Clean & Clear deep action cream cleanser for oily skin
Cetyl Alcohol
Stearyl Alcohol
Low
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 cleansing for your oily skin, with cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol aiding impurity removal, but these ingredients also pose a risk of clogging pores and worsening oiliness.
- While menthol provides a cooling sensation that can temporarily reduce the appearance of oiliness, the overall formulation is not optimized to address significant oily shine.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for its creamy texture and refreshing, cooling sensation that leaves skin feeling thoroughly cleansed and soft without excessive stripping. It is particularly effective for those managing acne-prone or combination skin, though individuals with very sensitive skin may find the menthol-induced tingle or fragrance unsuitable.
Highlights
Cooling sensation Mostly Mentioned
- “Love the cooling tingle”
- “Feels like an arctic breeze”
- “Refreshing minty feel”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “Great value for money”
- “Lasts for months”
- “Very affordable”
Deep cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Cleans deep into pores”
- “Removes oil and dirt”
- “Face feels super clean”
Creamy texture Sometimes Noted
- “Soft and creamy”
- “Feels like butter”
- “Not harsh on skin”
Potential dryness Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves face feeling dry”
- “A bit too drying”
- “Need moisturizer after”
Sensitive skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Too harsh for sensitive skin”
- “Caused some irritation”
- “Not for sensitive types”
Difficult to rinse Rarely Noted
- “Hard to wash off”
- “Leaves a slight residue”
- “Doesn't rinse clean”
Unwanted scent Rarely Noted
- “Fragrance is unnecessary”
- “Smell isn't the same”
- “Not a fan of the scent”
Sources: lovi.care, cleanandclear.com, walmart.com, qfc.com, reviewstream.com, shopsavvy.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser a weak match for oily skin?
Clean & Clear deep action cream cleanser is a weak match for your oily skin because cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol can clog pores and make your oiliness worse, while the formula is not designed to handle significant oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs to use ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to manage oily shine and support skin health, or salicylic acid and probiotics to target oiliness without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?
Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are the ingredients that make this cleanser a weak match for your oily skin because they can clog pores and make oiliness worse. Oily skin needs a cleanser with ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, and probiotics to manage shine and support skin health without irritation.
What does Water do for oily skin?
Water helps keep oily skin hydrated without adding grease or clogging pores. Keeping oily skin properly hydrated may also help balance oil production and reduce unwanted shine.
What does Cetyl Alcohol do for oily skin?
Cetyl alcohol helps keep oily skin feeling soft and smooth without clogging your pores. It also supports your skin barrier to help lock in lasting moisture.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes first in your morning routine and second in your evening routine after a makeup remover. Oily skin needs a cleanser that removes impurities without ingredients like cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol that may clog pores and worsen oiliness.
Can I use this cleanser with salicylic acid, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as salicylic acid by washing your face with the cleanser first and applying your salicylic acid treatment afterward. This order helps clear impurities while allowing the treatment to absorb properly, though oily skin of this type needs a lightweight, oil-free formula with gentle ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help control shine without clogging pores.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser morning and evening as part of your daily routine, though it may clog pores and worsen oiliness on oily skin. Oily skin needs a cleanser with lighter ingredients that deeply clear impurities without the risk of blocking pores.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, this cleanser may clog pores and worsen oiliness because cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol pose a risk of blocking pores. An oily skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients that clear out impurities without blocking pores.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be too harsh for the very thin skin around your eyes and is not optimized for broader body areas. Cleansers for oily skin need lightweight, soap-free ingredients that clear away impurities without clogging pores or causing irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A soap-free cleansing lotion containing cetyl alcohol and sodium cocoyl apple amino acids reduced skin surface impurities and improved skin hydration, barrier function, and skin tone in 27 healthy adult subjects over 30 days.
Cureus, 2025
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A 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, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Menthol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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.