Background Acne vulgaris is considered one of the most prevalent skin disorders that affect mainly young adults who usually need a safe, affordable and effective treatment options that can manage their condition for a long time with minimum side effects. The aim of this work was to clinically test the efficacy of using some herbal plants after testing its cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory ability in controlling acne vulgaris. Methods This multistep study started by choosing some essential oils that waere previously classified as anti-inflammatory agents, we analysed their chemical components and tested them for cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effect on row cells and human fibroblasts to choose the best ones to formulate a cleanser and gel that were tested on seven patients of acne vulgaris,