REN Clean Skincare ClearCalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel for oily acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Willow Bark Extract
Sandalwood Oil
Thymus Vulgaris Oil Leaf
Chlorella Vulgaris ExtractHigh
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even 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 excellent treatment for your acne-prone and oily skin due to salicylic acid and lactic acid, which exfoliate and reduce acne lesions while Salix Nigra Bark Extract helps regulate sebum.
- Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract and Chlorella Vulgaris Extract provide additional soothing and antioxidant benefits, complementing the primary acne-fighting ingredients.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation and the inclusion of soothing agents like Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract and Salix Nigra Bark Extract.
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
★4.1Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this treatment is praised for its gentle, non-drying formula that effectively reduces redness and inflammation without causing flaking. It is excellent for sensitive skin and preventing new breakouts, though some users find it works too slowly on active blemishes compared to stronger alternatives.
Highlights
Non-drying & gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels calmer”
- “doesn't flake or clump”
- “no irritation or sensitivity”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “redness reduced”
- “soothed skin”
- “calms throbbing pimples”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “cooling sensation”
- “serum-like texture”
- “absorbs fast”
Works under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “makeup does not flake”
- “seamless under makeup”
- “invisible on skin”
Slow or weak results Sometimes Noted
- “hardly doing anything”
- “didn't fully clear spots”
- “spots appeared reduced but not gone”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “quite expensive”
- “small tube for the price”
- “price point is stark”
Medicinal scent Rarely Noted
- “medical scent”
- “smells like chemicals”
- “herbal smell”
Rare irritation Rarely Noted
- “burning sensation”
- “increased redness”
- “tingled upon application”
Sources: lovi.care, cultbeauty.co.uk, influenster.com, lovely.com, reddit.com, averysweetblog.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes REN ClearCalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This gel is a great fit because salicylic acid and lactic acid clear blemishes and help keep your skin smooth, while willow bark extract helps control excess oil. Pinus pinaster bark extract and chlorella vulgaris extract help calm your skin and provide antioxidants without causing irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and lactic acid make this treatment a great fit by clearing pores and reducing breakouts, while willow bark extract helps keep excess oil under control. Soothing ingredients like pine bark extract and chlorella extract also help keep oily skin calm and comfortable.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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
What does Willow Bark Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Willow bark extract helps oily, acne-prone skin by reducing excess oil, calming inflammation, and clearing breakouts with minimal irritation. This ingredient helps smooth texture and keeps pores clear, making it a well-tolerated choice for daily blemish care.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid extra sun sensitivity.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
This treatment is safe to use with retinol on oily acne-prone skin, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or separate them into your morning and evening routines to avoid irritation. Salicylic acid and lactic acid help clear acne and smooth the skin, while added soothing ingredients help keep the skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012
How often should I use this treatment?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Salicylic acid and lactic acid help clear acne while staying safe and unlikely to irritate oily skin.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it uses salicylic acid and willow bark extract to clear blemishes and keep oil balanced without clogging pores. It has a high safety profile, meaning it is unlikely to cause irritation or extra breakouts.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (farnesol) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2020Twice 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, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Pretreatment with pycnogenol significantly inhibited interferon-gamma-induced adherence of T cells and expression of ICAM-1 in human HaCaT keratinocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner by suppressing Stat1 activation.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2000A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Cryotherapy 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 botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Topical East Indian sandalwood oil applied twice daily resulted in complete resolution of molluscum contagiosum lesions in 90% of subjects within twelve weeks without side effects.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2018A 3D-printed sodium alginate-gelatin-Santalum album oil hydrogel scaffold demonstrated antibacterial activity, improved fibroblast viability, and enhanced full-thickness wound healing with reduced scar formation in rat models compared to control groups.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025Melasolv application twice daily for 12 weeks significantly reduced the melanin index and improved the size and color intensity of pigmented spots in Southeast Asian women compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Gel-phosphatidylcholine-thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers increased skin hydration, decreased water loss, and reduced skin sebum in healthy volunteers compared to baseline.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024Thyme oil encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles and formulated as a hydrogel demonstrates excellent antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties suitable for treating inflammatory skin disorders such as acne vulgaris.
Gels, 2024Lipid extracts of Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis protect Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts against UVA-induced oxidative stress and 2-propanol-induced IL-6 expression in vitro.
Food Science and Technology International = Ciencia Y Tecnologia de Los Alimentos Internacional, 2026Oral and topical administration of ROQUETTE Chlorella sp. at higher doses significantly reduced skin inflammation scores and improved the healing process and duration of skin wounds in mice compared to untreated models.
Anti-inflammatory & Anti-allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2014Resilient factor (RF, an aqueous extract fraction of Chlorella) suppressed PMA- and UVB-induced MMP1 production, protein, and gene expression, prevented UVB-suppressed elastin protein, and increased pro-collagen mRNA expression in human skin fibroblasts compared to untreated controls.
European Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Ingredients
Water, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, Salix Nigra Bark Extract Willow Bark Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Benzoate, Xylitol, Propanediol, Sandalwood Oil Wood, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glucose, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Thymus Vulgaris Oil Leaf, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Surfactin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Farnesol
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
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