Beauty Briefing Verdict 2026 09 21T110414.020

Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser Review

BeautyBrief™

Brand

Clean & Clear

Product

Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser

Claims check

If you want a foaming scrub with AHAs, this cleanser contains glycolic and lactic acid, but undisclosed levels and pH do not establish treatment-strength resurfacing.

Shopper fit

  • Normal
  • Combination
  • Oily

Formula flags

  • Fragrance
  • Exfoliating acids
  • Physical exfoliant; cooling agent: menthol

Shopper preferences

  • None Found

Key ingredients

Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateCreates a strong foaming cleanser to remove surface oil.
CelluloseContributes physical polishing texture, with friction a key tolerance consideration.
Glycolic AcidSupplies a rinse-off AHA ingredient with undisclosed concentration and pH.
Lactic AcidAdds a second AHA ingredient without verifying treatment-strength resurfacing.
PanthenolAdds Pro-Vitamin B5 conditioning support.

Price tier

$ Budget

Value check

At the Budget tier, you get a textured scrub with AHA ingredients, but menthol, fragrance and repeated polishing reduce its flexibility for sensitive skin.

Where to buy

Amazon

We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.

Bottom line

If your normal-to-oily skin tolerates scrubs, Clean & Clear Deep Action combines a cellulose texture with glycolic and lactic acids. Menthol and fragrance can be poor fits for reactive skin, and the undisclosed acid levels do not guarantee resurfacing results. At the Budget tier, its value is a specific scrub experience rather than treatment of persistent acne or dark spots.

What is Shopper Fit?

Shopper Fit shows who The Beauty Briefing finds the product is reasonably suited for after reviewing the complete formula or product design, product format, expected performance, directions, tolerability, usability, and available evidence.

Depending on the product category, Shopper Fit may reflect factors such as skin type, hair or scalp characteristics, product needs, routine compatibility, sensitivity, experience level, or practical use considerations.

Shopper Fit is BB's editorial product-fit assessment, not a copy of the brand's marketing. It is not a diagnosis, a guarantee of results or tolerance, or a claim that the product is suitable for everyone.

What are Shopper Preferences?

Shopper Preferences are product attributes The Beauty Briefing has enough evidence to treat as established for the exact product. A brand statement, badge, or retailer claim alone is not enough.

Vegan
BB found sufficient documentation to verify the vegan claim within the documented product scope.
Cruelty-Free
BB found sufficient documentation to verify the cruelty-free claim within the scope of the evidence reviewed.
Non-Comedogenic
BB found sufficient product-specific evidence or documentation to support the non-comedogenic claim. A brand claim by itself does not qualify.
Dermatologist-Tested
BB verified documentation showing the exact product was tested with dermatologist involvement. This does not mean dermatologist-recommended.
Ophthalmologist-Tested
BB verified documentation showing the exact product was tested with ophthalmologist involvement.
Hypoallergenic
BB found sufficient product-specific evidence or documentation to support the hypoallergenic claim. It does not guarantee that no shopper will react.
None Found
BB did not find sufficient evidence to verify any of the controlled Shopper Preferences for the exact product.

Brand marketing tells BB what to investigate. BeautyBrief tells the shopper what BB has established.

What are Formula Flags?

Formula Flags identify characteristics of a product's formula that materially affect shopper fit, tolerability, routine compatibility, or use. A flag does not mean an ingredient is bad or that the product is unsafe. It highlights something worth knowing before you buy.

Fragrance
Added fragrance or parfum that materially affects shopper fit or tolerability.
Essential oils
Essential oils that are relevant to fragrance exposure, sensitivity, or use.
Drying alcohols
Volatile alcohols at a level that materially affects feel, dryness, or tolerability.
Retinoids
Retinoid actives that affect routine compatibility, tolerability, or use.
Exfoliating acids
Exfoliating acids such as AHAs, BHAs, or PHAs at a functionally relevant level.
Comedogenic concerns
Formula characteristics that warrant additional consideration for breakout-prone shoppers.
Sulfates
Sulfate cleansing agents that materially affect cleansing strength, skin or hair feel, or shopper fit.
Silicones
Silicones that materially affect texture, finish, or shopper fit.
Added color
Added colorants that materially affect the finished formula or shopper use.
Other
Another formula characteristic materially affects shopper fit or use.
None identified
No defined Formula Flags materially affect shopper fit or use.

Formula Flags are informational. They are not a list of ingredients everyone should avoid.

If your skin is balanced, combination, or oily and you specifically want a scrub-forward cleanser, Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser gives you both physical polishing and rinse-off AHA exfoliation at the Budget tier. The main tradeoff is intensity: daily scrub particles, acids, menthol, and fragrance make this less flexible than a simple everyday wash.

Beauty Briefing Verdict 2026 09 21T110414.020

What it claims

Clean & Clear describes Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser as a daily exfoliating face wash with Pro-Vitamin B5 that cleans deep down to pores and leaves your skin soft, smooth, and refreshed. The current U.S. page highlights naturally derived exfoliating beads, positions the product for balanced, combination, and oily skin, and says the formula is free of parabens, sulfates, and dyes.[1]

The brand recommends daily use. The label also carries an AHA sunburn warning because the formula contains alpha hydroxy acids.[1]

Claims vs. formula

Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine provide the noticeable foam and surface-oil removal. That fits the product’s combination- and oily-skin positioning.

Cellulose and the bead system provide the physical polishing. That supports the immediate smooth-skin effect, but it also means this is not a neutral cleanser.

Glycolic acid and lactic acid add rinse-off AHA exfoliation. Clean & Clear does not disclose their concentrations or the finished-product pH, so you should not treat this like a clearly dosed resurfacing treatment.

Glycerin and panthenol add some comfort support, while menthol and fragrance create the cooling scented finish.

Ingredients that matter

Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine contribute foaming cleansing. Cellulose forms a textured physical-polishing component while glycolic acid and lactic acid supply AHA ingredients. Their concentrations and the finished cleanser pH are not disclosed, so the list cannot establish a treatment-strength resurfacing effect.

Glycerin and panthenol contribute water-binding and conditioning support. Menthol and fragrance are sensory ingredients that can make the experience feel fresh, but do not provide evidence of acne-treatment benefits or negate the potential irritation of scrubbing.

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a well-established cleansing and foaming surfactant used mainly in rinse-off formulas. Sulfate-free does not automatically mean mild; the complete cleanser determines strength and comfort.

Read the IngredientBrief
Close-up of glycolic acid droplets on a soft pink background.

Glycolic Acid

If rough texture or dullness bothers you, glycolic acid has evidence for smoother-looking skin. Choose a formula your skin tolerates; concentration and pH matter more than a high percentage.

Read the IngredientBrief
Close-up of a skincare dropper with a drop of serum, promoting skin exfoliation and renewal.

Lactic Acid

If roughness or dullness bothers you, lactic acid is a proven exfoliant. Choose a formula with a pH and strength your skin tolerates; a higher percentage isn't automatically better.

Read the IngredientBrief
Close-up of clear panthenol serum with bubbles for skin hydration.

Panthenol

Panthenol is a well-supported humectant and conditioning ingredient that improves hydration and helps reduce water loss. The complete moisturizer matters more than a high percentage or broad barrier-repair marketing.

Read the IngredientBrief

Safety and regulatory context

Clean & Clear describes this exfoliating cleanser for balanced, combination and oily skin and promotes daily use.[1] The formula on record contains glycolic and lactic acids, fragrance and menthol, together with a textured scrub base. If you already use retinoids or leave-on exfoliants, daily scrubbing can add unnecessary routine intensity.

Its marketing as sulfate-free is consistent with the absence of classic sulfate surfactants; sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate has a similar-sounding name but is chemically a sulfonate, not sodium lauryl sulfate. The AHA levels and pH are undisclosed, so do not treat the wash as a dosed acne medication or a professional chemical peel.

What to expect in the short term

You get noticeable foam, scrub texture, immediate surface smoothing, and a cooling menthol finish. If your skin is normal, combination, or oily and already tolerates physical exfoliation, that experience may suit you.

If your skin is dry, very sensitive, peeling, fragrance-reactive, or treatment-stressed, the combination of scrub particles, AHAs, menthol, and fragrance gives you more reasons to choose a simpler cleanser.

What to expect over time

The repeat-use role is exfoliating cleansing rather than acne treatment or intensive resurfacing. The scrub and AHAs add routine intensity, so if you already use retinoids, leave-on acids, or other exfoliants, ask whether you also need exfoliation in the cleansing step.

At the Budget tier, the value makes the most sense if you specifically want a scrub cleanser with added AHAs. If you want a neutral daily wash, the extra exfoliation and sensory ingredients add complexity without adding treatment-level benefit.

Who it fits

This makes the most sense if your skin is normal, combination, or oily and you specifically enjoy a scrub cleanser with a polished after-feel.

If your skin is dry, very sensitive, peeling, fragrance-reactive, or treatment-stressed, a lower-intensity cleanser is easier to fit into your routine. Even though the brand allows daily use, occasional use may make more sense if the rest of your routine already contains exfoliation.

Compare before you buy

Final Assessment

If you have normal-to-oily skin and enjoy exfoliating washes, Clean & Clear Deep Action combines a textured scrub with listed glycolic and lactic acids. Fragrance, menthol and repeated polishing can be limiting for sensitive or treatment-stressed skin, while the acid concentrations do not establish major resurfacing results. At the Budget tier, its value depends on wanting a sensory scrub rather than relying on it for persistent acne or pigmentation.

Where to buy

Choose a retailer to view current pricing and availability.

Amazon

We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Sources

  1. Clean & Clear. Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser. Official product page, accessed October 14, 2026; current product claims and intended uses.

    Return to citation.

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