Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm for oily acne-prone skin
Tri-Peel Acid
Shea Butter
Coconut Oil
Vitamin E
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 and pore clarification for your oily skin due to Tri-Peel Acid, which helps to manage oiliness and keep pores clear, while glycerin provides essential hydration without clogging.
- While it effectively removes makeup and cleanses, it lacks specific ingredients like salicylic acid to directly target your acne and blemishes.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away impurities. Start by using it 3×/week before working up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow it with your usual cleansing steps to ensure all residue is thoroughly washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using soft cotton pads. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent irritating your blemishes and active breakouts.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to effectively break down excess oil and makeup. Clean away thoroughly before moving on to the next skincare steps .
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleansing balm is highly effective at melting away waterproof makeup and clearing congested pores, leaving skin feeling cleansed and balanced without stripping moisture. While most users appreciate its texture and gentleness around the eyes, a moderate number find the medicinal scent off-putting, and a low number report experiencing breakouts or eye blurriness.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves stubborn makeup”
- “removes heavy foundation”
- “cleanses sunscreen”
- “effortless removal”
Non-stripping finish Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “feels hydrated”
- “no tight feeling”
- “balances oil production”
- “refreshing finish”
Pore clarifying Often Mentioned
- “clears congested pores”
- “reduces blackheads”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “minimizes pore appearance”
- “removes sebaceous filaments”
Gentle on eyes Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't sting eyes”
- “removes eye makeup gently”
- “no irritation”
- “safe for lashes”
- “non-burning”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “sherbet-like consistency”
- “melts into oil”
- “lightweight feel”
- “emulsifies easily”
- “glides smoothly”
Eye blurriness Sometimes Noted
- “causes foggy vision”
- “cloudy eyes”
- “film on eyes”
- “blurs vision temporarily”
- “oil in eyes”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “medicinal tea tree smell”
- “chemical odor”
- “overpowering fragrance”
- “unpleasant scent”
- “smells like herbs”
Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
- “expensive for size”
- “runs out quickly”
- “small jar”
- “pricey daily cleanser”
- “less product than expected”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “tiny red bumps”
- “cystic acne”
- “clogged pores”
- “skin irritation”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, ulta.com, sokoglam.com, hikoco.co.nz, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Banila Co Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleansing balm is a great fit because Tri-Peel Acid offers moderate exfoliation to help manage oiliness and keep pores clear, while glycerin provides essential hydration without clogging. The formula is also safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleansing balm a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Tri-Peel Acid and glycerin make this cleansing balm a good fit because they help manage oiliness, keep pores clear, and provide hydration without clogging. The formula is also safe and unlikely to cause irritation on your skin.
What does Tri-Peel Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Tri-Peel Acid helps clear pores and smooth oily, acne-prone skin by gently removing dead surface buildup. It may reduce breakouts while keeping your face feeling balanced and comfortable.
What does Shea Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?
Shea butter is generally too heavy for oily, acne-prone skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. Skin of this type needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators like green tea extract to keep it smooth and calm without extra oil.
Where does this cleansing balm go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleansing balm goes in your evening routine as the first step to remove makeup before you use a cleanser. The formula is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients that may cause irritation.
Can I use this cleansing balm with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleansing balm in the evening before your retinol routine because its gentle formula safely removes makeup without harsh irritation. It offers moderate exfoliation and hydration to keep pores clear while you use your retinol.
How often should I use this cleansing balm?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine to effectively cleanse your skin and remove makeup without irritation. It offers moderate exfoliation and pore clarification due to Tri-Peel Acid, helping to manage oiliness while glycerin provides essential hydration.
Can this cleansing balm clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleansing balm is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it has a safe formula with glycerin to provide hydration without clogging, though it lacks ingredients like salicylic acid to directly target acne. It offers moderate pore clarification to help keep pores clear.
Is this cleansing balm fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Topical application of tocopherol succinate ethosomal gel decreased erythema, melanin, and sebum levels while improving moisture content and skin elasticity in 34 human women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Alpha-tocopherol loaded nanostructured lipid carrier gel provided enhanced moisturizing and anti-aging properties in human volunteers over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Tri-Peel Acid, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Bht, Tocopherol
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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