Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin disease characterised by the inflammation of the pilosebaceous glands. This condition is estimated to affect 10% of the global population and ranks as the eighth most prevalent disease in the world. Several studies have shown that it has a detrimental impact on a person’s quality of life, self-esteem, and mood (Mohiuddin, 2019, Mohiuddin, 2019). According to the Indonesian Cosmetics Dermatology Study, women aged 14–17 years have an acne vulgaris prevalence of 83–85%, with a 95–100% rate being recorded among men aged 16–19 years (Tan and Firmansyah, 2021). The pathogenesis of this condition comprises four key concepts, including sebum production, follicular skin, inflammatory mediators, and microbial colonisation (Febyan and Wetarini, 2020). Cutibacterium acnes(C. acnes), Staphylococcus epidermidis(S. epidermidis), and Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) have been identified as the potential target sites for anti-acne drugs (Blaskovich et al., 2019). In addressing acne concerns, nature offers potential solutions often present in cosmetic products. Indonesia, renowned for its biodiversity, has several medicinal plants, including Kayu Secang (Caesalpina sappan), Turi (Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir.), and Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica L.). These plants are valued for their antibacterial properties and are used for the treatment of acne (Sari et al., 2022, Wardani et al., 2022, Sa’diah et al., 2013). Bawang Dayak is a traditional medicine plant used by the local community in Central Kalimantan, which is often used to treat skin infections. Furthermore, its bulb comprises active compounds with antibacterial properties, including alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, and tannins (Ieyama et al., 2011; Galingging, 2009). A previous study reported the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins within the ethanol extract of Bawang Dayak bulb (Novaryatiin and Ardhany, 2019). The extract has also been shown to possess antibacterial activity against acne-causing bacteria, such as C. acnes, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus (Novaryatiin and Ardhany, 2019). In a previous study, the ethanol extract in a cream formula inhibited C. acnes (Ardhany and Novaryatiin, 2019). However, due to the absence of specific cream formulations, there has been limited inhibition and cream predominantly retains the smell of Bawang Dayak. In this study, some ingredients known for their antibacterial properties were added to the cream formulation, including peppermint water, cinnamon extract, and honey. These three compounds were added to improve the cream’s antibacterial activity and aroma. Peppermint extracts or essential oils are widely used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries due to their fragrance and flavouring properties (Demiborlat, 2019). Peppermint has been reported to have significant antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria due to the presence of menthol and menthone as the main chemical constituents (Reddy et al., 2019). The peppermint extract also contained phenolic acid esters and flavonoid derivatives (Eftekhari et al., 2021). The combined use of Cinnamon bark ethanolic extract and honey showed potential antimicrobial effects against acne-causing bacteria (Julianti et al., 2017). Cinnamon contains a wide variety of metabolites, including cinnamaldehyde, cinnamate, eugenol, and essential oils, which exhibit antimicrobial properties (Yeong-Jin et al., 2023). Most of the compounds in the bark of the cinnamon plant are cinnamaldehyde, which has an antibacterial effect (Lewa and Gugule, 2022). Meanwhile, flavonoids and polyphenols are the two main bioactive molecules present in honey (Samarghandian et al., 2017). The presence of a high content of flavonoids could contribute to the antimicrobial activity of the honey (Mendoza-Bacilio et al., 2022). Due to the pleasing flavour and texture, these materials present promising prospects for developing a topical formulation that specifically targets acne-causing bacteria (Julianti et al., 2017). Therefore, this study aims to determine the physical characterisation and the antibacterial activity of two modified formulations of Bawang Dayak anti-acne cream.