Hero Cosmetics Pore Release Blackhead Clearing Solution for combination skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Gluconolactone
Lotus Water
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceSuperior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best products for combination skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as gluconolactone, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid work synergistically to decongest pores and smooth texture, effectively addressing oily shine.
- The presence of aloe and lotus water provides soothing and hydrating benefits, complementing the exfoliating action for your skin type.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine starting once a week, then increase frequency carefully if your skin feels fine.
- Apply this exfoliant step after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and wait a minute before layering.
- Apply the exfoliant to clean, dry skin to help control your oily shine comfortably.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin frequently praise this toner for effectively reducing blackheads and minimizing pore appearance without stripping moisture. The majority describe it as a gentle and hydrating alternative to harsh exfoliants, though a small subset of users experienced purging or found it ineffective for stubborn deep-set congestion.
Highlights
Gentle, non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “hydrating formula”
- “no irritation”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
Effective pore clearing Often Mentioned
- “pores look smaller”
- “cleared blackheads”
- “unclogs gunk”
- “skin looks smoother”
Pleasant texture Often Mentioned
- “no chemical smell”
- “lightweight liquid”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “not sticky”
Quality packaging Sometimes Noted
- “heavy glass bottle”
- “feels luxurious”
- “lasts a long time”
- “aesthetic design”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “bad reaction”
- “skin got worse”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “didn't see difference”
- “temporary fix”
- “blackheads remained”
- “wasted money”
Packaging usability Rarely Noted
- “stopper difficult to remove”
- “glass is fragile”
- “hard to dispense”
- “cap issues”
Price vs. value Rarely Noted
- “expensive for size”
- “small bottle”
- “pricey drugstore option”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, dermstore.com, herocosmetics.us, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Pore Release Blackhead Clearing Solution one of the best fits for combination skin?
Hero Cosmetics Pore Release Blackhead Clearing Solution is an exceptional fit for combination skin because salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and gluconolactone clear out pores and smooth rough texture while keeping oily shine under control. Soothing aloe and lotus water add comfort and hydration, and the formula is safe and gentle without harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and gluconolactone make this exfoliant a great fit because they clear out pores, smooth your skin, and help control oily shine. Aloe and lotus water add soothing and hydrating benefits to keep your skin comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Skin Research and Technology, 2023
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Glycolic Acid do for combination skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and brighten combination skin by gently loosening dead surface cells to speed up skin renewal. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, but it needs a reliable sunscreen during the day since it makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995Archives of Dermatological Research, 1997
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine once a week to decongest pores and smooth texture, and people who tolerate it well may carefully use it more often. Lovi routines place treatments in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying them on alternating nights to prevent irritation, since combining strong active ingredients all at once may be too harsh for your skin. When introducing both, use the exfoliant on your treatment nights and keep your routine gentle with plenty of soothing and hydrating steps.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully increase the frequency only if your combination skin tolerates it well and shows good results.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin because its ingredients decongest pores and smooth texture while keeping skin calm. Some reviewers report minor breakouts, which may happen as your skin adjusts to the acids.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019BioMed Research International, 2020
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023A 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, 2010Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Gluconolactone and tartaric acid significantly lower transepidermal water loss and erythema after sodium lauryl sulphate challenge compared to vehicle, untreated control, and glycolic acid in healthy subjects.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provided antiaging benefits comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen while demonstrating enhanced mildness and better tolerance in subjects.
Cutis, 2004Topical green tea and green tea plus lotus multiple emulsions reduced casual sebum secretions compared to placebo in healthy adults, with the combined treatment producing significantly greater reductions than green tea alone over a 60-day period.
Hippokratia, 2013Combined topical application of lotus and green tea improved facial skin surface parameters including roughness, scaliness, smoothness, and wrinkling in healthy Asian men compared to single treatments and placebo.
Rejuvenation Research, 2013Cosmetics containing lotus-derived callus extract showed a significant skin-whitening effect in 21 volunteers.
Plants, 2023A 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, 2018Topical 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, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Nelumbo Nucifera Water Root, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric 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
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