I already wrote a post on natural and organic alternatives for normal skin, so here’s the oily and acne-prone edition! If you have this skin type and are looking to replace your face care staples for something greener, here’s a guide to get you started. After all, going natural (and organic when possible) can and do bring a lot of benefits. You’re supporting organic farmers, handmade artisans, the environment, and do your part to support the cause against animal testing, as well as eliminate or significantly reduce the amount of potentially harmful synthetic ingredients entering your body, and keep any skin allergies in check.
Most of the ingredients below include naturally clarifying, anti-bacterial properties, proving that you don’t need a bunch of harsh synthetics to stay clear and blemish-free!
Facial Cleanser
Try: Shea Terra Organics Tamanu & Licorice Clarifying Face Wash
Ingredients: certified organic sunflower oil, certified organic coconut cream oil, certified organic tamanu oil, potassium hydroxide (electro-salts), citric acid, licorice root
Price: $24.00 for 4 oz at Shea Terra Organics
Benefits: Wild harvested tamanu oil from the exotic island of Madagascar keeps skin clear with its anti-bacterial power. Licorice root brigthens and softens. Recommended for acne prone and oily skin, but great for all.
Moisturizer
Try: Blissoma Smooth A+ Moisture Serum
Ingredients: Infusion of Coriandrum sativum* (coriander), Achillea millefolium* (yarrow), Solidago virgaurea* (goldenrod), Foeniculum vulgare* (fennel), Rosa damascena* (roses), and Taraxacum officinale* (dandelion), Aloe barbadensis (aloe) Juice*, Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Glucoside, Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel), Niacinamide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Daucus carota (carrot) Juice*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) Oil*, Extracts of Olea Europaea* (olive leaf), Gluconolactone, Lonicera japonica* (honeysuckle), Glycyrrhiza glabra* (licorice), and Calluna vulgaris* (heather flowers), Essential Oils of Citrus bergamia (bergamot) FCF, Boswellia carterii (frankincense), and Rosa damascena (rose otto), CO2 Extracts of Daucus carota (helio-carrot) and Matricaria chamomilla (german chamomile), Populus Tremuloides (aspen) Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Grain Alcohol*, citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool**, limonene**
*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils
Price: $21.50 for 1 oz at Irie Star
Benefits: Over 13 exquisite herbs offer a formula packed with toning and refining power with a hydrating, super light texture. This moisturizer is technically oil-free, as organic Jojoba is a liquid wax, not a triglyceride. It conditions skin without greasiness and allows skin to breathe fully. Sebum is regulated as our formula is neither too heavy or too drying.
Toner
Try: Acure Organics Facial Toner Rose + Red Tea
Ingredients: Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Rooibos, Organic Calendula, Organic Chamomile, , Organic Witch Hazel, Organic Bulgarian Rose Water (Hydrasol), (NOP Cert. Organic) Glycerin*, Organic Chamomille and Calendula flower Extracts
Price: $15.99 for 2 fl oz. at Acure Organics
Benefits: This alcohol-free certified organic toner utilizes Organic Witch Hazel to purify, Organic Vegetable Glycerin to moisturize and Organic Rose and Chamomile to soothe, calm and restore the skin’s natural acid mantle—the skin’s own protective layer.
Face scrub/exfoliant
Try: Pangea Organics Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean & Cranberry Facial Scrub
Ingredients: AQUA (PURIFIED WATER), ALCOHOL (SDA 38B ORGANIC LAVENDER), VIGNA ANGULARIS (ORGANIC ADZUKI BEAN), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE (DERIVED SOLELY FROM COCONUT OIL), VACCINIUM MACROCARPON (CRANBERRY) SEED, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE), GLYCERYL STEARATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (ORGANIC SHEA) BUTTER, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (ALMOND) OIL, SUCROSE STEARATE, ORYZA SATIVA (ORGANIC RICE) BRAN EXTRACT, OENOTHERA BIENNIS (ORGANIC EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL, XANTHAN GUM, CUCURBITA PEPO (ORGANIC PUMPKIN) SEED OIL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (ORGANIC SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORGANIC BLOOD ORANGE) OIL, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS (ORGANIC CALENDULA) EXTRACT, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (ORGANIC LAVENDER) EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ORGANIC ROSEMARY) EXTRACT, ROSA GALLICA (FRENCH ROSE) EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORGANIC SWEET ORANGE) OIL*, BOSWELLIA CARTERII (ORGANIC FRANKINCENSE) OIL, CYMBOPOGON MARTINI (PALMAROSA) OIL, DAUCUS CAROTA (ORGANIC CARROT) SEED OIL, PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS (ORGANIC GERANIUM) OIL, CITRIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
This product is Gluten-Free and Vegan
Price: $32.00 for 3.8 oz at Pangea Organics
Benefits: This dual-action scrub polishes the skin’s surface without disrupting its delicate balance. Never harsh, drying or stripping, this Scrub is gentle enough for daily use.
Spot Treatment
Try: 100% Pure Purity Spot Treatment
Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Juice)1, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia Aqua (Lavender Hydrosol)2, Extracts of Calendula Officinalis Flower (Calendula), Echinacea Purpurea (Echinacea), Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Flower/Leaf/Stem and Lonicera Caprifolium (Japanese Honeysuckle), Hyaluronic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Extracts of Fucus Vesiculosus (Seaweed), Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary), Origanum Vulgare Leaf (Oregano) and Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf (Thyme)
1 certified organic by SGS Organic
2 certified organic by Lacon GmbH
Price: $17.00 for 1 fl oz at 100% Pure
Benefits: Detoxifying essential oils kill the acne causing bacteria while nourishing seaweeds and purifying herbs protect against future breakouts. This spot treatment targets blemishes and works immediately to lessen the inflammation for quick relief.
Night cream/moisturizer
Try: ReNew Botanicals Acne Therapy Herbal Moisturizer
Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Juice*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos Tea) Extract*, Olea europaea (Olive) Oil*, Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Glycerin, Palm Stearic Acid, Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel), Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) Extract*, Arctium lappa (Burdock Root)* Urtica dioica (Nettle Leaf) Extract*, Stellaria media (Chickweed) Extract*, Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm) Extract*, Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) Extract*, Althea officinalis (Marshmallow Root) Extract*, Avena sativa (Oatstraw) Extract*, Aphanizomenon flos-aqua (Blue Green Algae)*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Salix nigra (Black Willowbark) Extract, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Oleoresin, Azadirachta indica (Neem) Oil, Calendula officinalis (Calendula) Extract*, Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka) Oil*, Aniba roseodora (Rosewood)*, Tanacetum anuum (Blue Tansy)*, Martini (Palma Rosa) Oil*, Rosemarinus officianalis var Verbenon (Rosemary Verbonenon) Oil*
* Organic
Price: $24.00 for 1 fl. oz at ReNew Botanicals
Benefits: This moisturizer was especially formulated with 90% organic ingredients for acneic skin that has become irritated and inflamed, and would also be a perfect choice when ordered unscented for Rosacea skin that is not overly dry. Manuka oil from New Zealand, similar to Tea Tree, has been proven to be more effective when dealing with gram positive bacteria, but has a less medicinal odor.
Clarifying facial mask
Try: John Masters Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask
Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice,* rhassoul clay, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil,* glycerin, epilobium fleischeri extract,* rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf/flower water,* oryza sativa (rice) extract,* camellia sinensis (green tea) extract,* copaifera officinalis (balsam copaiba) resin,* carapa guaianensis seed oil,* euterpe oleracea pulp oil,* candida bombicola,* glucose, methyl rapeseed ferment, lecithin, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil,* lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil,* melaleuca viridiflora (niaouli) leaf oil,* cupressus sempervirens (cypress) leaf oil,* rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil,* calendula officinalis (calendula) flower oil,* hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) pulp extract,* capryloyl glycine, undecylenoyl glycine, sucrose cocoate, xanthan gum, citric acid, p-anisic acid, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate
* Certified Organic
Price: $30.00 for 2 oz at John Masters Organics
Benefits: Perfect for oily or combination skin, this new mask uses genuine Moroccan clay to purify and balance without drying. Balsam Copaiba resin acts as an anti-inflammatory while sunflower oil protects and prevents moisture loss.
