Clinique all about clean for oily acne-prone skin
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Low
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the cleansers alongside 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 cleansing for your oily skin with Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine, but lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide some humectant action, the formula does not offer sufficient oil control for your oily skin type.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 8.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this dermatologist-developed cleanser line is a long-time staple for users with varying skin types, praised for effectively removing dirt and oil while maintaining the skin's moisture balance. While the majority of users with sensitive or combination skin find it gentle and non-irritating, a subset of reviewers experience dryness or a tight feeling after use.
Highlights
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “squeaky clean”
- “removes everything”
- “face feels fresh”
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “doesn't dry out”
- “gentle on skin”
- “soft lather”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “no scent”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “allergy tested”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “lasts forever”
- “little goes a long way”
- “good investment”
Skin type options Sometimes Noted
- “perfect for oily t-zone”
- “great for dry skin”
- “balances combination skin”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “leaves face tight”
- “too drying”
- “stripped my skin”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused bumps”
- “broke me out”
- “skin reaction”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump broke”
- “hard to dispense”
- “wasteful bottle design”
Residue left Rarely Noted
- “hard to rinse”
- “filmy feeling”
- “residue on skin”
Struggles with makeup Rarely Noted
- “didn't remove mascara”
- “need double cleanse”
- “makeup remains”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clinique.com, amazon.com, boots.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clinique All About Clean a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
Clinique All About Clean is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and does not offer sufficient oil control. A cleanser for this skin type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to calm the skin, balance oil production, and maintain clarity without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and does not offer sufficient oil control. A cleanser of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to balance oil production and manage acne.
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Sodium Laureth Sulfate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium laureth sulfate helps clean away excess oil, but it may dry out the skin and disrupt its natural protective barrier. This type of ingredient tends to cause irritation, so oily and acne-prone skin needs a cleanser formulated with much milder detergents, soothing moisture-boosting ingredients, and a skin-friendly pH that protects the barrier while it cleans.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the main cleansing step, but a weak match like this for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and better oil control to manage shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine, applying it before your retinol treatment. However, because this formula lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid and strong oil control for oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type for this skin needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily, but because it is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin, it needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and better oil control to keep your skin balanced.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target your breakouts. A cleanser of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients and oil control to truly fit this skin type.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be used on your body, but it is a weak match for the thin skin around your eyes which is much more delicate than facial skin. A cleanser for the eye area needs to be extremely gentle and avoid harsh foaming agents to prevent irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.
Langmuir, 2014The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A 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, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021A 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Sucrose, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Disodium Edta, 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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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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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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