Avène Cleanance Comedoned Peeling for acne-prone skin
Glycolic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Zinc GluconateAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other products 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 for your acne and blemishes due to the presence of glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which aid in smoothing texture and providing general skincare benefits for your combination skin.
- While the keratolytic action of these acids is beneficial, the formula lacks sufficient humectants to provide optimal hydration for your skin type.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it does not contain any prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant PM once a week to start, and gradually increase if your combination skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your clear skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer step. This ensures the treatment targets blemishes effectively.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply the exfoliant on clean, dry skin to help control breakouts safely. Since your skin is not sensitive, this dry application method ensures good product absorption.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this exfoliant with other strong acids in the same routine.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsThis spot treatment is highly effective for reducing active breakouts and improving skin texture on acne-prone skin, with many users reporting rapid results. While generally well-tolerated, a strong alcohol scent is frequently noted, and some users experience mild irritation or find the usage instructions confusing. The product is praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture.
Highlights
Rapid effectiveness Mostly Mentioned
- “results in just a few days”
- “pimples disintegrated overnight”
- “significantly improves blemishes in one day”
- “calmed my blemishes immediately”
Excellent texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs super fast”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “lightweight texture”
- “no sticky after-feel”
- “penetrates instantly”
Strong alcohol scent Often Mentioned
- “powerful alcohol smell”
- “smells like hand sanitizer”
- “scent is strong”
- “lingering scent”
Good tolerance Sometimes Noted
- “no skin irritation”
- “did not clog pores”
- “non-aggressive”
- “feels gentle on skin”
Smoother skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “smoother skin texture”
- “keeps pimples at bay”
- “skin looks clearer”
- “reduces comedones”
Confusing usage limits Sometimes Noted
- “instructions are confusing”
- “maximum duration of 15 days?”
- “unsure if safe for long term”
- “limit use to 15 days”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “itching was persistent”
- “broke me out”
- “stinging sensation”
- “skin felt reactive”
Price vs. size Rarely Noted
- “small price to pay”
- “expensive for size”
- “tube is small”
Sources: lovi.care, cocooncenter.com, perfumesclub.co.uk, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Avène Cleanance Comedamed work for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant treatment works moderately well for your acne-prone skin, smoothing texture while remaining gentle. However, it lacks enough hydrating ingredients to keep this skin type fully balanced. An exfoliant for acne-prone skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA, along with antioxidants to control oil without causing dryness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid and salicylic acid make this exfoliant a fit by smoothing texture and helping with blemishes on acne-prone skin. However, this skin needs products with ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, zinc PCA, antioxidants, and plenty of hydrating agents to balance oil and moisture without irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Glycolic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and breakouts. It also helps fade dark spots left behind by acne and controls skin oiliness, with very few side effects when used properly.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Dermatologic Surgery, 2014
What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine. For acne-prone skin, an exfoliant of this type needs extra hydrating ingredients to keep the skin comfortable and balanced while smoothing texture.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to use this exfoliant on nights when you do not use retinol to help prevent excessive dryness and irritation on acne-prone skin. Applying both potent ingredients at the same time may cause too much peeling, so alternating nights or keeping them in separate routines is safer.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well, you can carefully use it more often. To truly fit acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs plenty of hydrating ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your acne-prone skin, and potential irritation is low. However, because it lacks sufficient hydrators, a product of this type needs added soothing ingredients and moisture-binding components to keep this skin soft and balanced.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A 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, 2020Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Twice 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, 2024Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Zinc Gluconate, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid
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
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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