Skin Benefits of Peppermint for Acne

Is peppermint oil an ingredient that should belong in your skincare routine? 

You may have heard some mixed takes on whether or not peppermint oil can be good for acne prone skin - but there are great benefits for including peppermint in skincare! 

How Does Peppermint Help Acne?

Whether you love the smell of peppermint, or hate it - peppermint has been used in all kinds of household products and in beauty routines for good reason!

Peppermint Oil is a type of essential oil that comes from the peppermint plant. 

Peppermint oil has antimicrobial properties so it can help naturally reduce and kill off acne causing bacteria on the skin.  

Peppermint oil also has natural cleansing properties, which is why we include it as an ingredient in our All Clear Mint Cleanser.   

One of peppermint’s main components is menthol - which is what is responsible for the cooling effect you may experience when you apply peppermint topically.  This cooling effect provides a mild pain and irritation relief which works wonders if you’re experiencing a painful and irritating breakout.  

Relieving the pain and the urge to pick and squeeze and a pimple can greatly help the acne heal and prevent further irritation. 

Peppermint is also great at relieving itch in this study.  Having peppermint oil as part of the Fighter Gel formulation helps provide some of the itching relief that someone could get with irritated itchy skin or eczema. 

Peppermint oil has some mild anti fungal properties too, so if you are dealing with fungal acne, peppermint is a great ingredient to use and may help fight off the fungal infection.  

Can I Use Peppermint Oil In My Haircare? 

Peppermint oil can be used in haircare and in fact there are promising studies that peppermint oil can promote hair growth.  In a 2014 study with mice, a 3% peppermint oil extract improved hair growth and thickness without damaging the hair follicle after a period of 4 weeks. 

Side Effects Of Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil can have some side effects like irritation or sensitization just like any other essential oil or ingredient. The possible side effects may be reduced when it's diluted in a formula for skin and peppermint oil should not be applied to an infant's skin.

When trying out a new product or ingredient, test it first on a small area of skin and if you notice unusual burning or prolonged redness, wash the product off. 

Don’t apply undiluted peppermint oil directly onto skin. Use products where the percentage of peppermint oil has been diluted properly and combined with other skin beneficial ingredients.