Paula's Choice Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment for oily acne-prone skin
Benzoyl Peroxide
Salicylic Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Allantoin
BisabololAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 treatment for your acne-prone skin as benzoyl peroxide effectively reduces acne lesions and blemishes, while bisabolol and allantoin soothe irritation.
- This formula is highly suitable for your oily skin, with benzoyl peroxide providing antimicrobial action and bisabolol offering anti-inflammatory benefits.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like bisabolol and allantoin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis benzoyl peroxide treatment is highly effective at clearing acne, including cystic and hormonal types, with many users experiencing rapid results and a pleasant matte finish. A notable number of reviews mention that the product can be drying, necessitating the use of a good moisturizer to avoid flaking.
Highlights
Effective acne clearance Often Mentioned
- “Clears cystic acne, hormonal breakouts, back acne, prevents future zits.”
Fast acting Often Mentioned
- “Results seen overnight, significant clearing in weeks, "magic" speed.”
Drying and flaking Often Mentioned
- “Causes dry patches, peeling skin, requires heavy moisturizing.”
Gentle formulation Sometimes Noted
- “Less irritating than drugstore BP, lightweight texture, matte finish, non-greasy.”
Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
- “A little goes a long way, tube lasts months, worth the investment.”
Bleaches fabrics Sometimes Noted
- “Bleaches towels, pillowcases, clothes, hair.”
Expensive price Sometimes Noted
- “Pricey compared to drugstore alternatives, small tube size.”
Fades redness Rarely Noted
- “Helps calm inflammation, reduces redness, improves skin tone.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Leaky cap, spills easily, difficult to dispense small amounts.”
Sensitizing and stinging Rarely Noted
- “Burns upon application, stings sensitive skin, causes redness.”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, sephora.ph, amazon.com, influenster.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Paula's Choice Daily Skin Clearing Treatment work for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, using benzoyl peroxide to reduce blemishes while bisabolol and allantoin calm irritation. Because other products fit this skin type better, an ideal choice for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or vitamin C to control excess oil, hydrate, and clear breakouts without irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment fits your oily acne-prone skin because benzoyl peroxide helps reduce acne blemishes, while bisabolol and allantoin soothe irritation. To get an even better fit for this skin type, a product needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C to help control excess oil and keep skin comfortable and healthy.
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps improve oily, acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and noninflamed breakouts. It works effectively to clear pimples, though it may occasionally cause skin dryness or irritation for some users.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin needs a well-rounded routine featuring acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide alongside calming plant extracts.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying them on alternate nights or using retinol in the evening and this treatment at different times to help lower the risk of skin irritation. When combining them in a routine, a product of this type works best for oily acne-prone skin when it pairs benzoyl peroxide with soothing ingredients like bisabolol and allantoin to keep the skin calm.
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment works well in the evening for your oily acne-prone skin, starting just once a week as part of an exfoliating routine. You may carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores, but reviewers frequently complain about drying and flaking that can lead to irritation on oily acne-prone skin. While benzoyl peroxide effectively reduces blemishes, a product of this type needs extra soothing components and moisture protection to keep this skin soft and calm without causing flakes.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Preoperative treatment with benzoyl peroxide significantly decreases the bacterial skin load of Cutibacterium acnes in patients undergoing elective shoulder surgery from skin incision until wound closure compared to preparation with soap.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023Daily application of adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel reduced and prevented atrophic acne scar formation, achieving a total scar count change of -15.5% versus +14.4% for vehicle over 24 weeks in 67 subjects with moderate or severe facial acne.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Benzoyl Peroxide, Propylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Laureth-4, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
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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
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