Tess Garcia
This story originally appeared on InStyle.com.
If there's one thing I've learned from Rachel Nussbaum, InStyle's ingredient sleuth of a beauty writer, it's that the best skincare formulas are often full of substances I can pronounce. I try to use the label "clean beauty" sparingly (it's subjective, especially when the safety of some ingredients is still debated), but when I'm vaguely familiar with everything a product contains, I take note. And when it has as many glowing reviews as Blume's Meltdown Acne Oil, I jump down an internet rabbithole to see what the fuss is about.
"It cleared up my acne within two weeks. Clears up the redness overnight," said a shopper of the oil. "I am so, so glad I gave it a try because nothing else was helping me clear my acne. You can see the difference in one day. I'm not even joking, it's insane. This will always be a part of my skincare routine. If you're hesitant, don't be. Buy it."
That testimony alone sent my eyebrows shooting up—this shopper wasn't affiliated with the brand, and their words weren't part of some influencer-driven campaign. That means Meltdown works so well, it compelled an everyday customer to spread the good word through a Shark Tank-worthy sales pitch. Down the rabbithole I fell.
Shop it! $28, blume.com
According to the brand, the oil clears acne, reduces scarring and redness, and prevents breakouts. But unlike traditional spot treatments, it promises not to dry out skin, instead leaving your complexion more hydrated and nourished with each use. A few all-star ingredients come together to make that happen. Meltdown contains brightening, anti-aging rosehip oil, anti-inflammatory blue tansy oil, bacteria-fighting tamanu oil, and ultra-hydrating jojoba oil, to name a few.
But the oil's pièce de résistance lies in its first and most dominant ingredient: black cumin seed oil. As Blume notes on its website, the oil is full of vitamin A—better known as retinol—that prevents acne and heals scars, along with reparative vitamin D. It even contains strengthening calcium and niacin, the buzzy chemical compound credited with reducing redness and stimulating the production of collagen (that's the stuff that fills in wrinkles).
The finished concoction works wonders on hormonal cystic acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. Whether you use the Meltdown oil as a spot treatment or mix it into your moisturizer, reviewers say you'll see near-instant results. As one put it, "Meltdown literally melts down your pimples."
"Seriously, it cleared up three cystic bumps overnight," reads another review, appropriately titled "Overnight Miracle." Those mind-blowing results were enough to draw up some strong emotions. "I cried in the morning, it was such an immediate difference."
Order the Blume Meltdown Acne Oil before the rest of the world finds out how amazing it is.