Clean & Clear Essentials Deep Cleaning Astringent for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Alcohol
Dimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine
Benzophenone-4
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Low
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the cleansing toners alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin due to salicylic acid, which helps decongest pores, while algae extract and aloe barbadensis leaf extract provide soothing benefits.
- While effective for general cleansing, the astringent properties may not fully target and control excessive oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes beneficial extracts like aloe barbadensis leaf extract.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of AM and PM routines. Start using your cleansing toner 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your cleansing toner after cleansing and before applying your moisturizer or SPF. This fits right into the middle of your daily skincare steps.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the cleansing toner directly onto your skin. Avoid rubbing it in and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the cleansing toner to completely dry skin for the best control of oily shine. Clean skin helps the product work more effectively.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use to check for comfort.
People Say
★3.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this astringent for its ability to deeply cleanse pores and dry out pimples, often describing a "tingly" sensation as proof of its efficacy. A significant number of recent reviews criticize a formula change, noting that the product can be overly drying, causes burning, and is less effective than the original version.
Highlights
Deep cleansing sensation Often Mentioned
- “pulls out oil and cleans deep”
- “removes leftover oil and buildup”
- “pores look less congested”
- “unmistakable deep clean feeling”
Effective acne treatment Often Mentioned
- “shrunk and dried out my acne”
- “seeing fewer new pimples”
- “target existing breakouts”
- “getting rid of persistent bumps”
Excessive drying Often Mentioned
- “dry out the skin if I overuse it”
- “noticeable stinging and dryness”
- “peels your skin”
- “leaves skin feeling tight”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “controls the oil throughout the day”
- “removes surface oil”
- “skin feels incredibly fresh”
Refreshing feel Sometimes Noted
- “powerful, refreshing feel”
- “leaves my skin feeling invigorated”
- “feels fresh and keeps skin healthy”
Burning sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burns SO bad”
- “burns like heck”
- “causes my eyes to water”
Reformulation complaints Sometimes Noted
- “sad that this has been reformulated”
- “new one, not so much”
- “bring back the old version”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “red/pinkish splotches on my cheeks”
- “sensitive, red, warm patches”
- “stung a little bit”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, amazon.com, sears.com, brandclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent a weak match for oily skin?
This product is a weak match because its astringent properties may not fully target and control excessive oily shine. An oily skin product of this type needs exfoliating acids and purifying agents that control shine and improve skin clarity without any risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for oily skin?
This toner is a weaker match for your oily skin because its formulation may not fully control excessive oily shine. An oily skin type needs effective exfoliating acids and purifying agents that target oiliness and enhance skin clarity without causing irritation.
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Alcohol do for oily skin?
Alcohol helps reduce excess oil by acting as a solvent in formulations, but it can dry out the skin and may cause irritation. Regular use on oily skin needs gentle balancing ingredients that soothe and hydrate to keep the skin barrier healthy.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This toner goes in your evening routine after your cleanser and before your treatment, starting just once a week so your skin can adjust to the salicylic acid.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner in the evening, but because it is a weak match for oily skin, you should apply it before retinol only if your skin is not easily irritated. Oily skin of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide and gentle hydrators to control shine without causing dryness.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner in your evening routine once a week to start, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients that help decongest pores and control excessive oily shine while keeping the skin calm.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores because it contains salicylic acid to help clear out dirt and oil, but it may cause dryness and irritation for oily skin. A product for this skin needs balancing ingredients that control shine without stripping away too much moisture.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (sd alcohol 40-b).
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, 2024The 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, 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, 2020A 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, 2018Cryotherapy 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, 2010Topical cyproterone acetate alcohol lotion at 0.5% and 1% reduced total acne lesions and acne severity index significantly more than placebo in female patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
Dermatology Online Journal, 2006Topical patchouli alcohol significantly accelerated the recovery of UV-induced skin lesions in mice through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and down-regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression compared to vehicle.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014Proprietary sunscreens containing sulisobenzone or para-aminobenzoic acid reduced the UV-B dose-dependent gradients of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase induction in hairless mice by mean factors of 7.35 and 15, respectively.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1982Topical 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, 2010Formulations 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
Why other cleansing toners fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Isoceteth-20, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine, Benzophenone-4, Red 4, Denatonium Benzoate, Algae Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Peg-32
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.