Clinique For Men Face Scrub for acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate
Methylisothiazolinone
Hexylene Glycol
Disodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate
Low
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A weak match for acne-prone skin; the exfoliants alongside fit it 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 moderate exfoliation for your combination skin, as salicylic acid and silica work to smooth texture and unclog pores, addressing acne and blemishes. The presence of menthol provides a cooling sensation that can be refreshing for combination skin.
- The formula is free from harsh ingredients, making it safe for your combination skin and unlikely to 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly effective for oily and combination skin, frequently clearing pores and preparing skin for shaving. Users often report a smoother skin texture and reduced ingrown hairs. However, some users with sensitive skin find it too harsh, and a few mention stinging from menthol or difficulty dispensing the product.
Highlights
Leaves skin smooth Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.”
- “Rinsed off, skin feels genuinely smoother.”
- “Leaves the skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and clean.”
- “Clears away dead skin perfectly.”
Clears pores Often Mentioned
- “Completely clears my pores and makes my skin feel so glossy and clean.”
- “Softens the look of congested pores over a few weeks of regular use.”
- “Good product... good at removing blackheads.”
- “Unclogging pores and removing dirt and oil.”
Excellent shave prep Often Mentioned
- “Excellent scrub both for making skin look fresher & for a pre shave.”
- “Game-changer for managing my coarse facial hair and prepping my skin before a shave.”
- “Few scrubs make the razor's job this much easier.”
- “Helps prepare skin for a closer, more comfortable shave.”
Reduces ingrowns Sometimes Noted
- “Noted for its ability to help with ingrown hairs.”
- “Helps reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs.”
- “Fine rounded granules help lift beard hairs, reduce ingrown hairs.”
Harsh on skin Sometimes Noted
- “Wouldn't recommend it to someone with sensitive skin.”
- “You should know that this is a very aggressive scrub.”
- “How harsh it was exfoliating... literal scrub with no lubricant.”
- “Fast route to a stripped, tight, over-exfoliated mess.”
Hard to dispense Rarely Noted
- “Dissatisfaction with the current tube design, finding it difficult to dispense.”
- “Consistency quite thick, making it difficult to dispense from its container.”
- “I feel for the price paid, the tube should be bigger!”
Menthol stings Rarely Noted
- “Others find it stings... it is just menthol.”
- “Mixed opinions on recent formula changes, particularly regarding grit and menthol.”
- “Held back by menthol and a preservative.”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, sephora.sg, ulta.com, bloomingdales.com, kohls.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clinique Face Scrub a weak match for acne-prone skin?
This scrub is a weak match for your acne-prone skin because it may lack the specific soothing oils and extracts, like squalane or plant oils, that help calm and nourish this skin type while it cleanses. An exfoliant for acne-prone skin needs nourishing oils and extracts that provide excellent soothing properties and relevant skincare benefits for blemishes without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a weak match for acne-prone skin because it may lack the soothing plant oils, squalane, niacinamide, and ceramides needed to calm breakouts and nourish this skin type while cleansing.
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 Glyceryl Stearate do for acne-prone skin?
Glyceryl stearate helps keep skin soft and smooth while holding moisture in, which is especially useful when acne treatments leave your face dry. It is generally safe for acne-prone skin, but a product of this type needs non-clogging ingredients to avoid breakouts.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a weak match for acne-prone skin, as this skin type needs gentle exfoliants with salicylic acid and soothing ingredients to help clear pores without causing irritation. When used on this skin, an exfoliant of this type needs to be applied carefully once a week during the weekly routine step.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this scrub and retinol at the same time, as combining them may easily dry out or irritate acne-prone skin. Instead, acne-prone skin needs gentle treatments and soothing moisturizers with salicylic acid to help clear pores without causing irritation.
How often should I use it?
Acne-prone skin needs to start using an exfoliant like this just once a week, and only use it more often if your skin tolerates it well without irritation. Acne-prone skin needs gentle physical and chemical exfoliants that clear pores and smooth texture without causing redness or flare-ups.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This scrub contains salicylic acid which helps unclog pores and smooth texture, but it also has physical scrub particles and menthol that may sting and irritate acne-prone skin. A product for this skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants and soothing ingredients that clear pores without physical scrubbing or harsh cooling agents.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2020Twice 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, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Salicylic Acid, Stearamidoethyl Diethylamine, Butylene Glycol, Menthol, Trisodium Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Sulfate, Oleamide Mipa, Caramel, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol
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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