A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effects of a Skin Care Protocol To Reduce Breakouts and Improve Skin Health

Clinical Trial
Author: Citruslabs Research Team
Citruslabs, 5725 S. Valley View Blvd Suite 7, Las Vegas, NV 89118 USA
Created 2nd March 2026

Abstract

This single-group clinical trial evaluated the effects of a skin care protocol — including Pimple Stopper Day Balm, Pimple Stopper Night Balm, Pimple Scars Balm 2.0, and Scrub for Acne Prone Skin — on reducing breakouts and improving overall skin health over 60 days. Thirty-five participants aged 18–45 followed the Norse Organics skin protocol, applying Pimple Stopper Day Balm each morning and Pimple Stopper Night Balm each evening, layering Pimple Scars Balm 2.0 nightly after the evening treatment, and using Scrub for Acne Prone Skin three times per week during showering. Participants completed questionnaires at Baseline, Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30, and Day 60, and submitted self-taken photographs for dermatologist grading at Baseline and Day 60. By Day 60, 9 of 10 evaluated skin parameters showed significant improvement, and expert grading confirmed that 80% of participants saw visible reductions in acne appearance. Participant perception data reflected strong satisfaction, with all 12 product-related statements reaching at least 50% agreement by Day 60 — spanning improvements in pimple and breakout frequency, severity, and appearance, as well as gains in overall skin health, smoothness, and evenness. These results suggest the Norse Organics skin protocol is effective in reducing breakouts and enhancing overall skin health, with larger-scale controlled studies recommended to validate and expand on these findings.


1. Introduction

Recent research consistently shows that poor facial skin health is linked to impaired quality of life, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and social withdrawal¹. Additionally, individuals with compromised facial skin health often experience impaired communication, stigmatization, and exacerbating feelings of isolation². The cyclical relationship between stress and skin deterioration further intensifies these challenges, as psychological distress amplifies physiological responses that worsen skin conditions.
Certain ingredients have been shown to benefit skin health. Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) oil is renowned for its rich profile of omega fatty acids, vitamins (notably C and E), and antioxidants, which contribute to its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and skin-barrier restoring properties³. Studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce redness, support tissue regeneration, and improve skin hydration, making it valuable for sensitive and blemish-prone skin⁴˒⁵.
Squalane, a stable derivative of squalene, is a highly effective emollient and antioxidant⁶˒⁷. It mimics the skin's natural oils, enhancing moisture retention and skin suppleness without clogging pores⁸. Squalane enhances skin smoothness and can help soothe irritation, making it suitable for daily use, particularly for individuals with sensitive or aging skin.
Pomegranate seed oil is rich in punicic acid and polyphenols, which exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects⁹. Evidence suggests that topical application can promote skin repair, reduce oxidative stress, and stimulate collagen production, thereby aiding in the management of acne and preventing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation¹⁰˒¹¹˒¹².
Tamanu oil is traditionally used for wound healing and scar reduction¹³. Its unique fatty acids and bioactive compounds have been shown to accelerate tissue repair, stimulate collagen synthesis, and exhibit antimicrobial activity, which collectively support its use in reducing acne scars and promoting overall skin regeneration¹⁴.
Oryza sativa (rice flour) is a gentle natural exfoliant containing antioxidants like ferulic acid and gamma-oryzanol¹⁵. Clinical and laboratory studies suggest that rice flour can help remove dead skin cells, brighten the complexion, and protect against oxidative damage, while its fine particles make it suitable for sensitive skin types¹⁶.
With this in mind, Norse Organics has developed a skin protocol including Pimple Stopper Day Balm, Pimple Stopper Night Balm, Pimple Scars Balm 2.0, and Scrub for Acne Prone Skin. These products are formulated with a number of the outlined ingredients, designed to reduce skin breakouts and improve skin quality. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Norse Organics skin protocol on reducing breakouts and improving overall skin health over a 60-day study duration.

 

2. Methods

2.1. Participants
A total of 35 male and female participants aged 18–45 were recruited for this study. All participants reported concerns with spots, blemishes, or pimples on the face and satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria outlined in the study protocol.
2.2. Study Design and Intervention Procedure
This was a virtual single-group clinical trial that lasted for 60 days. Consent forms describing the study process, instructions, evaluation methods, and bill of rights were provided to participants before study onboarding. Following the consent process, participants completed the Baseline questionnaire and took a Baseline photo. Participants were asked to use the Norse Organics skin protocol as follows: Pimple Stopper Day Balm — a small amount applied to the face every morning; Pimple Stopper Night Balm — a small amount applied to the face every night before bed; Pimple Scars Balm 2.0 — participants were directed to use the Pimple Stopper Night Balm first, then apply Pimple Scars Balm 2.0 on top every night before bed; and Scrub for Acne Prone Skin — participants were directed to use the product three times per week in the shower, adding three pinches of powder to the palm with dry hands, then mixing it with water and using this to scrub the face. Further questionnaires were completed at the end of Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30, and Day 60. Additional photos were provided by participants at the end of Day 60, which underwent expert grading by a dermatologist.
2.3. Expert Skin Grading
To perform expert skin grading, participants provided self-taken photos of their whole face and any areas of concern. A dermatologist then analyzed these images and determined whether there was an improvement from Baseline. The parameters analyzed covered acne, blemishes, overall skin quality, skin irritation, clarity, redness, texture, post-acne pigmentation, scarring, and evenness. These parameters were rated as either improved or not improved when compared to the Baseline photos. Not all parameters were relevant to each participant; those participants were removed from the analysis for the parameters that did not apply to them.
2.4. Data Analysis and Statistics
Data from the questionnaires were collected using a textual 5-point Likert scale for each question. The textual Likert data were transformed into numerical values ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 represented the worst outcome and 5 represented the best outcome. Data were checked for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test, then analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with Dunnett's multiple comparisons test. Statistical analyses were performed in GraphPad Prism 10.6, and the significance level was set at 0.05.
Expert skin grading for skin parameters was presented as the percentage of participants classified by the dermatologist as having improved, and was not statistically analyzed. For product-specific questions not evaluated at Baseline, results were presented as the percentage of subjects reporting each answer.
Included in the questionnaires was a quality check question to assess participant engagement. Participants who did not answer "Agree" or "Strongly Agree" to this question were excluded from all questionnaire analyses at that time point. One participant was excluded from the Day 3 questionnaire analyses.

 

3. Results

3.1. Impact of the Test Product on Reducing Breakouts and Improving Overall Skin Health
The effect of the Norse Organics skin protocol on reducing breakouts and improving overall skin health across 10 acne and skin health parameters was evaluated at Baseline, Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30, and Day 60.
By Day 1, none of the 10 parameters were significantly improved from Baseline. However, by Day 3, 1 out of 10 parameters showed significant improvement — satisfaction with skin evenness, which improved by 26.27% compared to Baseline.
By Day 7, 6 out of 10 parameters were significantly improved from Baseline, including the appearance of blemishes, frequency of pimples and breakouts, skin smoothness, skin evenness, severity of pimples and breakouts, and overall confidence. The most notable improvement was in the perception of skin evenness, which increased 42.99% from Baseline.
By Day 30, 7 out of 10 parameters were significantly improved, adding the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads to the previously improved parameters. The most notable improvement was skin evenness, which increased 53.27% compared to Baseline.
By Day 60, this increased to 9 out of 10 parameters, additionally encompassing satisfaction with skin hydration and overall skin health. The frequency of pimples and breakouts showed the most notable improvement at this stage, with a 58.73% increase in reports of reduced frequency compared to Baseline.
3.2. Evaluation of Expert Skin Grading
Photos of the skin were provided by participants at Baseline and Day 60. A dermatologist reviewed and graded these photos across ten parameters: acne, blemishes, overall skin quality, skin irritation, clarity, redness, texture, post-acne pigmentation, scarring, and evenness, classifying each participant's skin as having improved or not improved from Baseline by Day 60. The number of participants for whom each parameter was relevant and assessed is reported in Table 2.
By Day 60, 80.00% of participants showed improvement in acne, 68.97% in blemishes, 73.33% in overall skin quality, 68.42% in skin irritation, 60.00% in skin clarity, 47.62% in redness, 73.33% in texture, 45.83% in post-acne pigmentation, 22.22% in scarring, and 73.33% in skin evenness.
3.3. Participants' Perception of the Test Product and Its Impact on Reducing Breakouts and Improving Overall Skin Health
Participants responded to product evaluation questions at the end of Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30, and Day 60 using a "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" scale. The "strongly agree" and "agree" responses were combined into a single "combined agree" result to evaluate overall participant perception.
On Day 1, 2 of 4 parameters showed ≥50% participant agreement, including feeling more hydrated (64.29%) and smoother skin (60.71%) since using the products. By Day 3, all 4 of 4 parameters reached ≥50% agreement, with participants also agreeing their skin felt more even (50.00%) and healthier (63.33%), results which were maintained through Day 7.
On Day 7, 9 of 10 parameters showed ≥50% agreement, with participants additionally reporting fewer pimples and breakouts (68.75%), less severe pimples and breakouts (68.75%), a decrease in blackheads and whiteheads (59.38%), greater confidence (59.38%), and feeling more attractive (50.00%). These results were maintained through Day 30.
On Day 30, all 10 of 10 parameters reached ≥50% agreement, with participants additionally noting fewer blemish scars (68.75%), and these results were maintained through Day 60. By Day 60, 12 out of 12 parameters showed ≥50% agreement, including that participants would like to continue using the products (76.67%) and would recommend them to family and friends (73.33%).

Table 1. Changes in Facial Acne and Skin Health Parameters
% Change indicates a change in mean values from the Baseline. An increase in score indicates an improvement in the acne and skin health parameter. This table provides the numerical data presented in Figure 1. Green cells highlight statistically significant outcomes (P<0.05).

Table 2. Changes in Facial Acne and Skin Health Parameters as Determined by Expert Skin Grading
The table shows the percentage of participants that the dermatologist classified as having improved from the Baseline at Day 60. The total number of participants assessed for each parameter is indicated.

Table 3. Participant Perceptions of the Impact of the Product on Acne and Skin Health
Blue cells highlight a combined positive response of ≥50%.

 

Figure 1. Visual Representation of Acne Appearance Data
Blue cells highlight a combined positive response of ≥50%.

Figure 2. Visual Representation of Skin Health and Perceived Confidence Data
Data is graphed as group means, and standard deviations are shown. An increase in score indicates an improvement. ns = P>0.05, * = P<0.05, ** = P<0.01, *** = P<0.001, **** = P<0.0001.

Appendix A: Data Interpretation
On Day 60, the dermatologist rated:

• 80.00% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in acne
• 73.33% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in texture
• 73.33% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in skin evenness
• 73.33% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in overall skin quality
• 68.97% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in blemishes
• 68.42% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in skin irritation
• 60.00% of participants showed an improvement from Baseline in skin clarity

On Day 1:

• 64.29% of participants agreed that their skin felt more hydrated since using the test products
• 60.71% of participants agreed that their skin felt smoother since using the test products

On Day 3, the test product significantly improved:

• Skin evenness

On Day 3:

• 76.67% of participants agreed that their skin felt more hydrated since using the test products
• 73.33% of participants agreed that their skin felt smoother since using the test products
• 63.33% of participants agreed that their skin felt healthier since using the test products
• 50.00% of participants agreed that their skin felt more even since using the test products

On Day 7, the test product significantly improved:

• The appearance of blemish scars
• The frequency of pimples and breakouts
• Skin smoothness
• Overall confidence
• Skin evenness

On Day 7:

• 84.38% of participants agreed that their skin felt more hydrated since using the test products
• 75.00% of participants agreed that their skin felt smoother since using the test products
• 50.00% of participants agreed that their skin felt more even since using the test products
• 59.38% of participants agreed that their skin felt healthier since using the test products
• 68.75% of participants agreed that they experienced fewer pimples and breakouts since using the test products
• 68.75% of participants agreed that they experienced less severe pimples and breakouts since using the test products
• 59.38% of participants agreed that they noticed a decrease in blackheads and whiteheads since using the test products
• 59.38% of participants agreed that they felt more confident since using the test products
• 50.00% of participants agreed that they felt more attractive since using the test products

On Day 30, the test product significantly improved:

• The severity of pimples and breakouts
• The appearance of blemish scars
• The appearance of blackheads and whiteheads
• The frequency of pimples and breakouts
• Skin smoothness
• Overall confidence
• Skin evenness

On Day 30:

• 84.38% of participants agreed that their skin felt more hydrated since using the test products
• 75.00% of participants agreed that their skin felt smoother since using the test products
• 50.00% of participants agreed that their skin felt more even since using the test products
• 59.38% of participants agreed that their skin felt healthier since using the test products
• 68.75% of participants agreed that they experienced fewer pimples and breakouts since using the test products
• 68.75% of participants agreed that they experienced less severe pimples and breakouts since using the test products
• 68.75% of participants agreed that they noticed fewer blemish scars on their face since using the test products
• 59.38% of participants agreed that they noticed a decrease in blackheads and whiteheads since using the test products
• 59.38% of participants agreed that they felt more confident since using the test products
• 50.00% of participants agreed that they felt more attractive since using the test products

On Day 60, the test product significantly improved:

• The severity of pimples and breakouts
• The appearance of blemish scars
• The appearance of blackheads and whiteheads
• The frequency of pimples and breakouts
• Skin health
• Overall confidence

On Day 60:

• 80.00% of participants agreed that their skin felt more hydrated since using the test products
• 76.67% of participants agreed that their skin felt smoother since using the test products
• 73.33% of participants agreed that their skin felt more even since using the test products
• 66.67% of participants agreed that their skin felt healthier since using the test products
• 66.67% of participants agreed that they experienced fewer pimples and breakouts since using the test products
• 70.00% of participants agreed that they experienced less severe pimples and breakouts since using the test products
• 66.67% of participants agreed that they noticed fewer blemish scars on their face since using the test products
• 66.67% of participants agreed that they noticed a decrease in blackheads and whiteheads since using the test products
• 60.00% of participants agreed that they felt more confident since using the test products
• 56.67% of participants agreed that they felt more attractive since using the test products
• 76.67% of participants agreed that they would continue to use the test products
• 73.33% of participants would recommend the test products to family and friends

4. Discussion

This study evaluated the efficacy of the Norse Organics skin protocol in addressing symptoms associated with breakouts and skin health over 60 days, using a combination of participant-reported outcomes, expert dermatologist grading, and standardized skin parameter assessments.
Findings from the skin parameter evaluations demonstrated steady and significant improvements across a broad range of measures. Improvements were observed as early as Day 3, with the most notable early effect being enhanced skin evenness. By Day 60, 9 of the 10 parameters had significantly improved, including the severity and frequency of pimples and breakouts, the appearance of blemish scars, blackheads, and whiteheads, skin hydration, health, smoothness, evenness, and overall confidence. These outcomes suggest that the Norse Organics skin protocol offers a progressive, cumulative benefit for breakouts and skin health.
Expert skin grading further supported these improvements, with over 60% of participants showing enhanced acne, blemishes, overall skin quality, skin irritation, clarity, texture, and evenness by the end of the study. While changes in redness, post-acne pigmentation, and scarring were more modest, the improvements observed suggest a meaningful enhancement in skin quality.
Participant perception data aligned closely with these findings, with early improvements in hydration, smoothness, evenness, and skin health reported by Day 3. By Day 60, most participants agreed that their skin had fewer pimples, breakouts, blemish scars, blackheads, and whiteheads, and that they felt more confident. These self-reported outcomes highlight the visible changes and the experiential benefits users perceived throughout the trial.
Overall, the results support the potential of the Norse Organics skin protocol as an effective solution for reducing breakouts and improving skin health. The products were well-tolerated and showed both subjective and objective benefits.

 

5. Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the efficacy of the Norse Organics skin protocol — including Pimple Stopper Day Balm, Pimple Stopper Night Balm, Pimple Scars Balm 2.0, and Scrub for Acne Prone Skin — in reducing breakouts and improving facial skin health, addressing adult acne and skin concerns over 60 days. Significant improvements were seen in key areas such as the severity and frequency of pimples and breakouts, the appearance of blemish scars, blackheads, and whiteheads, skin hydration, health, smoothness, evenness, and overall confidence. Expert skin grading supported these outcomes, particularly in the appearance of acne, blemishes, overall skin quality, skin irritation, skin clarity, skin texture, and skin evenness. Participant feedback reflected strong satisfaction with the products, including perceived improvements in acne symptoms and overall skin health. These results suggest that the Norse Organics skin protocol is an effective, well-tolerated skincare solution for individuals seeking to manage acne and skin health concerns. Further research with a larger population could help validate and expand upon these promising findings.

 

6. References

1. Ozcan Y, Sungur MA, Ozcan BY, et al. The Psychosocial Impact of Chronic Facial Dermatoses in Adults. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2023;13(1):e2023029. doi:10.5826/dpc.1301a29
2. Nicoletti G, Sasso A, Malovini A, et al. The role of rehabilitative camouflage after cervicofacial reconstructive surgery: a preliminary study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:43-49. doi:10.2147/CCID.S55296
3. Zielińska A, Nowak I. Abundance of active ingredients in sea-buckthorn oil. Lipids Health Dis. 2017;16:95. doi:10.1186/s12944-017-0469-7
4. Pundir S, Garg P, Dviwedi A, et al. Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and dermatological effects of Hippophae rhamnoides L.: A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021;266:113434. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113434
5. Michalak M, Pilawa B, Ramos P, et al. Effect of UV Radiation and Temperature on Radical Scavenging Activity of Hippophaë rhamnoides L. and Vaccinium oxycoccos L. Fruit Extracts. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(18):9810. doi:10.3390/ijms25189810
6. Pandarus V, Ciriminna R, Béland F, et al. Solvent-Free Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Squalene to Squalane. ACS Omega. 2017;2(7):3989-3996. doi:10.1021/acsomega.7b00625
7. Wolosik K, Chalecka M, Gasiewska G, et al. Squalane as a Promising Agent Protecting UV-Induced Inhibition of Collagen Biosynthesis and Wound Healing in Human Dermal Fibroblast. Molecules. 2025;30(9):1964. doi:10.3390/molecules30091964
8. Oliveira ALS, Valente D, Moreira HR, et al. Effect of squalane-based emulsion on polyphenols skin penetration: Ex vivo skin study. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2022;218:112779. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112779
9. Schubert SY, Lansky EP, Neeman I. Antioxidant and eicosanoid enzyme inhibition properties of pomegranate seed oil and fermented juice flavonoids. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;66(1):11-17. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00222-0
10. Aslam MN, Lansky EP, Varani J. Pomegranate as a cosmeceutical source: pomegranate fractions promote proliferation and procollagen synthesis and inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in human skin cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103(3):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.027
11. Cordiano R, Gammeri L, Di Salvo E, et al. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Extract Effects on Inflammaging. Molecules. 2024;29(17):4174. doi:10.3390/molecules29174174
12. Gibson R, Krug L, Ramsey D, et al. Beneficial Effects of Multi-Micronutrient Supplementation with Collagen Peptides on Global Wrinkles, Skin Elasticity, and Appearance in Healthy Female Subjects. Dermatology and Therapy. 2024;14(6):1599-1614. doi:10.1007/s13555-024-01184-2
13. Krishnappa M, Abraham S, Furtado SC, et al. An Integrated Computational and Experimental Approach to Formulate Tamanu Oil Bigels as Anti-Scarring Agent. Pharmaceuticals. 2024;17(1):102. doi:10.3390/ph17010102
14. Pribowo A, Girish J, Gustiananda M, et al. Potential of Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) Oil for Atopic Dermatitis Treatment. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:6332867. doi:10.1155/2021/6332867
15. Andriani R, Subroto T, Ishmayana S, et al. Enhancement Methods of Antioxidant Capacity in Rice Bran: A Review. Foods. 2022;11(19):2994. doi:10.3390/foods11192994
16. Zamil DH, Khan RM, Braun TL, et al. Dermatological uses of rice products: Trend or true? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(11):6056-6060. doi:10.1111/jocd.15099