Clinique Exfoliating Scrub for oily acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Hexylene Glycol
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other exfoliants 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 exfoliation for your oily skin, as salicylic acid and polyethylene work to cleanse and refine texture, though specialized ingredients for acne and blemishes are limited.
- Magnesium aluminum silicate aids in seboregulation, providing some benefit for oiliness.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this water-based, mentholated scrub is highly effective for users with oily and combination-oily skin, providing a deep exfoliation that instantly smooths texture and clears clogged pores, leading to reduced oiliness and fewer breakouts. Some users find the scrub too abrasive for sensitive or dry skin types, and the thick consistency can make it difficult to dispense.
Highlights
Clears pores and oil Often Mentioned
- “unclogs pores”
- “great for oily skin”
- “keeps blackheads away”
- “controls excess oil”
- “prevents breakouts”
Polishes and smooths Often Mentioned
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “instantly smoother texture”
- “removes dead skin”
- “polished feel”
- “glass-like finish”
Difficult to dispense Often Mentioned
- “hard to squeeze”
- “tube is stiff”
- “product is too thick”
- “struggle to get out”
- “packaging design flaw”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “cooling menthol feel”
- “wakes me up”
- “feels refreshing”
- “tingly sensation”
- “cools down skin”
Efficient and long-lasting Sometimes Noted
- “little goes a long way”
- “tube lasts for months”
- “worth the price”
- “pea-sized amount needed”
- “good value”
Too harsh for some Sometimes Noted
- “too abrasive”
- “feels like sand”
- “scratched my skin”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “drying if used daily”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “smell is overpowering”
- “too minty”
- “eyes water from fumes”
- “strong chemical smell”
- “dislike the menthol”
Thick texture Rarely Noted
- “very thick paste”
- “hard to spread”
- “dry consistency”
- “needs lots of water”
- “chalky texture”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, makeupalley.com, lookfantastic.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Exfoliating Scrub work for oily acne-prone skin?
Clinique Exfoliating Scrub offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin using salicylic acid and polyethylene, though specialized ingredients for acne are limited. It is generally safe and helps control excess oil, but an exfoliant for this skin needs ingredients like BHA and blue tansy that clarify breakouts while soothing the skin.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2007
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and polyethylene make this scrub a moderate fit by refining texture and clearing away excess oil, while magnesium aluminum silicate helps manage oiliness. However, an exfoliant for this skin needs specialized ingredients like BHA and soothing natural extracts to properly target breakouts and keep skin clear.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2007
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Glyceryl Stearate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glyceryl Stearate helps keep oily, acne-prone skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture without feeling heavy. It works well in this type of product to blend oils and water together so the lotion stays light on your face. This ingredient is unlikely to clog your pores, though a great routine for this skin type also needs oil-balancing or clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant starts at once a week in your routine, with the possibility of using it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. To truly target oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients alongside sebum-controlling agents.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant on nights when you do not apply retinol, as alternating them helps prevent irritation on oily acne-prone skin. Use this scrub after your cleanser, rinse thoroughly, and save your retinol treatment for a separate evening.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. An oily skin type needs specialized ingredients for acne and blemishes along with salicylic acid and magnesium aluminum silicate to properly manage oiliness and breakouts.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This scrub is unlikely to cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients. However, it offers only moderate exfoliation and limited ingredients for blemishes, so oily and acne-prone skin often needs targeted ingredients like specialized anti-acne agents and advanced oil-controlling compounds.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2007
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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
Why other exfoliants fit oily acne-prone skin better
A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Turmeric and curcumin products, both oral and topical, showed statistically significant improvement in skin disease severity in ten out of eighteen studies compared with control groups.
Phytotherapy Research, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyethylene, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Stearamidoethyl Diethylamine, Oleamide Mipa, Trisodium Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.