It was said in Krishna traditions that they often used basil in their celebrations.  They wore garlands around their necks made purely of basil, and it was meant to increase faith and detachment from the unnecessary or inconsequential elements of life in general.  Likewise, in Ayurvedic medicine, basil has been used to effectively relieve stomach, kidney, and blood problems in general.  However, in terms of modern science, basil has been used as an antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, and antispasmodic at the same time.  It stimulates the immune system, kills off bacteria that may be harming the skin, and otherwise nourishes the skin.  Basil has been known for all its properties, and when mixed into a mask, a scrub, a wash, really anything, it can provide all these benefits.  Generally, it is used only in at home treatments, and frankly that makes it easier anyway to some degree.  So you can make your own treatments at home and make your choices in general about how you are going to treat your skin and how you are going to take care of it properly.  That being said, it can easily be combined with other ingredients as well depending on your aim and your case of acne in general.