Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer for skin with dark spots
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Menthyl Lactate
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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
- Suitable for normal skin, this moisturizer offers moderate hydration with glycerin and gentle pore exfoliation from salicylic acid, which is beneficial for overall skin health but does not directly address your primary concern of pigmentation.
- While the formula is safe for your normal skin and free of harsh irritants, it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target and reduce pigmentation.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, as it contains no prohibited or harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this oil-free moisturizer is highly praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its hydrating, non-pore-clogging properties and its effectiveness in treating breakouts with salicylic acid. Many appreciate its lightweight feel and matte finish, and it's frequently noted as a good base for makeup. However, a significant number of recent reviews express dissatisfaction with a formula change, citing a thinner consistency, altered scent, and increased skin irritation. Some users also report dryness and burning sensations, while a low number found it ineffective or experienced clogged pores.
Highlights
Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “Lightweight formula”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Non-greasy feel”
- “Leaves a matte finish”
Acne control Often Mentioned
- “Prevents pimples”
- “Clears acne”
- “Keeps breakouts in check”
- “Salicylic acid treats acne”
Formula change complaints Often Mentioned
- “New formula is thinner”
- “Smells different”
- “Causing breakouts”
- “Irritated my skin”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “Works beautifully under makeup”
- “Good base before makeup”
- “Wear it under make-up”
Softens skin Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Smooth texture”
- “Face felt really soft”
- “Hydrates skin”
Drying and irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Dried out my face”
- “Skin felt like fire”
- “Burning sensation”
- “Peeling”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Hate the smell”
- “Smells like medicine”
- “Chemical smell”
- “Strong scent”
Ineffective results Rarely Noted
- “Did nothing for pimples”
- “Clogs pores”
- “No improvement”
Sources: lovi.care, walgreens.com, cleanandclear.com, walmart.com, target.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer work for skin with dark spots?
Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer works moderately well for skin with dark spots, offering basic hydration and gentle pore exfoliation from salicylic acid, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly fade pigmentation. Skin with dark spots needs products featuring effective brightening ingredients, soothing components, and antioxidants to properly target pigmentation.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer does not contain specialized ingredients that target dark spots, offering instead moderate hydration and gentle pore exfoliation. A moisturizing treatment for dark spots needs effective brightening ingredients, soothing components like niacinamide and peptides, and hydrating elements.
What does Salicylic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid helps fade dark spots and uneven skin tone left behind after breakouts. It gently clears away surface buildup, which may improve the look of dark marks and support a smoother, more even complexion over time.
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer goes as the final step of your morning routine and evening routine, coming after your cleanser, toner, and any treatments. Because this product does not directly target pigmentation, a skincare routine for dark spots needs specialized brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to effectively fade discoloration.
Can I use it with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with benzoyl peroxide by applying the treatment first and following it with the moisturizer. This routine helps keep your skin soft and comfortable while minimizing potential dryness.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer daily as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin soft and comfortable. Daily use helps maintain skin moisture and provides gentle exfoliation, though skin with dark spots needs products with specialized brightening ingredients to effectively fade discoloration.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on skin with dark spots because it is free of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. However, it contains salicylic acid, which may cause mild initial purging as it clears out pores.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use on the body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may be more sensitive to the ingredients. Skin on the body is generally thicker and can tolerate standard lotions well, whereas the delicate eye area often requires specialized products designed specifically for thin skin.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2024The 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, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Why other moisturizers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical 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, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Menthyl Lactate, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Steareth-20, Steareth-2, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Disodium Edta, Bht, Salicylic Acid
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.