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Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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 excellent cleansing for your combination skin, as kaolin and diatomaceous earth effectively clear pores and regulate oil production, while salicylic acid provides moderate exfoliation to address your acne and blemishes.
  • The inclusion of aloe and oat kernel flour further soothes your skin, enhancing the overall comfort and efficacy of the formula.
  • The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring beneficial soothing components.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to deeply purify pores and control excess sebum without being overly harsh. Many report a visible reduction in pore size and a smoother, matte complexion, while a minority of users experienced dryness or breakouts after use.

Highlights

  • Deeply cleanses pores Often Mentioned
    • “skin feeling like it can breathe”
    • “thoroughly cleaned after every use”
    • “getting my skin completely clean”
    • “removes all the make up”
  • Minimizes pore appearance Often Mentioned
    • “pores are less noticeable”
    • “pores... reduced or become smaller”
    • “visibly minimized pores”
    • “pores look smaller and cleaner”
  • Controls oil/shine Sometimes Noted
    • “shine to be gone”
    • “kept my oils at bay”
    • “skin looked matte”
    • “leaves a fresh feeling”
  • Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
    • “mildly grainy cream feel”
    • “gentle exfoliation”
    • “smooths skin texture”
    • “mildest physical abrasive”
  • Drying or stripping Sometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “dry out my skin”
    • “felt stripped”
    • “left dry patches”
  • Efficient usage Rarely Noted
    • “a little goes a long way”
    • “tube last over 10 months”
    • “foams/lathers up enough”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “spots all over my forehead”
    • “bumpy breakouts on cheeks”
    • “caused acne”
    • “skin reacted with bumps”
  • Expensive Rarely Noted
    • “expensive side”
    • “pricier side for face wash”
    • “price increased twice”
  • Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
    • “didn't work for me”
    • “pores still visible”
    • “no difference seen”

Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, johnlewis.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser a great fit for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because kaolin and diatomaceous earth clear pores and control oil, while salicylic acid helps gently clear breakouts. Soothing ingredients like aloe and oat kernel flour also keep your skin comfortable and calm without harsh effects.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a great fit because kaolin and diatomaceous earth clear pores and control oil, while salicylic acid gently exfoliates to help clear up acne and blemishes. Additionally, aloe and oat kernel flour soothe the skin and keep it comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Amazonian White Clay do for acne-prone skin?

Amazonian White Clay helps clear impurities and control excess oil on acne-prone skin, making it look much smoother and less greasy. This type of clay needs strong oil-absorbing minerals and gentle purifying ingredients to deeply clean pores without causing irritation.

What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser goes as the first step in your morning routine and follows your makeup remover in the evening. It provides a great fit for your skin by clearing pores and regulating oil while salicylic acid addresses blemishes.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it during your routine before your retinol treatment. Using a gentle, pore-clearing cleanser helps prep your skin while keeping it comfortable, though you should watch for extra dryness when combining strong ingredients.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily to help clear pores and manage blemishes on your acne-prone skin. It contains gentle soothing ingredients like aloe and oat kernel flour that help keep your skin comfortable with regular use.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a great fit and is unlikely to cause breakouts on your acne-prone skin because it contains soothing ingredients like aloe and oat kernel flour along with blemish-clearing salicylic acid. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from using it.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is designed for facial use, and the thin skin around the eyes should generally avoid active ingredients like salicylic acid and clay to prevent irritation. While it can theoretically be used on the body, its specialized facial formula and ingredients are best reserved for clearing facial pores and managing breakouts.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

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, 2024

  • The 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, 2023

  • 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, 2020

  • A 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, 2018

  • Vectorization of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid with clay enabled its penetration into deeper skin layers and led to a significant clinical reduction in fine lines in the crow's feet area compared to placebo after 28 days.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2024

  • Twice-weekly use of a clay mask over 4 weeks in 75 adults with oily or combination skin improved acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, hydration, and reduced dryness and irritation.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2023

  • Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.

    Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Topical 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

  • 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Topical 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, 2018

  • Topical 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

  • Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2006

Ingredients

Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide, Solum Diatomeae Diatomaceous Earth, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-14m, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salicylic Acid, Avena Sativa Oat Kernel Flour, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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