Thayers Blemish Clearing Pads for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Witch Hazel
Aloe Barbadensis
Oil Tree
LemongrassHigh
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best products for oily skin.
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 excellent suitability for your oily skin due to Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf and Citric Acid, which provide seboregulation and keratolytic action to control oil and decongest impurities.
- The formula also offers moderate benefits for oily shine and acne-prone skin, with Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf and Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil helping to control oil and reduce blemishes.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise these pads for effectively clearing acne and preventing new breakouts without stripping the skin of moisture. The product is frequently highlighted for its soothing properties on sensitive, acne-prone skin, with many users noting a visible improvement in skin texture and redness within a week of use.
Highlights
Effective acne treatment Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared my breakout in days”
- “stopped new zits from forming”
- “huge difference in blackheads”
- “skin looks way clearer”
Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “no burning sensation”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “skin feels hydrated not dry”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like fresh lemons”
- “refreshing citrus scent”
- “much better than chemical smells”
- “love the lemongrass aroma”
Convenient application Sometimes Noted
- “perfect for lazy nights”
- “pads have good texture”
- “easy to swipe and go”
- “great for travel”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “pores look smaller”
- “skin feels so smooth”
- “helped with inflammation”
- “texture is much more even”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like floor cleaner”
- “scent is overpowering”
- “too much lemon”
- “smells like household pledge”
High price Rarely Noted
- “pricier than Stridex”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “expensive for the count”
- “good but costs more”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “made my face bright red”
- “caused a burning sensation”
- “broke me out more”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “face felt tacky after”
- “residue sits on skin”
- “felt a bit tight/sticky”
Sources: lovi.care, thayers.com, target.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Thayers Blemish Clearing Pads a great fit for oily skin?
Thayers Blemish Clearing Pads are a great fit for oily skin because Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf and Citric Acid help control oil and clear out clogged pores. The formula also helps manage oily shine and blemishes while keeping irritation low.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, and Citric Acid make this exfoliant a great fit by controlling oil and clearing clogged pores. These ingredients help reduce blemishes and oily shine while keeping the skin calm and safe from irritation.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Witch Hazel do for oily skin?
Witch Hazel helps calm irritated skin and may reduce redness and swelling. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is generally well tolerated by sensitive skin types.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine once a week to help control oil and clear out pores. People who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by using them on alternating nights to help prevent dryness and irritation. If you apply them in the same routine, use the exfoliant first on clean skin, let it absorb completely, and follow with your retinol.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often if your skin handles it well and shows good results. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to the gentle formula containing soothing tea tree oil.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Thayers Blemish Clearing Pads are unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as they help control oil and clear away impurities safely. The formula's ingredients work to keep pores clear while maintaining a low risk of irritation.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Lactobacillus-fermented Chamaecyparis obtusa reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 65.3% compared to 38.2% with tea tree oil in 34 patients over 8 weeks, demonstrating superior efficacy, faster onset, and safety.
Dermatology, 2014Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024A Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract increased LOXL1 expression twofold, decreased elafin synthesis, restored functional elastic fibers, reduced nonfunctional elastin aggregates, decreased wrinkles, and improved skin firmness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Hamamelis bark proanthocyanidins strongly increased the proliferation of cultured human keratinocytes and reduced transepidermal water loss and erythema formation in SLS-irritated skin, whereas the polysaccharide fraction had no effect.
Phytochemistry, 2001Witch hazel bark extract and hamamelitannin showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, supported keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay, and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, whereas their skin microbiota metabolite ellagic acid stimulated inflammatory mediator release.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Topical lycopene-enriched virgin olive oil provides effective pain relief similar to a placebo in patients with burning mouth syndrome, showing a strong placebo effect.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2014A topical emulgel formulation containing lemongrass essential oil and olive oil showed good stability, a moderate SPF value of 5.5, and significant improvements in cooling effect, odor, smoothness, and moisture in 20 volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021Lemongrass essential oil treatment demonstrated similar efficacy to chlorhexidine and doxycycline in treating periodontitis, gingivitis, and oral malodour, while also showing potential for treating pityriasis versicolor, preventing skin aging, and providing anti-dandruff effects.
Pharmaceuticals, 2024Lemon grass essential oil demonstrated in vitro antifungal activity against pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi alongside in vivo topical and oral anti-inflammatory effects in animal models.
The Libyan Journal of Medicine, 2014
Ingredients
Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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