Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask for oily acne-prone skin
Benzoyl Peroxide
Glycerin
Kaolin
Bentonite
MentholAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansing masks fit it 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 benefits for your oily skin and acne concerns, as benzoyl peroxide effectively combats acne-causing bacteria while kaolin and bentonite absorb excess oil. Glycerin provides some hydration, but additional humectants could enhance overall skin comfort.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients or significant irritation risks.
- This cleanser and mask combination provides effective pore decongestion and cleansing, directly addressing your primary goals.
How to apply
- Use your cleansing mask PM as part of your weekly routine. Start 1×/week and increase carefully if your oily skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this step after your enzyme powder and before your hydrating toner. Follow the standard weekly order to keep your skin balanced.
- Spread an even layer of the cleansing mask across your face while avoiding the eye area. Let it sit for the recommended time without rubbing .
- Apply the mask on clean and dry skin for the best purifying effect on your breakouts. Clean skin allows the formula to target blemishes directly.
- Always do a patch test before your first use to check for sensitivity. Avoid combining this mask with strong acids or retinoids in the same routine .
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this product to be a highly effective 2-in-1 cleanser and mask for acne and oil control. It is frequently praised for deep cleaning and reducing pore appearance. However, a moderate number of users report that it can cause dryness and irritation, particularly for sensitive skin, and it is also noted to bleach fabrics.
Highlights
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “clears my skin like a beauty”
- “almost no acne left”
- “AMAZING SKIN AFTER 1 USE!”
- “keeps my acne away”
Versatile 2-in-1 Often Mentioned
- “love that you can use this as a wash or a face mask”
- “better as a mask”
- “doubles as a mask and cleanser”
- “fantastic 2-in-1 product”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “feel the cooling sensation”
- “tingling feel”
- “refreshing clean”
- “cooling intensity build”
Deep clean pores Sometimes Noted
- “pores shrinking down”
- “skin feels soooooooo clean”
- “pulling out all of the oil”
- “pores look pristine”
Bleaches fabrics Sometimes Noted
- “bleach out washcloths”
- “bleach your clothing”
- “wearing an old t-shirt”
- “stained my towels”
Drying and irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Dries out skin”
- “face is bright red”
- “excess drying”
- “left my skin feeling really dry”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my face”
- “burning eyes”
- “intense tingling”
- “got burned BAD”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “smell is clean... but potent”
- “smells medicated”
- “strong scent”
- “smells like bleach”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, amazon.com, walmart.com, acne.org, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Clear Pore work for oily acne-prone skin?
Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask offers moderate benefits for oily acne-prone skin, as benzoyl peroxide helps fight acne-causing bacteria while clays absorb excess oil. It is safe for this skin type, but a product for this skin needs more hydrating ingredients alongside salicylic acid, niacinamide, or zinc oxide for better oil and blemish control.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps fight acne-causing bacteria, while kaolin and bentonite absorb excess oil to keep your skin feeling clean. Glycerin adds some moisture, but this skin type also needs ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide for the best oil control and breakout management.
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps improve oily, acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and noninflamed breakouts. It works effectively to clear pimples, though it may occasionally cause skin dryness or irritation for some users.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, and as a mask in your weekly routine. To work best for your oily acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs extra hydrating ingredients to keep your skin comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but to help avoid irritation it is best to use them on different days or times since both can be quite strong on your skin. Oily acne-prone skin using these active ingredients needs gentle hydrators and barrier-protecting ingredients to keep skin comfortable.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser and mask combination is suitable for oily acne-prone skin, offering moderate benefits through benzoyl peroxide to fight acne-causing bacteria and clays to absorb excess oil. Because other products may fit this skin type better, an ideal routine for this skin needs stronger oil control along with extra hydrating ingredients to keep the face comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser and mask helps clear pores and absorb excess oil with bentonite and kaolin, making it unlikely to clog pores. However, benzoyl peroxide may cause dryness and irritation, which can sometimes feel like a reaction.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
A bentonite-based facial mask with Alcea sulphurea extract combined with oral azithromycin significantly reduced total lesion count and acne severity index while enhancing patient satisfaction in patients with moderate acne compared to placebo plus azithromycin over 8 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan/organic montmorillonite nanocomposite demonstrated superior moisture-adsorption and retention compared to hyaluronic acid, good UV-protection ability, negligible dermal irritation, and prominent moisture-retention efficacy on human stratum corneum when formulated into a cosmetic cream.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2017Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Twice 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, 2024Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023Daily application of adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel reduced and prevented atrophic acne scar formation, achieving a total scar count change of -15.5% versus +14.4% for vehicle over 24 weeks in 67 subjects with moderate or severe facial acne.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018A 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Vectorization 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, 2024Twice-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, 2023Clay 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, 2012A novel water-in-oil emulsion with a lecithin-modified bentonite prevented epidermal degradation and inflammatory protein secretion induced by urban dust and cedar pollen more effectively than a conventional water-in-oil emulsion in a reconstructed human epidermis model.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Bentonite nanoparticles and honey co-administration improved skin wound healing in BALB/c mice by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration and increasing fibroblastosis, new epithelium thickness, granulation area, and collagen density compared to the untreated control group.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2025A novel electrospun chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/montmorillonite clay scaffold proved to be a suitable material for cell proliferation and demonstrated strong antimicrobial and scavenging efficacy for wound healing applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Coadministration of 40% topical L-menthol with 10% trans-cinnamaldehyde reduced spontaneous pain intensity, neurogenic inflammation, primary and secondary mechanical hyperalgesia, and heat hyperalgesia, but not cold hyperalgesia, in 14 healthy volunteers.
The Journal of Pain, 2016Topical application of menthol-based cooling gel decreased intramuscular temperature by 1.9 °C and increased cutaneous blood flow by 0.3 ml/min in healthy males compared to placebo gel.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2018Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.
Neuroscience Letters, 1995
Ingredients
Benzoyl Peroxide, Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Menthol
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
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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