Some of us have been blessed with naturally clear skin free of blemishes, whiteheads and blackheads. However, those with acne-prone, oily or combination skin have to work extra hard to keep their skin clear. Acne is a common skin disorder that affects teenagers and adults. Therefore, there are many prescription and over the counter acne products available. But unfortunately, many of these acne products contain chemicals like benzoyl peroxide that are highly irritating and drying to the skin. That’s why many people are looking for alternative and more natural solution for treating acne. In this article we’ll take a look at benefits of natural skincare for acne, and at some reputable skincare brands that offer natural products for acne-prone skin.
At a glance:
- Best starter kit for acne: Eminence Organics Clear Skin Set
- Best value: Andalou Naturals Clear Skin Get Started Kit
- Advanced acne treatment: Eminence Acne Advanced Treatment System
- Best acne spot treatment: Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions
Natural Ingredients For Acne Treatment
A lot of research and clinical studies have been done in the last few years in regards to medical use of plants and herbs. As a result, an increasing number of plant-based products have been developed and approved for treating various skin conditions. In fact, the following botanical and natural ingredients have been proven to be effective in combating acne.
Willow bark – a natural source of salicylic acid, which is widely used to control acne.
Tea tree oil – has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties (but can cause irritation in hypersensitive skin).
Chamomile – has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and also calms and soothes irritated skin.
Witch hazel – removes excess oil, has anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin C – has strong antimicrobial properties. It also helps to decrease inflammation and accelerate skin healing.
Niacinamide – is a form of vitamin B3 that has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and also helps to regulate sebum production.
Green tea – reduces sebum production, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Aloe Vera – has soothing properties, significantly reduces acne lesions, and speeds up wound healing.
Lavender – reduces redness and calms irritated skin.
Echinacea – kills bacteria that causes acne and reverses bacterial induced inflammation.
Clays – bentonite clay, kaolin clay, French green clay and such absorb excess oil, purify pores, prevent formation of blemishes and pimples, and speed up skin healing.
Best Natural Skincare Products For Acne
There are many natural skin care brands but unfortunately not many of them offer natural products for acne-prone skin. That is to say, the following organic and natural skincare for acne are formulated without harmful, toxic and irritating ingredients. Our top 10 list includes natural brands like Eminence, 100% Pure, Juice Beauty, Indie Lee, Acure, Osea, Biossance, Andalou Naturals, Tata Harper, and Derma E, and a few bonus product recommendations.
1. EMINENCE
All-natural organic skin care made in Hungary. Eminence Organics is not only committed to providing effective and chemical-free “healthy” products, but it is also an eco-friendly company with widespread green practices. Moreover, their products are handmade, and contain 70%-95% of organic ingredients with the remaining percentage of ingredients being naturally sourced.
By all means Eminence Organics is a great brand for those who are looking for all-natural and organic skincare. They have a few product lines that are specifically designed for blemish- and acne-prone skin types.
√ Advanced Acne Treatment System (foam cleanser for acne, hydrator, mask) is the most potent line that uses time-releasing encapsulated salicylic acid and botanical anti-acne ingredients (available on Amazon, Dermstore).
√ Clear Skin line utilizes probiotics, willow bark, tea tree oil, and other anti-inflammatory ingredients, and includes cleanser, exfoliating peel, serum, moisturizer, masque, and spot treatment (available on Amazon).
√ Eight Greens Youth line was formulated specifically for breakouts and hormonally imbalanced skin. It is effective for teenagers and mature skin as well (available on Amazon, Dermstore).
√ Mangosteen Collection includes resurfacing products that are made with mangosteen, red clover flower and ribose, which help reduce inflammation, minimize pore size and improve overall skin tone (on Amazon).
Try: Clear Skin Starter Set, Advanced Hydrator, Probiotic Cleanser (on Amazon)
2. 100% PURE
100% Pure is the U.S. based skincare and cosmetics brand that uses sustainably sourced natural ingredients that undergo minimal thermal processing. Moreover, all products formulated by this brand are free of toxins, harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and are not tested on animals. 100% Pure offers a variety of natural skin care products for face and body, as well as hair care line and fruit pigmented makeup.
Even though this brand doesn’t have a defined skincare line for acne-prone skin, it offers a good variety of clarifying and pore detoxing products. For example, Tea Tree & Willow clarifying astringent/toner and cleanser have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and are effective in clarifying pimples and preventing future acne breakouts.
Additionally, Anti-Acne sheet mask includes salicylic acid, tea tree oil, parsley, seaweed, and hyaluronic acid, which treat acne without drying the skin. Also, there are a few skin detoxifying products such as Charcoal Clay Cleanser, Charcoal Konjac Sponge, Antibacterial Oil Blotting sheets, and Pore Detox Herbal Cleanser, which help to unclog pores, balance oil production, and gently exfoliate.
Try: Tea Tree Toner, Anti-Acne Mask, Charcoal Clay Cleanser (on Amazon)
3. JUICE BEAUTY
Luxurious antioxidant rich skincare and plant-based makeup made in the U.S. Juice Beauty company refers to itself as “the organic solution”. That is to say, it offers natural skin care products that are cruelty free, vegan, have eco-friendly packaging, and made with sustainably sourced certified organic ingredients (farm-to-beauty). Each product developed by Juice Beauty has organic botanical juice base that is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Moreover, this brand works closely with Environmental Working Group and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.
Juice Beauty designed several skincare collections that target specific skin concerns. In addition to Blemish Clearing line, there are Spa Collection, Stem Cellular, Green Apple, Prebiotix, and Signal Peptides collections.
Those who suffer from acne, blackheads and oily skin will benefit greatly from Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing skin care products. In brief, this line utilizes both acne clearing and hydrating ingredients such as willow bark, salicylic acid, hydroxyl fruit acids, green tea, aloe, vitamin C and CoQ10.
Try: Blemish Clearing Cleanser (on Amazon), Green Apple Peel, Blemish Clearing Kit
4. INDIE LEE
Indie Lee is a clean, safe and ethical beauty brand. Even though Indie Lee is a U.S. based company, the products are manufactured in both U.S. and France. This natural skin care company uses clean, chemical-free and ethically sourced organic and natural ingredients, and is committed to sustainable practices. Moreover, the products are highly effective as they are formulated by amplifying the power of natural ingredients without compromising safety.
Indie Lee skincare offers several lines for different skin concerns. For instance, the Clarity line targets skin imperfections like blemishes, blackheads, oiliness, and clogged pores. This collection includes purifying face wash, clearing mask, gentle daily peel, blemish lotion, oil-free moisturizer and banish stick. That is to say, the products from Clarity line contain various botanicals that have detoxifying, purifying and calming properties.
Try: Clarity Kit (on Amazon), Gentle Daily Peel, Blemish Lotion
5. ACURE
This U.S. beauty brand produces accessible natural products for skin, body and hair. Acure offers chemical-free and cruelty-free products made with high quality natural ingredients. In addition, Acure is committed to environmental sustainability and giving back to the wellness communities, and is engaged with the organizations such as Unite For Her, Turning Green, and Teracycle.
In fact, you can find a wide variety of natural skincare products by Acure, which are divided in the following collections: The Essentials, Brightening, Ultra Hydrating, Resurfacing, Incredibly Clear, Radically Rejuvenating, and Seriously Soothing.
The Incredibly Clear line is worth checking out for those who are looking for natural acne treatment. In other words, this line was developed for combination, oily or acne-prone skin, and incorporates clarifying ingredients like charcoal, lemon peel, sea kelp, chamomile, peppermint, and others. The Incredibly Clear line includes acne spot treatment, cleansing stick, mattifying moisturizer, sheet mask, facial scrub, cleansing clay, charcoal face mask, and cleansing bar.
Try: Incredible Clear Acne Spot, Clear Sheet Mask (on Amazon), Charcoal Facial Scrub (on Amazon)
6. OSEA
OSEA (stands for ocean, sun, earth, and atmosphere) is a non-toxic natural skincare brand from Southern California. In addition to using naturally sourced and USDA certified organic ingredients, OSEA adds its signature ingredient to all its products – potent and mineral-rich seaweed. Moreover, the products developed by this brand are biodegradable, gluten-free, cruelty-free, GMO-free, vegan, and safe for sensitive and allergies-prone skin. OSEA is environmentally conscious and sustainable company that supports and works closely with the Environmental Working Group, Cancer Schmancer, A Sense of Home, Waves for Water, and others.
Even though this brand doesn’t have a separate skincare line for acne-prone skin, it does offer a few great products for blemish-prone and oily skin. For example, the following products will help you minimize breakouts and balance oil production: Blemish Balm, Ocean Cleansing Mud, Essential Corrective Complex, Red Algae Mask, Black Algae Flash Mask, Vitamin C Probiotic Polish, Sea Minerals Mist, Hyaluronic Sea Serum, and Brightening Serum. In fact, some of the active ingredients in these products include a few different types of seaweed, tea tree, peppermint, juniper extract, rosemary and jojoba.
Try: Cleansing Mud, Blemish Balm Moisturizer, Corrective Complex (on Amazon), Sea Minerals Mist
Related: Best natural skincare subscription boxes
7. BIOSSANCE
Biossance is a relatively new player in the skincare industry, but it already distinguished itself due to the innovative biotechnology. To clarify, Biossance patented a technology that allows producing squalane that is 100% plant-derived from sugarcane. This potent ingredient is highly moisturizing and smoothing, and it’s being used in all Biossance products. Furthermore, this brand is EWG Verified, which means that the products are considered very safe, clean and free of toxic and chemical ingredients.
Those with oily and acne-prone skin should try Biossance Squalane & Tee Tree line, which includes pore cleansing gel, balancing oil, and detox mask. Additionally, a blemish-prone skin can benefit greatly from the Probiotic Gel Moisturizer and Lactic Acid Resurfacing Serum that will help with excess oil and acne causing bacteria.
Try: Lactic Acid Resurfacing Serum, Probiotic Gel Moisturizer (on Amazon)
8. ANDALOU NATURALS
Another U.S. based natural brand that offers products that are made with 98% nature-derived ingredients and are cruelty free, gluten free, and non-GMO. Moreover, they innovated a unique so-called Fruit Stem Cell Science, a technology that utilizes antioxidant defense system and protects skin stem cells. As a result all Andalou products are infused with a potent blend of bioactive botanical stem cells. In addition, Andalou products are very affordable as they are priced lower than other natural skin care products.
This brand offers few skincare lines including Brightening, Age-Defying, Clear Skin, CannaCell, for Men, Sensitive, and Quenching. The Clear Skin collection was formulated specifically for acne-prone, blemish-prone and oily skin. In addition to the Fruit Stem Cell complex, this line also uses ingredients like willow bark, salycilic acid, aloe vera, witch hazel, and kombucha to target acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, clean pores, and balance oil production.
Furthermore, the Clear Skin line includes a wide variety of products including cleansing gel, pure pore toner, pure pore serum, enzyme exfoliating mask, facial scrub, blemish vanishing gel, recovery cream, oil-free moisturizer, sheet mask, and bb SPF30 cream. Also, you can try their Clear Skin Get Started Kit on Amazon, which includes five travel size essential acne-fighting products.
Try: Kombucha Enzyme Exfoliating Mask (on Amazon), Oil Free Moisturizer, Cleansing Gel (on Amazon)
9. TATA HARPER
Natural luxury skincare brand that is handmade in Vermont. Tata Harper natural skincare products are high quality, eco certified, cruelty free, toxins-free, and sustainably packaged. Instead of focusing on few key ingredients, Tata Harper is trying to pack each product with as many of high performance ingredients as possible. In addition to the large amount of natural and organic ingredients, the ingredients are also of a high level of concentration, hence higher price.
In short, Tata Harper offers a good variety of skincare products for different skin concerns including aging skin, discoloration, lack of glow, redness, and dryness. There are also several purifying and clarifying products developed especially for oily and blemish-prone skin. For instance, there are few types of cleansers, spot solution, few exfoliating masks, gel moisturizer, clarifying moisturizer, etc.
In fact, these natural skincare products for acne control are very potent and include over 40 active ingredients like sage, aloe, calendula, sea fern, willow bark, and botanical derived alpha/beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHA.)
Try: Clarifying Cleanser (on Amazon), Clarifying AHA+BHA Mask, Clarifying Moisturizer
10. DERMA E
Clean beauty brand based in Southern California that offers 100% vegan, toxin-free, cruelty-free, sustainable natural products for face, body and hair. Derma E is committed to using quality natural ingredients, vitamins, and minerals in their products, and excludes over 2700 common harmful ingredients like synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates, petrolatum, etc. Above all, Derma E products are packed with potent antioxidants and vitamins, which nourish the skin.
In addition to Anti-Wrinkle, Firming, Skin De-Stress, Sensitive and Hydrating skincare lines, there are also two lines that will benefit acne skin: Anti-Acne and Purifying. The Anti-Acne products are crafted with Anti-Blemish Complex, which includes salicylic acid, tea tree oil, willow bark, chamomile, and lavender. This line includes, cleanser, toner, rebalancing cream, blemish control serum, and spot treatment.
For the most part, the Purifying line is gentler and formulated with charcoal, marine algae, green tea, and aloe. Similarly, this line includes detox scrub, charcoal mask, cleanser, shield serum, and spray. But you might also like Derma E Therapeutic Topicals, which are doctor-formulated treatment products like Skinbiotics SOS cream, Tea Tree relief cream, scar gel and others.
Try: Acne Cleansing Wash (on Amazon), Purifying Mask (on Amazon), Acne Control Serum, SOS Cream (on Amazon)
Other Recommended Natural Products For Acne
THAYERS, Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner (on Amazon, Ulta)
HERBIVORE, Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask (on Sephora, Amazon)
DR. HAUSCHKA, Clarifying Clay Mask (on Dermstore, Amazon)
MAD HIPPIE, Vitamin C Serum (on Amazon, Ulta)
JANE IREDALE, Balance Hydration Spray (on Amazon)
BOSCIA, Green Tea Blotting Linens (on Dermstore, Amazon)
THE ORGANIC PHARMACY, Purifying Seaweed Clay Mask (on Dermstore, Amazon)
Related: Best BHA products for acne
Benefits Of Using Natural Skincare
A true natural skincare is formulated with non-synthetic simple ingredients that are of a natural source like plants, herbs, and minerals. In other words, natural skin care products are free of synthetic chemicals, which can be toxic, harmful and irritating to the skin. No wonder that a clean beauty movement is gaining its popularity as more consumers demand safer and naturally sourced products. Some of the benefits of using natural skincare include:
- Skin friendliness
- No side effects
- Suitable for all skin types
- Not tested on animals
- Medicinal properties of botanicals
- Environmental friendly
It is important to know that if you use too many harsh, pimple-drying products, the skin will be stripped of its natural oils. Once the skin lacks oils and gets dry, it will naturally start producing more oils to compensate. That is to say, the goal is to avoid drying out your skin, and natural skincare for acne can help you with that.
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