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NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Chemical Exfoliator for acne-prone skin

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

NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Chemical Exfoliator

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few products 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

  • Highly suitable for your combination skin, this exfoliator effectively addresses acne and blemishes with glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which promote skin renewal and decongest pores.
  • Niacinamide further aids in seboregulation, complementing the keratolytic action for balanced skin.
  • The formula is safe for your acne-prone skin, containing no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant PM once a week to start, and gradually increase if your combination skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your clear skin.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer step. This ensures the treatment targets blemishes effectively.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
  • Apply the exfoliant on clean, dry skin to help control breakouts safely. Since your skin is not sensitive, this dry application method ensures good product absorption.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this exfoliant with other strong acids in the same routine.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 800+ reviews

Users with oily and blemish-prone skin generally report that this exfoliator effectively resurfaces texture and reduces active breakouts, often delivering smoother skin within a week. While many praise its ability to clear acne without excessive drying, a subset of users experiences initial purging or stinging sensations upon application.

Highlights

  • Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels and looks really smooth after using it”
    • “left my skin feeling incredibly silky smooth”
    • “resurfaced my skin and helped clear my blemishes”
  • Reduces blemishes Often Mentioned
    • “acne has slowly faded away”
    • “helped to settle down a couple of new spots”
    • “cleared her face in a few days”
  • Fast visible results Sometimes Noted
    • “saw an improvement within a couple of days”
    • “worked its magic overnight”
    • “in 7 days my skin was a lot better”
  • Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling refreshed... without drying out”
    • “skin felt soft and hydrated”
  • Stinging or burning Sometimes Noted
    • “felt it stung quite a bit on applying”
    • “slight stinging sensation can occur”
    • “caused immediate burning”
  • Initial breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “broke my face out the few times I used it”
    • “worsening of skin condition before improvement”
    • “caused more spots initially”
  • No visible difference Rarely Noted
    • “no difference in my skin”
    • “did not help or encourage my skin”
    • “no exfoliation noticed”
  • Strong scent Rarely Noted
    • “smell is very sharp kind of vinegary”
    • “has a strong chemical smell”
    • “scent is a bit masculine hairspray”

Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, superdrug.com, tesco.com, nivea.co.uk, hometesterclub.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Chemical Exfoliator a great fit for acne-prone skin?

This exfoliator is a great fit because it helps clear clogged pores and tackle blemishes using glycolic acid and salicylic acid. Niacinamide also helps balance oil, while soothing ingredients keep the formula gentle and safe for your skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

Glycolic acid and salicylic acid make this exfoliator a great fit for acne-prone skin because they help clear clogged pores and encourage skin renewal. Niacinamide further supports this by balancing oil production, while soothing ingredients keep the formula gentle and safe against irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

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

What does Glycolic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and breakouts. It also helps fade dark spots left behind by acne and controls skin oiliness, with very few side effects when used properly.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Dermatologic Surgery, 2014

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

This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week so you can see how your skin reacts before using it more often. It helps clear clogged pores and balance oil with ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and niacinamide while keeping your skin calm.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

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

You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying them on alternate nights or spacing them out to prevent irritation, since both renew the skin actively. Using them together at the exact same time may be too harsh, so alternate your treatment nights and always follow up with a good moisturizer.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start by using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. It helps clear breakouts with salicylic acid and glycolic acid while staying gentle on acne-prone skin.

Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

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

This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores and is a great fit because salicylic acid and glycolic acid clear out pores and help renew your skin. You may notice some initial breakouts or mild stinging at first as your skin adjusts to the acids, but the formula is generally safe and well-tolerated.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • 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

  • 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, 2019

  • 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

  • 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

  • Repeated 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, 2000

  • Serial 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, 2017

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • 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

  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015

  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015

  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Glycolic Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Gluconolactone, Peg-40 Stearate, Peg-150 Distearate, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Edta, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum

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

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play