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Given my day job it is no surprise that I read “The physician” by Noah Gordon years ago. In fact, I have read all three novels around the dynasty of the Coles.

“Shaman”, the second one, is by far my favorite, while “Choices”, last of the three, is a waste of time. In my opinion, anyway, books are as personal as perfumes. Not that I know a thing about perfumes, but I digress.

 

 

Back to topic, or at least back to the long and windy road to the topic (Odacité Bl+C Pimples serum, in case you were confused).

If you have read “The Physician”, you are familiar with the name Ibn-Sina. If you haven´t, you might have heard about Avicenna, who is the same person just going by a Latin name. He was one of the most admired scholars of his time and wrote the standard reference of medicine, Qānūn at-Tibb.

And in Qānūn at-Tibb he mentioned several uses of Nigella sativa oil, or Black Cumin Oil, one of the three ingredients in Odacité Bl+C Pimples serum. Finally on topic!

He did however mention quite a few other treatments (ranging from disgusting to dangerous) for several diseases, so let´s dig a little deeper and see what happened since then and if the Odacité Bl+C Pimples serum stands its ground in modern days too.

 

What Odacité claims

Formulated especially for problem skin, this serum helps to achieve a smooth & blemish-free complexion. The purifying properties of Black Cumin oil help to minimize flare-ups. Ideal for acne-prone skin, therapeutic Cajeput acts at the source of the problem to support clean & clear skin. In aromatherapy, Cajeput is known to promote clear thoughts and liveliness.

Not intended to be used with Retin A or for people with sensitive skin.

 

 

Facts

Prize and size
One opaque dropper bottle contains 5 ml and retails for 32 $ on the website here . I did use it only at night and the bottle lasted me around six months.

Texture and smell
Like the other Odacité serum I have tried (Odacité Green Tea & Lemongrass) it feels more like an oil than your usual, watery serum. The scent is herbal, but in a pleasant, warm and earthy way.

Application and effects
While reading up on the science behind essential oils I learned that in order to get the maximum benefits, they should be applied at least twice, better three times a day. I only used the serum at night, due to the more oily consistency, so it might be that I would have had different results otherwise.

As suggested I tried it both as addition to my night cream, a very pleasant experience that left my skin soft and hydrated without greasiness and as spot treatment massaged onto an emerging zit. The effect of the latter is hard to judge, but even with a “control zit” on my face (yes, you may laugh) I did not see a noticeable difference in time of zit present and level of angriness.

Despite the warning I did use it with a retinoid (over the counter, not Retin A!) and had no issues with skin sensitivity.

 

 

Ingredients

Favorable ingredients

• Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Oil: Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, improves wound healing
• Cajeput (Melaleuca minor) Essential Oil: Antibacterial against P. acnes and S. epidermidis
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol) oil: Antioxidant, reduces hyperpigmentation and improves skins elasticity

All ingredients are certified organic/certified GMO-free and gluten free.

As rightly stated by the company, a blend of essential oils should not be used on sensitive skin or skin sensitized by harsh treatments like Retin A, so I would always recommend you patch test first. There is, however, backup for the antibacterial claims. Especially Cajeput essential oil has proven to work against P. acnes and S. epidermidis, both bacteria that play a role in the development of pimples.

 

Does it live up to its claims?

Yes.

The company states that the Odacité Bl+C Pimples serum helps with problematic and acne-prone skin, and it has the ingredients to back that up.

I don´t think that this blend will have the same effect as for example BHA or a retinoid in terms of treating acne, but as supportive (and great smelling) addition it sure has its place.

 

Would I repurchase?

Yes.

It isn´t the cheapest, but as you only need a few drops I think it is a welcome addition to my harsher anti-acne treatments.

 

Who do I recommend it to?

If you are an essential oil lover troubled by acne, or you are looking for all organic support to pair with your treatments, this is definitely something to look into.

If acne isn´t your main concern, Odacité has quite a few blends to suit different skin issues.

If you are sensitive towards essential oils though, make sure to patch test first.