Pond's Clarant B3 Dark Spot Correcting Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Ascorbic Acid
Glycerin
Stearic Acid
Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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 suitability for your oily skin as niacinamide provides some seboregulation, while sodium ascorbyl phosphate offers antioxidant benefits and helps even skin tone. These ingredients offer supportive benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, but are not the primary treatment for these concerns.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, lacking harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- The product provides general hydration and cleansing benefits, but lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control and direct treatment of acne.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with normal to dry skin frequently praise this cream for its ability to deeply moisturize and gradually fade hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and sun spots over 2-4 weeks. While many report a more even and glowing complexion, results vary for those with oily skin or severe discoloration, with some experiencing breakouts or finding the formula too heavy.
Highlights
Deeply moisturizing Mostly Mentioned
- “moisturize like nothing I've used”
- “leaves skin smooth and soft”
- “got rid of my dry spots”
- “long-lasting hydration”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “dark spots are clearing up”
- “age spots on my face are fading”
- “drastically diminished dark circles”
- “evens skin tone in 2 weeks”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly into skin”
- “lightweight feel”
- “doesn't leave a greasy residue”
- “glides onto the skin”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “fraction of the cost”
- “low price for the quantity”
- “jar will last forever”
- “unbeatable price point”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “light fresh scent”
- “smell is neutral”
- “gentle fragrance”
- “clean and light scent”
Slow/no results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't work well for me”
- “nothing drastic”
- “will fade not remove”
- “dark spots aren't 100% gone”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “make me break out”
- “pimples started to leave spots”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “sits on top of my skin”
- “leaves a white cast”
- “face too greasy”
- “felt a bit heavy”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “don't like dipping hand in jar”
- “not sanitary”
- “wish it was a pump”
- “messy to use”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “smells awful”
- “scent is too strong”
- “perfume smell is overwhelming”
- “irritated my sensitive nose”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, skinsort.com, influenster.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Pond's Clarant B3 work for oily acne-prone skin?
Pond's Clarant B3 works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, offering safe hydration and helpful brightening ingredients, though it lacks strong oil control. A product of this type needs powerful hydrating and repairing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plus soothing extracts or niacinamide to manage oil and breakouts without clogging pores.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Drug Research, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and sodium ascorbyl phosphate make this cream a good fit for your oily acne-prone skin because they help balance oil and even out your skin tone. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs powerful hydrating and repairing ingredients, lightweight moisture without heavy oils, and ingredients that directly target acne.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Drug Research, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate helps oily acne-prone skin by providing antimicrobial action and preventing sebum oxidation. It may also significantly reduce acne breakouts and improve skin clarity.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes in the morning routine after a hydrating toner and before sunscreen, and in the evening routine after your treatment step. It offers moderate suitability for oily skin, but this skin type needs a product with stronger oil control and direct blemish-fighting ingredients for best results.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Drug Research, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, and applying it before or after helps keep your skin comfortable while the retinol works. A moisturizer of this type is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but this skin also needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients and direct acne treatments for best results.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps improve skin hydration and even out skin tone while remaining gentle on your oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin, but it may leave a greasy residue and could sometimes cause breakouts for this skin type. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes since facial creams are not formulated for that delicate area. The skin on your body is much thicker than the eyelid area and can comfortably handle standard moisturizers.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical combination of 5% sodium ascorbyl phosphate and 0.2% retinol reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 29.28% at 4 weeks and 63.10% at 8 weeks, outperforming either agent alone.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017A 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, 2017Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment disrupts the ordered intercellular lipid lamellar structure in hairless mouse stratum corneum, and immersion in a ceramide 3, cholesterol, and stearic acid mixture successfully reorganizes this ordered lamellar structure.
Biophysical Chemistry, 2001Replacing 20% of the chemical UV filter octyl methoxycinnamate with urucum oil in solid lipid nanoparticles maintained the skin protection factor without inducing toxic responses or significant skin penetration in human volunteers.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2018Liposomal encapsulation of octyl methoxycinnamate increases its safety, skin affinity, and in vivo solar photoprotection factor while slowing its release and enhancing retention in the stratum corneum compared to a conventional formulation.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A Tris/Arg-formulated cleanser significantly decreased noninflammatory and inflammatory acne and pore size with keratotic plugs compared to an AEC/AC cleanser in male Thai subjects with mild to moderate acne over 4 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 2024Co-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
Water Agua, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Triethanolamine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Peg Ppg-18 18 Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenoxyethanol, Fragancia, Carbomer, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Pca, Hydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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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