What Acne-Prone Skin Really Needs

by Shrankhla Holecek on Sep 09, 2019

It's a giant misconception to assume that you can't use oil on your skin if your complexion is oily or acne-prone. Many conventional acne products focus on stripping the skin of its natural oils—but this can make things worse. Research shows that when the epidermis lacks lipids—the fatty substances that typically keep our skin moisturized—the skin's water barrier function is impaired. This can lead to an excessive formation of sebum, which can result in more blemishes and clogged pores and a bumpy skin texture.

The truth is, our skin loves oils. They naturally respond to the composition of the dermis. So for skin that is oily, inflamed, or congested, a nutrient-dense, clean face oil is actually the best solution—the most healing, clarifying, regenerating best solution. The key is choosing the correct face oils. Because acne-prone skin produces less linoleic acid than normal skin, which makes the sebum skin stickier and more susceptible to trapping dirt, dead skin, and bacteria, it needs specific oils and botanicals that meet it needs.

UMA's Deep Clarifying Face Oil is a gentle-but-powerful blend that balances and moisturizes an inflamed complexion while feeding it essential vitamins. Here's how: This elixir is rich in natural essential oils of Juniper Berry, Tea Tree, and Clove, three incredible botanicals that can help regulate the skin’s pH balance, heal existing damage, and stimulate cell renewal. This powerhouse blend also combats unwanted bacteria, toxins, and impurities that can build up in the pores and lead to pimples, all while helping to protect and maintain a healthy lipid barrier. (Juniper is abundant in antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.) Lavender and Clary Sage essential oils gently reduce an over-oily appearance and prevent the skin from becoming over dry. (Clary Sage is a particular superstar because it has the unique function of balancing sebum production as opposed to just removing or adding oil to the skin. This helps the skin to naturally dial up or dial down its sebum production based on what it needs.) And the Sandalwood—one of the most exquisite beauty oils in nature—calms irritation, helping to settle redness and raised bumps.

Quite often the carrier oil in a beauty formulation is overlooked. It's an afterthought, a means to simply carry the star ingredients. In our Deep Clarifying Face Oil, the Grapeseed carrier oil is a star on its own. Grapeseed oil is among the best natural occurring sources of linoleic acid. When added to skincare it helps break down the stickiness of sebum in acne prone skin, allowing the complexion to detoxify more freely. It is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, and is an especially effective treatment for minimizing dark under eye circles when applied daily.

So as counterintuitive as it may seem, applying a clean oil to acne-prone skin is actually the most direct, healing way to clearer, healthier skin.