Ingredient
guide

Ingredients that help with acne are often those that unclog pores, reduce excess oil and calm inflammation. Examples include:

• Salicylic acid (BHA – found in Cloud Water) –  dissolves oil inside the pores.
• Azelaic acid (found in Cloud Milk) – can reduce redness and post-acne marks.
• Niacinamide – helps balance oil production. 
• Sulfur (5% in Cloud Treat) – helps reduce the appearance of active blemishes. Cloud Treat pairs sulfur with soothing centella to care for breakout-prone skin. 
• Hydrocolloid (found in Cloud Patch and Moon Patch) – absorbs fluid from surface blemishes and helps protect them from picking.

Sensitive skin often benefits from calming and barrier-supporting ingredients. 

Centella, madecassoside and heartleaf are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce redness and irritation. Ingredients like panthenol, ectoin, oat extract and hypochlorous acid can also help the skin feel calmer and more comfortable. 

Cloud Drops combines a centella complex with TECA and Centella PDRN, panthenol and ectoin to hydrate, soothe and support the skin barrier — a daily dose of calm for sensitive, stressed skin.

The skin barrier is supported by ingredients that mimic or reinforce the skin’s natural building blocks. 

Ceramides, skin-identical lipids and squalane help repair and protect the barrier. Ingredients like NMF (Natural Moisturising Factors), panthenol and ectoin can also help the skin retain moisture and become more resilient to irritation. 

In Cloud Drops, panthenol helps replenish moisture and support the barrier, while ectoin helps protect against moisture loss. Together with centella, they help keep skin calm, hydrated and comfortable.

Post-acne marks can become darker due to inflammation and UV exposure, which is why both treatment ingredients and sun protection are important. 

Azelaic acid, niacinamide and licorice root can help even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of marks over time.

SPF is also essential, as daily sun protection helps prevent marks from becoming darker and more long-lasting.

Some ingredients can enhance each other’s benefits when used together. At the same time, certain combinations can help reduce the risk of irritation from active ingredients.

Here are some of our favourite power duos:

Salicylic acid + niacinamide = Fewer breakouts and less visible pores
Salicylic acid helps dissolve oil and dead skin cells inside the pores, while niacinamide calms the skin and helps balance oil production. A great combination for acne-prone skin. Try Cloud Water with Cloud Jelly to maximise results.

Azelaic acid + niacinamide = Reduced redness and fewer breakouts
Both ingredients help calm inflammation and balance the skin. This combination can help reduce redness, prevent breakouts and improve overall skin tone. Try Cloud Milk with Cloud Jelly to maximise results.

Azelaic acid + centella = Calming for acne-prone and sensitive skin
Azelaic acid helps reduce breakouts and redness, while centella supports the skin’s natural recovery process. A combination that works well when skin is both acne-prone and easily irritated. Try Cloud Milk with Cloud Drops for targeted care with extra hydration and soothing support.

Salicylic acid + centella = Exfoliation with soothing support
Exfoliating ingredients often work best when paired with soothing ones. This combination helps keep pores clear while supporting the skin barrier. You’ll find this pairing in Cloud Water, where we also use encapsulated salicylic acid to reduce the risk of irritation.

Sulfur + centella = Blemish care with a soothing touch
Sulfur helps reduce the appearance of blemishes, while centella helps soothe the skin. You’ll find this duo in Cloud Treat, with 5% sulfur for breakout-prone skin that needs both targeted care and calm.

Centella + panthenol + ectoin = Calm, hydration and barrier support
Centella helps soothe stressed skin, panthenol replenishes moisture and supports the barrier, and ectoin helps protect against moisture loss. You’ll find this trio in Cloud Drops. Pair it with Cloud Treat when skin needs blemish care and extra hydration.

Retinoids + hyaluronic acid = Skin renewal with less irritation
Ingredients like ceramides, squalane or hyaluronic acid can help support the skin barrier and reduce the risk of irritation when using retinoids. You’ll find this combination in Moon Balm, which is designed for skin that may be sensitive to retinol.

Niacinamide + hyaluronic acid = Hydrated and balanced skin
Hyaluronic acid helps the skin attract and retain moisture, while niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier and helps maintain hydration. The result is skin that feels plumper, more hydrated and balanced.

Ceramides + squalane = A stronger skin barrier
Ceramides help repair the skin barrier while squalane provides lightweight hydration and prevents moisture loss. Together they help keep skin softer and more resilient. You’ll find this combination in several Common Clouds products, including Cloud Barrier, Moon Balm and Cloud Glaze.

Salicylic acid + hydrocolloid = Faster healing of active breakouts
Salicylic acid helps keep pores clear, while hydrocolloid pimple patches protect blemishes from bacteria and picking. Together they can help breakouts heal faster.

Skin reacts differently to ingredient combinations, and some people tolerate them better than others. However, there are some combinations we usually recommend being cautious with.

Retinol + strong exfoliating acids at the same time
Using multiple strong active ingredients together can increase the risk of irritation. If you use retinol, it can be helpful to use exfoliating acids more cautiously and on alternate days.

Too many exfoliating ingredients at once
Combining several acids in the same routine can stress the skin and increase irritation. Often, one exfoliating product in your routine is enough. Cloud Treat also contains salicylic acid, so introduce it gradually if you already use Cloud Water or a retinoid. Cloud Drops can add hydration and soothing barrier support alongside active ingredients.

Hypochlorous acid + antioxidants / vitamin C
Hypochlorous acid is a natural oxidant, which means it can neutralize the effect of strong antioxidants if used at the same time. To get the most out of both, use antioxidants such as vitamin C in a separate routine or leave a few hours between your vitamin C routine and your hypochlorous acid spray.

During pregnancy, retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) such as retinol are generally recommended to be avoided. Exfoliating acids are not automatically off-limits: suitability depends on the ingredient, concentration and how the product is used. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a healthcare professional for advice on active treatment products.

At the same time, many ingredients can be good alternatives for acne-prone or sensitive skin during pregnancy.

Look for ingredients such as:

Azelaic acid
Helps reduce breakouts, redness and post-acne marks.

Niacinamide
Helps balance oil production and strengthen the skin barrier.

Sulfur
Helps balance oil production and minimise breakouts.

Centella
Calms irritation and supports the skin’s recovery.

Ceramides and squalane
Strengthen the skin barrier and help the skin retain moisture.

SPF
Especially important since skin often becomes more sun-sensitive during pregnancy.

Teenage skin can often be more oily, acne-prone or sensitive because hormonal changes affect oil production. Ingredients that help keep pores clear, balance the skin and calm inflammation can therefore be particularly helpful.

Salicylic acid (BHA) helps unclog pores and reduce breakouts.

Niacinamide helps balance oil production and strengthen the skin barrier.

Azelaic acid can help reduce both breakouts, redness and post-acne marks.

Sulfur helps reduce the appearance of active blemishes.

Centella, panthenol and ectoin help soothe, hydrate and support the skin barrier when skin feels sensitive or stressed.

Hydrocolloid (pimple patches) can protect blemishes from bacteria and picking while helping the skin heal.

It’s also important to be careful not to over-exfoliate. Using too many exfoliating products can irritate the skin and worsen breakouts. For teenage skin, a simple routine is usually enough: cleansing, a gentle exfoliant (Cloud Water) a few times per week, moisturiser and daily sun protection.

The Common Clouds Teen Starter Kit is designed as an easy starting routine for younger skin that has started to experience breakouts.