Clinique Even Better Clinical Brightening Moisturizer for acne-prone skin
Cl302 Brightening Complex
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Acetyl Glucosamine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Salicylic Acid
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 hydration and brightening for your combination skin, as sodium hyaluronate and ascorbyl glucoside work to improve moisture levels and even skin tone. Salicylic acid provides mild exfoliation, which is beneficial for balancing oil production.
- Glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate offer supportive soothing and hydrating benefits, though the formula lacks more potent ingredients specifically targeting acne and blemishes.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with camellia sinensis leaf extract and algae extract providing soothing properties and no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★3.9Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis moisturizer is frequently praised for its ability to brighten dull skin, reduce the appearance of dark spots, and provide a lightweight, non-greasy hydration boost. While many users with various skin types report a more radiant and even complexion, some individuals experience issues with pilling, flaking, or insufficient moisture for very dry skin.
Highlights
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “Skin is much more even and brighter”
- “Dark spots are completely gone”
- “Revealing a clearer, more radiant skin tone”
Lightweight hydration Often Mentioned
- “Feels very moisturising but not heavy”
- “Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly”
- “Deeply hydrates, leaving skin feeling comfortable”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Refines skin's texture so it feels smoother”
- “Leaves it soft under it”
- “Skin appears smoother”
Reduces redness Sometimes Noted
- “Made my redness almost none existent”
- “Calms and soothes skin to visibly reduce redness”
Insufficient moisture Sometimes Noted
- “Soft but not moisturized”
- “Doesn't feel very moisturizing”
- “A little bit too heavy for oily skin”
Product pilling/flaking Sometimes Noted
- “There's always piling”
- “Doesn't do anything but clogging and flakes”
- “Thin layer of skin that peels off”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Did break out a couple times”
- “Careful about how much I use given it's consistency”
Sources: lovi.care, clinique.com, clinique.ca, macys.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Even Better Clinical Brightening Moisturizer work for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, providing moderate hydration and mild exfoliation that helps balance oil. It is safe and generally well-tolerated, though it lacks the stronger blemish-fighting ingredients found in top-tier products for this skin type.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and camellia sinensis leaf extract make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin because they help balance oil and soothe the skin. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs more potent ingredients specifically targeting acne and blemishes, alongside effective components for acne and repair.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Cl302 Brightening Complex do for acne-prone skin?
Cl302 Brightening Complex helps fade dark marks left behind by acne and evens out skin tone. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used as directed, supporting a clearer and smoother look.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2012Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2001
What does Ascorbyl Glucoside do for acne-prone skin?
Ascorbyl Glucoside helps acne-prone skin by providing antioxidant protection and supporting overall skin clarity. Vitamin C derivatives like this are known to improve inflammatory skin disorders and help keep skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2012International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after cleansing and toning in the morning, or after cleansing and your evening treatment. It is unlikely to irritate acne-prone skin, though this skin type needs products with stronger blemish-fighting ingredients for best results.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer once it absorbs. This helps keep skin soft and calm while reducing the dryness that retinol often causes. To better support acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs stronger acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or ceramides.
How often should I use it?
This moisturizer is safe to use daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular use helps improve hydration and balance oil production while keeping acne-prone skin comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your acne-prone skin because it contains soothing ingredients like camellia sinensis leaf and algae extracts, though reviewers report a low chance of potential breakouts. An acne-prone skin type needs a formula with more potent ingredients specifically targeting blemishes and pimples to keep skin clear.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use on your body, but applying it around the eyes requires caution as the facial skin there is much thinner and more sensitive. While the formula provides moderate hydration and brightening, products used near the eyes or on specialized areas perform best when they feature gentle, targeted soothing ingredients and lightweight textures that respect delicate skin.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
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, 2023A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2022Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Cryotherapy 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, 2010
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-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, 2023A 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, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Peg-100 Stearate, Peg-8, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Tribehenin, Cetyl Alcohol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sucrose, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Algae Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract Sunflower Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extrait Dorge Extract, Yeast Faex Extrait De Levure Extract, Molasses Saccharum Officinarum Extrait De Mélasse Extract, Salicylic Acid, Cholesterol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysilicone-11, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Disodium Edta, Bht, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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