For those of us with acne-prone skin, the quest for a acne-free complexion can often feel like taking a ride on an emotional rollercoaster. We get our hopes up when a new product promises miraculous results, and then we are inevitably disappointed when the product simply doesn’t deliver. We’re left to navigate the complex maze that is the skincare industry without knowing which brands or products to trust.
But don’t despair! In recent years, a massive wave of clean beauty options have hit the market, presenting truly transformative and effective solutions for a wide array of skincare needs.
Some clean beauty transcends superficial promises by focusing on natural, non-toxic and environmentally conscious ingredients that specifically cater to the needs of acne-prone skin. This approach offers a gentle yet powerful pathway toward achieving clear, healthy and radiant skin.
What Is Acne?
If you have acne-prone skin, you are not alone: acne is a common skin condition that affects an estimated 9.4% of the global population. Defined as a disorder of the hair follicles and oil glands (sebaceous glands), acne can occur at any age but typically begins during puberty, with approximately 85% of individuals aged 18 to 24 experiencing some form of acne. While acne breakouts can occur anywhere on the body, they are most likely to appear on the face, chest, shoulders and upper back.
What Are the Main Causes of Acne?
Let’s rewind for a second and explain how we even develop acne in the first place. The four main causes of acne are inflammation, clogged hair follicles, bacteria and excess sebum in the skin. While it’s true that these primary factors are often influenced by genetics, there are some lifestyle and environmental factors that we can watch out for, including stress, high humidity levels, hormonal changes and certain medications and dietary choices. If acne does appear, it is important to avoid harshly scrubbing the skin or squeezing pimples, as that can make the problem worse.
How Is Acne Formed?
Your body's sebaceous glands produce natural oils known as sebum, which are normally released through your hair follicles. However, when these follicles become clogged with dead skin cells and excess sebum, it can trigger the growth of skin bacteria, specifically Propionibacterium acnes (or P. acnes). This is a very scientific term for bacteria that causes inflammation, eventually leading to the development of what we see as acne bumps.
The Types of Acne
There are three most commonly seen types of acne:
Fungal Acne
First, there’s fungal acne, which occurs when there is a build-up of yeast in the system. This type of acne is generally itchy and appears somewhat inflamed. More often than not, you’ll find this sort of fungal acne clustered together in a series of small red bumps, with some potentially turning into whiteheads. It’s easy to mistake this variety with any other generic breakout, but the main difference is that fungal acne will be itchy.
Cystic Acne
Next there’s cystic acne, which can be characterized by deep, pus-filled pimples. Cystic acne can be particularly challenging to treat without the guidance of a dermatologist; unlike regular acne, which results from oil clogging pores, cystic acne also involves bacteria, leading to swelling, extra redness and specialized treatment. Hormonal changes are another common cause of cystic acne breakouts, adding to the complexity of this form of acne.
Hormonal Acne
Finally, there’s hormonal acne, which is one of the most common forms of acne. While hormonal acne can show up as regular breakouts or cystic acne, its underlying cause is usually an excess production of sebum, which clogs pores. When we talk about breakouts as they play into puberty, sebum overproduction is the most common culprit, which is why we refer to this variety as hormonal acne.
How Is Clean Beauty Beneficial to Acne?
Now that we’ve covered the basics behind what causes acne to form, we wanted to highlight a list of reasons why clean beauty can be such an incredible solution for acne-prone skin.
Products are easy to recognize and natural.
Clean beauty products feature high-quality chemicals that are both powerful in their efficacy and simple in their composition. They are often free of additives that might disrupt your skin’s natural ability to cleanse pores and repair itself.
Ingredients are more efficient.
Certain ingredients in traditional cosmetic products may actually make acne worse, rather than help it improve. In contrast, some of the more natural ingredients found in clean beauty products have been utilized for ages to promote skin health and are consequently more effective in treating acne.
It is suitable for those with sensitive skin.
Because avoiding pollutants is a key aspect of clean beauty, many products are specifically designed for sensitive skin. They are made without irritants like alcohol, artificial fragrances and parabens, which can cause bumps and blemishes on sensitive skin. Not all clean beauty is sensitive skin friendly, but there are clean beauty products that are formulated specifically for sensitive skin.
It maintains the cleanliness of your pores.
Instead of abrasive microbeads that can create tiny incisions in the skin and lead to infection, clean beauty products frequently utilize mild exfoliators like brown sugar or jojoba beads. Not only are these ingredients just as (if not more!) efficient as exfoliants, they are also way more gentle on your skin’s natural barrier.
Treating Acne with Clean Beauty
Below are our top recommendations when it comes to treating acne with clean beauty.
Find Your Skin Type
One of the biggest challenges in clearing acne is determining your skin type, which falls into one of three main categories: oily, dry, or combination (a mix of both). The type of acne treatment you need varies depending on your skin type, so it’s important to visit a dermatologist or esthetician to confirm your skin type and advise on the most effective ways to treat your acne. In the meantime, here are some general guidelines about each skin type:
Dry
Dry skin can be identified by symptoms like itchy, flaky or scaly skin, which may also be exacerbated by environmental factors such like weather, sun damage, overbathing or the use of harsh soaps. Moisturizing is an effective way to balance out dry skin; however, if you are also experiencing acne, it’s important to be careful because over-moisturizing can make the problem worse.
Oily
You can usually identify oily skin by its excess shine, larger pore size, frequent blackheads or rough texture. Just like with dry skin, certain environmental factors, like stress and humidity, can cause further oil build-up on the skin.
Combination
Combination skin
is exactly what it sounds like: a mix of dry and oily skin. Typically, the face's T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) may feel oily or greasy, while the rest of the face feels dry, or vice-versa.
Start A Simple Skin Routine
Once you’ve identified your skin type, the next step in caring for acne-prone skin is to develop a strong skincare regimen.
Cleanse and treat with Le Cleanser
For acne-prone skin, we recommend trying
Doré Le Cleanser. Our gel-to-milk facial cleanser is gentle and effective, not only leaving skin perfectly clean and hydrated but it also thoroughly removes makeup. It features witch hazel extract, which acts as an anti-inflammatory and gentle astringent, goji berry extract, which brightens and improves skin tone, and white lily, which repairs skin from UV damage and oxidative stress.
Moisturize and protect with La Crème
The Doré La Crème moisturizer, which is EWG VERIFIED™, is suitable for all skin types including normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive and mature skin. This formula is packed with hero ingredients: it contains naturally derived hyaluronic acid, which supports moisture retention, white lily, which brightens and repairs skin from UV damage and oxidative stress, and marine algae, which enhances skin’s metabolic function by stimulating hyaluronic acid synthesis, replenishing the skin barrier and fighting the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
Clinically proven to leave skin softer, brighter, and perfectly hydrated, La Crème absorbs well for lasting hydration and is suitable for both morning and evening routines. Additionally, its clean formula is safe to use around the eyes as an eye cream.
Final Thoughts
Caring for acne-prone skin can be challenging. For the best personalized recommendations tailored to your skin type and acne concerns, always consult with a board-certified dermatologist.
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