Skin care products for oily skin and acne: a comprehensive guide

The focus on skin care products for oily skin and acne remains a key trend in the beauty industry, as oily skin and acne represent some of the most common skin concerns, affecting millions of people worldwide. 

Some figures illustrate the prevalence of the issue and its relationship with the skin care market: according to Mintel’s Facial Skincare Format and Ingredients Trends in the UK, 22% of UK consumers are concerned about acne, and 16% about oiliness. 

While these conditions can be frustrating and self-conscious, there are many effective natural skincare products that can help manage and improve oily skin and acne.

Additionally, the right skin care products for oily skin and acne also respond to current market shifts and preferences. It’s in this context where the rise of natural skincare for acne can be understood as an alternative that aligns with contemporary consumers and their preferences.

Understanding oily skin and acne

Any successful initiatives in formulating skin care products for oily skin and acne must look at the root cause of these issues.

Put briefly, oily skin is caused by overactive sebaceous glands, which produce excess sebum. While sebum production represents a natural process that promotes skin health, excessive production can lead to clogged pores and create an environment that is ideal for bacterial growth, thus resulting in acne. 

Aside from increased sebum production, other factors can have an influence on the development of acne: from the obstruction of pilosebaceous ducts, to biochemical changes in the lipid composition of skin surface and the bacterial colonization of the sebaceous follicle. 

Looking at the causes behind excess sebum production specifically, the influence of leptin (a protein produced by skin cells) has been demonstrated to play a key role in the cell mechanism that triggers sebum synthesis, stimulating the expression of inflammatory agents in sebocytes that help promote acne (Törőcsik et al., 2014).

In turn, acne can manifest in various forms, including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cysts.

Additionally, when looking at the prevalence of acne, it’s important to mention that there are significant differences in its occurrence among diverse groups relating to their gender, skin type and age, as well as environmental influences. 

For instance, sebaceous glands tend to be more active at birth and puberty, while declining during menopause for women and the sixth and seventh decade for men. Asides, generally speaking, men present a tendency for higher sebum production due to the influence of testosterone; while sebum production can increase during ovulation in women following increases in progesterone. Moreover, humid climates can promote higher sebum production (Wan MJ, su XY, Zheng Y, et al., 2014).

Key ingredients for developing skin care products for oily skin and acne

Lifestyle changes can have an impact on the prevalence of acne: from adopting gentle cleansing routines, to avoiding touching your face (as it can transfer bacteria and oils to the skin) and regular exfoliation that removes dead skin cells.

However, the right skin care products for oily skin and acne should harness the power of available ingredients to provide a comprehensive treatment that provides two key actions.

On the one hand, skin care products for oily skin and acne should target acne root causes:

• Combat acne-causing bacteria through antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties 
• Regulate sebum production 
• Remove dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores

On the other hand, these formulations must address the undesired secondary effects of acne on skin health by providing:

• A reduction in redness and swelling via anti-inflamatory action
• Healing and skin regenerating properties that prevent scarring
• Deep moisturizing that does not clog pores

Taking this into account, here’s a list of the top ingredients that are useful for developing oily skin and acne formulations:

• Salicylic acid: derived from willow bark, this is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that helps to unclog pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, and reduce inflammation. Natural alternatives to salicylic acid are also emerging that provide deep exfoliation while also protecting sensitive skin and preventing potential dryness, excessive peeling or irritation.
• Tea tree oil: this essential oil has powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat acne-causing bacteria and soothe irritated skin. Clinical studies have demonstrated that tea tree oil is a good substitute for benzoyl peroxide, a topical medication to reduce the bacteria that cause acne. 
• Neem oil: highly valued in the ancient holistic healing system of ayurveda, neem oil is another natural ingredient with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce acne and soothe the skin. As a water-soluble extract, it acts as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant agent. 
• Aloe vera: a soothing and hydrating plant that can help reduce inflammation, redness, and irritation associated with acne. Its anti-inflammatory action is based on inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, such as prostaglandins and others, which contribute to redness and swelling in acne. Aloe vera gel presents deep emollient and soothing activity thanks to its mucilage content and is thus ideal for treating skin lesions associated with acne.
• Zinc: this mineral plays a crucial role in skin care products for oily skin and acne thanks to its capacity to target some of the root causes of acne, including the regulation of sebum production and bacterial proliferation. Additionally, it can help reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Natural skin care products for oily skin and acne

When choosing skincare products for oily skin and acne, it is important to look for products that contain natural ingredients and avoid harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin. 

At the same time, successful formulas today should consider market shifts and current consumer preferences. Treatments for oily skin in men in a post-inclusive, genderless era represent a primer example of this need, specially when targeting younger demographics.

Taking this into account, some effective natural skin care products for oily skin and acne could follow along these lines:

• Cleansers: these should be gentle and contain ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil to help unclog pores and remove excess oil. 
  Trikenol™ Plus stands out in this category: a prebiotic plant-derived active that balances skin and scalp flora and presents seboregulating activity.
• Toners: alcohol-free toners that contain astringent ingredients help reduce oiliness while also balancing the skin’s pH. 
  Nelupure™ represents a key ingredient for formulations in this category. Capable of getting oily skin under control, it reduces the activity of key factors in sebum overproduction by activating leptin-receptor inhibition and effectively reducing sebum production and inflammatory processes that cause skin blemishes.
• Moisturizers and microbiome support: lightweight, oil-free moisturizers that hydrate the skin without clogging pores are instrumental in skin care products for oily skin and acne. Moisturizers should contain or induce the production of hyaluronic acid, while balancing the microbiome, essential for overall skin health beyond hydration. 

A healthy skin microbiome consists of a diverse community of microorganisms that help maintain skin barrier function, regulate oil production, and protect against harmful pathogens. When the microbiome is disrupted, it can lead to various skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and rosacea. 

Hydrafence™ provides 120 hours of moisturizing power while also reinforcing the skin barrier function and helping in the recovery of damaged skin by restoring the skin’s ability to generate its own ceramides.

Meanwhile, Wonderage™ and its role in balancing the epigenetics of mature skin, can add a restoring effect for its capacity to ensure good dermal structure.

• Face masks: clay masks can be effective in absorbing excess oil and detoxifying the skin, especially those with ingredients like bentonite clay or kaolin clay.
• Spot treatments: ingredients like tea tree oil or neem oil can help dry out pimples and reduce inflammation. 

Melavoid™ also stands out as an active ingredient that works on the initial mechanisms of pigmentation, and thus being able to decrease spots.

These ideas and natural active ingredients showcase the potential of natural skin care products for oily skin and acne, harnessing the power of natural compounds to effectively manage oily skin and acne.

For further information or insights on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact our team of experts, who are available to provide guidance and support in selecting the most suitable solutions for your requirements.