Clinique Exfoliating Scrub for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Hexylene Glycol
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other exfoliants fit it better.
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 moderate exfoliation for your oily skin, as salicylic acid helps to mildly exfoliate and manage oiliness, while polyethylene provides physical exfoliation for smoothing texture.
- The formula is highly suitable for oily skin due to salicylic acid's keratolytic action.
- This product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this water-based, mentholated scrub is highly effective for users with oily and combination-oily skin, providing a deep exfoliation that instantly smooths texture and clears clogged pores, leading to reduced oiliness and fewer breakouts. Some users find the scrub too abrasive for sensitive or dry skin types, and the thick consistency can make it difficult to dispense.
Highlights
Clears pores and oil Often Mentioned
- “unclogs pores”
- “great for oily skin”
- “keeps blackheads away”
- “controls excess oil”
- “prevents breakouts”
Polishes and smooths Often Mentioned
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “instantly smoother texture”
- “removes dead skin”
- “polished feel”
- “glass-like finish”
Difficult to dispense Often Mentioned
- “hard to squeeze”
- “tube is stiff”
- “product is too thick”
- “struggle to get out”
- “packaging design flaw”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “cooling menthol feel”
- “wakes me up”
- “feels refreshing”
- “tingly sensation”
- “cools down skin”
Efficient and long-lasting Sometimes Noted
- “little goes a long way”
- “tube lasts for months”
- “worth the price”
- “pea-sized amount needed”
- “good value”
Too harsh for some Sometimes Noted
- “too abrasive”
- “feels like sand”
- “scratched my skin”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “drying if used daily”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “smell is overpowering”
- “too minty”
- “eyes water from fumes”
- “strong chemical smell”
- “dislike the menthol”
Thick texture Rarely Noted
- “very thick paste”
- “hard to spread”
- “dry consistency”
- “needs lots of water”
- “chalky texture”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, makeupalley.com, lookfantastic.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Exfoliating Scrub work for oily skin?
This scrub works moderately well for oily skin by helping to manage oiliness and smooth texture. However, an exfoliant of this type needs pore-refining and clarifying ingredients like BHA and natural extracts to fit oily skin even better.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and polyethylene make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin by mildly clearing oil and smoothing texture. To fit this skin type best, a product of this type needs pore-refining and clarifying ingredients like BHA and natural extracts to target excess oil and impurities.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020
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 Glyceryl Stearate do for oily skin?
Glyceryl Stearate helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, as it is very unlikely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. This ingredient works well to condition the skin while maintaining a very safe profile in everyday skincare products.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2007International Journal of Toxicology, 2001
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant goes into your weekly routine, starting at once a week and used more often only if your skin handles it well. Oily skin works best with products that offer both chemical exfoliation like salicylic acid and physical smoothing to clear oiliness and improve texture.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying the exfoliant first to smooth texture and manage oiliness, and following with retinol on separate days or times to prevent irritation. An oily skin routine with both ingredients needs gentle exfoliating acids alongside soothing, hydrating steps to keep skin calm and balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this scrub once a week to see how your skin responds, and if you tolerate it well and see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Oily skin often needs exfoliants with salicylic acid and gentle smoothing ingredients to effectively manage oil and texture.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as salicylic acid helps manage oiliness while the formula avoids harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. To care for oily skin even better, look for lightweight formulas with ingredients like salicylic acid to gently clear pores and smooth texture without feeling heavy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Twice 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, 2024A 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, 2020The 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, 2023Cryotherapy 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
Ingredients
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyethylene, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Stearamidoethyl Diethylamine, Oleamide Mipa, Trisodium Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, 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.
-
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.