Your cart

Your cart is empty

Acne: how to treat it with plant-based ingredients

Like dodgy fringes and bad relationship choices, there are some things we thought we'd well and truly left behind as teens. Sadly, acne isn't one of them. While it's so frequently associated with puberty, acne is essentially just an inflammation of your skin's sebaceous glands (they're the ones that produce oil). This is often due to a hormonal imbalance, in particular a lack of oestrogen. When these glands produce excess sebum, it can get trapped within a pore resulting in what we see as a spot. This link with hormonal fluctuations is why we often encounter acne breakouts during our periods, after having a baby or even during the menopause – and there are a plethora of other causes for acne, too. In short? It's certainly not exclusive to our teenage years.

Here, I share the best treatment products for acne and the ingredients to make a beeline for... 

Know the triggers for your acne-prone skin

Even the slightest hormonal imbalance can disrupt the levels of sebum production. For others, a high-sugar diet, too much alcohol, stress and not cleansing the face properly can kick off an acne breakout. To identify your personal triggers, I recommend keeping a diary of your skincare journey and experiences. Over time, you should be able to notice a pattern forming with lifestyle or environmental factors.

Avoid acne products that aggravate skin

You may think the best line of attack is to load up on an arsenal of hard-hitting blemish-blitzers but acne products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can actually worsen the problem. These can strip away your skin's important protective barrier allowing water out and irritants in. The effect? A dry, tight and sensitised complexion. Soaps and foaming face washes are a no-no, too, since they can make the skin more alkaline, allowing bacteria to thrive.

By Sarah London Blemish Recovery Oil

"This is my most favourite facial oil that I’ve ever tried! It’s so balancing and comforting and has made me fully transition to just facial oils, no creams. If you have sensitive, combination, break out/acne prone skin, like I do, you will love this oil!" - Rachael E., customer review

Choose plant-based acne products

When it comes to acne treatment, the gentle giants rule. Choose a plant-based daily cleanser that has exfoliating properties and an antimicrobial effect to prevent blemish-causing bacteria from multiplying. Opt for our soothing Balancer Oil-to-milk Cleanser.

And for a natural alternative to harsh acids and peels? Choose the genius By Sarah London Ally Blemish Recovery Oil that's lightweight and easily-absorbed. The star ingredient is upcycled hemp seed oil, grown in the UK and chosen for its superior level of antioxidants – 52 per cent more than standard hemp seed oil, to be precise.

Bursting with linoleic acid and natural CBD, our special hemp seed oil helps calm inflammation while strengthening and rebuilding the skin barrier, reducing bacterial infection and bringing your skin's microbiome back into balance. See? It really is a superstar.

By Sarah London Ally Blemish Recovery Oil is also blended with papaya fruit enzymes that gently whisk away those dead skin cells that contribute to the build-up of bacteria and sebum. Think skin that's clearer, healthier and infinitely more radiant.

As one of our lovely customers, Iulia, put it: "This is the best product I have ever used for acne. It reduces redness overnight - I love it!" - 5 star Feefo review.

By Sarah London Blemish Recovery Oil

"The oil significantly reduces my break outs and when I do break out, I find that my skin clears up much faster than usual. It’s lovely because the oil doesn’t strip away anything from my skin and it leaves it looking so glowy and dewey, it’s a must have product." - Feefo customer review

Help fade acne scars

Aside from active acne, lingering post-blemish marks can be a bugbear, too. That's why keeping skin nourished with reparative plant-based oils is such an essential part of dealing with acne-prone skin.

To tackle persistent acne, I recommend applying a few drops of By Sarah London Ally Blemish Recovery Oil onto clean damp skin both morning and night. Take the time to pat and press the oil into your face and neck, rather than applying to a single zit or cluster of spots.

For those occasional big blighters or hormonal breakouts? Use By Sarah London Ally Blemish Recovery Oil as a hard-working targeted evening treatment and enjoy our original By Sarah London Hero Facial Oil in the morning. Once your skin has improved, you can return to using the latter each morning and night as normal.

Boosted Skincare

Knowing the unbelievable skin benefits Vitamin C can deliver, we've been determined to bring you a blend that lets sensitive skin in on the action, too! And we didn't stop there. We spent many months working hard behind-the-scenes to bring you an alternative to retinol. A plant-powered oil – suitable for even the most sensitive of skins – that offers retinol-like properties without the irritation. Both our Vitamin C+E Daily Radiance Booster and Bakuchiol Daily Recovery Booster have been designed with the most sensitive skin in mind, and slot seamlessly into your morning and evening skincare routine as the final "boosted" step. The result? A visible skin transformation without redness, irritation or sensitivity – for day and night.

By Sarah London Skincare Boosters

 __ 

Join our Newsletter to receive our latest news, arrivals and skincare tips straight to your inbox every week. All content © BY SARAH LONDON. All rights reserved.

Previous post
Next post