And vitamin-C-rich blackberry helps restore saucer-size pores to something more demure.
$50, delaterreskincare.com
La Bella Figura Tesoro Mediterranean BlendAn amazing all-in-one oil that helps curb the return of your teenage acne while treating your skin like an adult. It smooths fine lines and regenerates skin cells while providing lightweight hydration. You can thank the organic argan oil and grapefruit, neroli, and fennel oils for that.
$70, labellafigurabeauty.com
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Excellent information — too bad most of the products listed are unaffordable.
Vered’s Balancing Oil is the cream of the crop— it’s amazing how it works so well for my sensitive, dry skin and also my friend’s oily, blemish-prone skin. It’s a sophisticated blend with a lot of soul. Definitely one of the best artisan natural skin care brands out there. Very luxe.
You actually don’t need to spend a lot of money on oils. Your kitchen olive oil, and sweet almond oil from the health food shop are amazing for skin including acne skin and it’s cheap!
Thank you Melisse and Thank you Carrie! That means a lot to me.
Have a beautiful and healthy New Year.
There are many ways to get rid of acne that theGet rid of acne fast general public may not be aware of.
i like phoenix risings repairing serum. its $60 but lasts forever. i use it on all of my clients
what do you do about sunblock?
Thanks for the info! Sweet almond oiln is helping me but I will check these out.
OK well I’m going to try A couple of t, but these products, but like Kim said they seem to be pricey. But if one works the confidence building will be worth it! Thanks for the help.
I’ve heard positive reviews about most of the products – especially Vered – but I’m with Candy about this. Most of what these products claim to do can be achieved with a bit of home chemistry all by yourself.
Most of us know about most of these, only we are too lazy to do it. For example, Egg whites, apple cider vinegar, Lemon juice, even baking soda are but a few homely things, all useful in acne cure, all easy to reach. Sure, you may have to take a step or two to get a bit more useful things like aloe vera extracts and such – but trust me, it’s worth it.