let's talk oily skin.

Oily skin occurs when the skin produces too much sebum, an oily substance that protects and hydrates the skin. Sebum is needed to keep the skin healthy. However, factors such as genetics, hormone imbalance, environment, diet, etc., can cause an overproduction of sebum, resulting in oily skin, clogged pores, and acne. Although some of these factors are out of our control, there are ways to treat oily skin. 

QUESTION: How do I know if a product will clog my pores?

ANSWER: The Comedogenic Scale

If you’re fighting acne, you need to know about the Comedogenic Scale. 

Here’s why: the comedogenic scale rates (0-5) how much an ingredient, such as oil, will clog your pores. Ingredients rated 0-2 are considered non-comedogenic and 3-5 are comedogenic.

So if you’re fighting acne and have steered clear of oil-based products, fear them no more! To discover if a product will clog your pores, just type the ingredient name and “comedogenic rating” into your search engine and stay away from products with primary ingredients rated 3-5.

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LARK for oily + acne-prone skin (comedogenic rating of 0)

• Sunflower + Chamomile Cleansing Oil 
• Jojoba + Turmeric Facial Polish
• Aloe + Lime Toner
• Rose + Glycolic Brightening Mask
• Custom Clay Masks
• Rosehip + Citrus Facial Oil

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Hormonal Acne

Here's the deal with hormonal acne. It can start during puberty in the form of blackheads and whiteheads in the t-zone. Then, just as we enter our twenties and think its a thing of the past, it fosters itself on the chin and neck, often in the form of cystic pimples.

Everyone is unique, so to determine the cause of your hormonal acne we recommend consulting your physician who can test your hormone levels, check for imbalances, and provide treatment recommendations.

In addition to consulting your doctor, there are natural and effective ways to treat hormonal acne. Ingredients such as Evening Primrose and Tea Tree Oil being two of them. When applied to the skin as oil, Evening Primrose keeps the skin balances and reduces flareups around that time of the month. Tea Tree Oil can be used as an effective spot treatment once the acne occurs.

We created a Custom Facial Oil designed to Treat Hormonal Acne and an entire section for your skin type here! 

Recommended Routine: 

1. Throw out the harsh cleansers that leave skin tight and dry, causing your skin to overproduce oil. It may sound counter-intuitive, but oil cleansers were made for greasy skin. Just make sure the oils are non-comedogenic. (Sunflower + Chamomile Cleansing Oil).
2. Cleanse twice daily, but don't over-cleanse. This can also cause the skin to overproduce oil. 
3. Use a gentle toner daily. Specifically, one with natural witch hazel to remove excess oil, soothe skin, and tighten pores. (Aloe + Lime Purifying Toner)
4. Don't scrub at your skin. After cleansing + applying toner, make sure to pat dry with a soft cloth or towel. Pulling down on the skin with a towel or rough washcloth can stimulate oil production. 
5. Treat the skin with clay, honey, or oatmeal masks. They work to absorb oils and reduce skin shininess and oil levels without irritating the skin and can treat acne. (White clay + Oatmeal Custom Clay Mask)
6. Keep your skin hydrated! Again, it may sound counter-intuitive, but keeping the skin moisturized can prevent the over-production of oils. (Rosehip + Citrus Facial Oil) 

Still, have questions about your skin type? Drop them below!