Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm for acne-prone skin
Tri-Peel Acid
Shea Butter
Coconut Oil
Vitamin E
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation and cleansing for your combination skin, with Tri-Peel Acid effectively addressing pore clarity and glycerin providing essential hydration. While beneficial for combination skin, the formula's general cleansing and hydration from ingredients like coconut oil are not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
- It provides excellent makeup removal, supporting overall skin hygiene.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away dirt and oil. Start 3x/week and work up to daily use if your combination skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before cleansing and using the rest of your skin products. This ensures all makeup and impurities are fully washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent irritation.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to easily dissolve makeup and clear out blemishes. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
- Do a patch test before first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid the delicate eye area while applying.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleansing balm is highly effective at melting away waterproof makeup and clearing congested pores, leaving skin feeling cleansed and balanced without stripping moisture. While most users appreciate its texture and gentleness around the eyes, a moderate number find the medicinal scent off-putting, and a low number report experiencing breakouts or eye blurriness.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves stubborn makeup”
- “removes heavy foundation”
- “cleanses sunscreen”
- “effortless removal”
Non-stripping finish Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “feels hydrated”
- “no tight feeling”
- “balances oil production”
- “refreshing finish”
Pore clarifying Often Mentioned
- “clears congested pores”
- “reduces blackheads”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “minimizes pore appearance”
- “removes sebaceous filaments”
Gentle on eyes Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't sting eyes”
- “removes eye makeup gently”
- “no irritation”
- “safe for lashes”
- “non-burning”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “sherbet-like consistency”
- “melts into oil”
- “lightweight feel”
- “emulsifies easily”
- “glides smoothly”
Eye blurriness Sometimes Noted
- “causes foggy vision”
- “cloudy eyes”
- “film on eyes”
- “blurs vision temporarily”
- “oil in eyes”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “medicinal tea tree smell”
- “chemical odor”
- “overpowering fragrance”
- “unpleasant scent”
- “smells like herbs”
Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
- “expensive for size”
- “runs out quickly”
- “small jar”
- “pricey daily cleanser”
- “less product than expected”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “tiny red bumps”
- “cystic acne”
- “clogged pores”
- “skin irritation”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, ulta.com, sokoglam.com, hikoco.co.nz, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Banila Co Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm work for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover works for your acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because its general cleansing and hydration are not specifically targeted for breakouts. A cleanser of this type needs nourishing oils and extracts that soothe blemishes and hyaluronic acid to hydrate without heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Tri-Peel Acid and glycerin make this cleanser a decent fit by clearing pores and keeping skin hydrated, but a product for acne-prone skin needs nourishing oils, plant extracts, and hyaluronic acid that soothe blemishes without causing breakouts.
What does Tri-Peel Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Tri-Peel Acid helps clear pores and smooth out rough texture on acne-prone skin. It gently lifts away dead skin cells to keep breakouts at bay while leaving the skin feeling soft and calm.
What does Shea Butter do for acne-prone skin?
Shea butter can feel quite heavy on acne-prone skin, as it is very rich and may clog pores and lead to breakouts. If you have acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that hydrate without trapping oil.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and weekly for your weekly routine. It is safe for your acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation. However, this type of product needs ingredients specifically targeted for acne, blemishes, and breakouts to work best for your skin.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and your retinol treatment. It helps clear pores and safely remove makeup without irritation, though acne-prone skin often does better with products specifically targeting breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm works for your acne-prone skin as a makeup remover in your evening routine. It has a safe profile that is unlikely to cause irritation, but its general cleansing ingredients are not specifically targeted for breakouts. Acne-prone skin needs a dedicated makeup remover with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and gentle exfoliants to help clear pores.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is safe for your acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause irritation. However, because its general cleansing and hydration are not specifically targeted for breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with ingredients that directly target blemishes and pores.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other pre-cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Tri-Peel Acid, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Bht, Tocopherol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.