REN Clean Skincare ClearCalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel for sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Willow Bark Extract
Sandalwood Oil
Thymus Vulgaris Oil Leaf
Chlorella Vulgaris ExtractAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin, with salicylic acid and lactic acid helping to regulate desquamation and reduce acne lesions, while glycerin and Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract provide general hydration and soothing support for redness and irritation.
- The inclusion of Salix Nigra Bark Extract further aids in skin conditioning, though specialized anti-inflammatory ingredients are not the primary focus.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with sensitivity, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
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
How well does REN ClearCalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel work for sensitive skin?
This treatment works reasonably well for sensitive skin, offering moderate acne-fighting exfoliation while keeping irritation low with soothing glycerin. Treatments that fit this skin better typically need specialized anti-inflammatory ingredients and powerful calming agents to actively reduce redness and irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, salicylic acid, and lactic acid make this treatment a fit by providing moderate exfoliation, hydration, and soothing support for your skin. Treatments that fit sensitive skin even better need effective ingredients that calm redness and irritation, along with potent antioxidants, hydrating components, and skin-repairing ingredients like niacinamide.
What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
What does Willow Bark Extract do for sensitive skin?
Willow bark extract helps calm red and irritated skin because it has gentle anti-inflammatory properties similar to those found in soothing treatments. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may even help clear up discomfort.
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after your cleanser and soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Sensitive skin of this type needs gentle exfoliating acids alongside soothing and hydrating ingredients to help clear acne while keeping redness and irritation calm.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol, but to avoid extra dryness or irritation, apply them on alternate nights or keep them well separated in your routine. For sensitive skin of this type, a product needs gentle exfoliating acids paired with soothing, hydrating ingredients to clear breakouts without causing redness.
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment should be used once a week initially, and if your sensitive skin tolerates it well without irritation, you can carefully use it more often in your evening routine. Products for this skin need gentle exfoliating ingredients paired with calming plant extracts and hydrating agents to clear acne while keeping redness at bay.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores, but the exfoliating ingredients may cause mild purging when you first start using it. Sensitive skin of this type needs a formula packed with gentle, deeply soothing ingredients and barrier-supporting hydrators to keep breakouts under control without causing redness or stinging.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (farnesol) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A 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, 2017A 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, 2020Cryotherapy 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.