Look, I’ve tried a LOT of drugstore acne moisturizers, and most of them either break me out more or feel like I’m rubbing hand sanitizer on my face. The Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturizer keeps popping up as a budget option that’s supposed to hydrate AND fight acne with salicylic acid, so I finally grabbed it to see what the deal is. In this clean and clear dual action moisturizer review, I’m gonna break down what’s actually in this thing, whether the ingredients make sense, and if it’s worth your money or just another overhyped drugstore fail.
Key Ingredients in Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturizer: What Makes It Work?
CETYL ALCOHOL AND STEARYL ALCOHOL
So you see “alcohol” and you’re like oh hell no, right? Same. But these are fatty alcohols, which are completely different animals. They don’t dry out your skin. Tthey actually make it softer. Think of regular drying alcohol as that friend who borrows money and ghosts you. Fatty alcohols are the ones who bring you soup when you’re sick. They come from coconut or palm oil and they’re thick, creamy molecules that lock moisture into your skin instead of stripping it away.
What they’re doing here is making the texture not suck. Without them, you’d have this separated gross mess where the water and oil ingredients refuse to mix. They also create this protective layer on your skin that keeps water from evaporating off your face. In this specific moisturizer, they’re really important because salicylic acid can be drying as hell. These fatty alcohols balance that out so you’re not walking around with flaky patches. Plus they’re non-comedogenic for most people, so they won’t clog your pores while you’re trying to unclog them.
SALICYLIC ACID
This is the real star here. A proven spot-fighting ingredient, salicylic acid is a BHA and it’s oil-soluble, which is huge. That means it can actually get INTO your pores through all the oil sitting there and clear out the gunk where breakouts actually start. Most other acids just hang out on the surface.What it’s doing is breaking down the glue between dead skin cells so they can shed properly instead of getting stuck in your pores with oil and turning into blackheads and pimples. It’s also anti-inflammatory, so it calms down existing breakouts and redness.
The research on this stuff is solid. Studies show that OTC salicylic acid at 0.5-2% significantly reduces acne after a few months of consistent use. It’s one of the most effective non-prescription acne fighters you can get. Looking at where it sits on this ingredient list, it’s probably in that range. What I like about this formula is they’re putting the salicylic acid in a moisturizing base instead of making it super harsh and stripping. Most acne treatments leave your face feeling like the desert. This way you get the benefits of this active ingredient without totally destroying your moisture barrier. It might not be as strong as a dedicated treatment, but for everyday prevention it’s actually pretty smart.
Related: Everything You Need To Know About Salicylic Acid In Skincare
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Aqua (Water): It’s water. The base of everything. Not exciting but necessary.
- Propylene Glycol: Pulls moisture into your skin and helps ingredients absorb better. Can irritate sensitive skin sometimes but most people are fine with it.
- C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate: Makes it feel silky instead of greasy. Spreads easy, doesn’t leave residue. Good for oily skin.
- Cyclomethicone: Silicone that evaporates after you put it on, gives that smooth primer feel. Some people avoid silicones but honestly it just makes application nicer.
- Menthyl Lactate: The tingly cooling feeling you get. Doesn’t really do anything for your skin, just feels refreshing.
- Propylene Glycol Isostearate: Texture thing. Makes it creamy and smooth.
- Stearic Acid: Keeps oil and water from separating, thickens it up, adds some moisture.
- Glyceryl Stearate: Another emulsifier plus it conditions your skin a bit. Helps prevent water loss.
- PEG-100 Stearate: More emulsifier keeping everything stable and mixed.
- Sodium Hydroxide: pH adjuster so the salicylic acid works right. Boring but important.
- Dimethicone: Super common silicone that locks in moisture and feels silky. Not treating anything, just feels nice.
- Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate: Emulsifier, mild exfoliant, and conditioner all in one. Overachiever ingredient.
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: Thickener. Controls the texture so it’s not runny.
- Carbomer: More thickening for that gel-cream bounce.
- Disodium EDTA: Keeps the formula stable and helps preservatives work. Prevents mold and bacteria.
- Phenoxyethanol: Main preservative. Fights bacteria and mold. Generally safe but sensitive skin might react.
- Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben: The whole paraben family. Preservatives that keep it from going bad. There’s drama around parabens but they’re considered safe at these amounts – some people still avoid them though.
Texture
This oil-free moisturiser has a lightweight, gel-cream thing going on that sinks in pretty fast. It’s not heavy or thick at all, which is probably why it doesn’t feel gross on oily skin. It spreads easily and doesn’t leave that sticky film that makes you regret your life choices. Some people say newer bottles feel slightly greasier than the old formula, but overall it’s still pretty light.
Fragrance
So the scent situation is kinda weird because the formula changed at some point. Some bottles are totally fragrance-free, but newer ones have this subtle minty smell. Either way it’s not gonna give you a headache or anything. You’ll also get that cooling tingly feeling when you put it on, which some people love and others find annoying.
How To Use It
Apply this to clean skin, like after you’ve washed your face and maybe used a toner if that’s your thing. You can use it one to three times a day according to the packaging, but here’s the thing: this has salicylic acid in it, which is an exfoliant. You should NOT be exfoliating your face every single day unless you want to destroy your moisture barrier and end up with angry, irritated skin. Use it maximum every other day, once a day (preferably).
Packaging
It comes in a pump bottle which is honestly super convenient. No sticking your fingers in a jar and contaminating everything. The bottle’s made with some recycled plastic if you care about that sort of thing.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Okay so when I use this, my skin feels lighter and less greasy throughout the day. Like I’m not dealing with that annoying oil slick by lunchtime. New breakouts definitely slow down after a couple weeks – not like magic overnight, but I’m getting fewer random pimples popping up. The salicylic acid is doing its thing, clearing out my pores so they’re not constantly clogged. Existing pimples go away faster too instead of just camping out on my face for weeks.
But real talk, the first week or two? My skin looked worse. That’s the purge… all the crap under my skin came up at once. It sucked but it passed. The moisturizing part is decent. It’s not gonna save super dry skin, but for my oily-combo situation it’s enough that I don’t feel tight or flaky. Just keeps things balanced without making me greasy. Downside is if I use it every day my skin gets pissed off. Starts feeling raw and irritated. So I stick to every other day and my skin’s way happier.
What I Like About Clean And Clear Dual Action Moisturizer
- It’s cheap as hell. Like you’re getting acne treatment and moisturizer for the price of a fancy coffee.
- It’s lightweight so you don’t feel like you rubbed crisco on your face.
- If your skin tolerates it, it actually works at clearing breakouts.
- Pump bottle means you’re not sticking dirty fingers in a jar.
What I DON’T Like About Clean And Clear Dual Action Moisturizer
- The purging phase sucks even though it’s normal.
- Not particularly moisturising.
- The packaging says use it multiple times a day but that’s a terrible idea. You’ll destroy your skin barrier.
Who Should Use This?
- Got oily or combo skin that’s not a drama queen? Cool, try it.
- On a budget? This is a solid option.
- Have dry skin? Nope, not moisturizing enough.
- Live somewhere super dry? Also nope.
- Sensitive skin? Hell no. Save yourself the pain.
Does Clean And Clear Dual Action Moisturizer Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This oil-free formula leaves skin feeling soft and smooth every day. | True. |
| The oil-free formula moisturises without clogging pores, while helping to prevent spots and blemishes leaving skin feeling smooth, soft, and beautiful every day. | True. |
Price & Availability
£4.25 at Boots, Look Fantastic, and Superdrug
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’ve got oily or combo skin that’s pretty chill with actives, and you don’t wanna drop $50 on a moisturizer, grab it. Sensitive or dry skin? Don’t even bother. You’ll regret it. And seriously, ignore the directions that say use it multiple times a day. Start with every other day, maybe even less. Your skin needs breaks from exfoliating or you’ll end up with a wrecked moisture barrier and angry red skin.
Aqua, Propylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclomethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Menthyl Lactate, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
