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

You get strong cleansing, immediate physical smoothing, and rinse-off AHA exfoliation, while undisclosed acid concentrations and pH do not establish a treatment-level resurfacing role.

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 SulfonateProvides strong foaming and surface-oil removal.
CelluloseHelps create the scrub texture and immediate surface polishing.
Glycolic AcidAdds rinse-off AHA exfoliation; the concentration and finished-product pH are not disclosed.
Lactic AcidAdds further rinse-off exfoliating support.
PanthenolAdds Pro-Vitamin B5 conditioning support.

Price tier

$ Budget

Value check

At the Budget tier, the value makes the most sense if you specifically want a scrub cleanser with added AHAs; daily physical exfoliation, menthol, and fragrance reduce versatility for dry or treatment-stressed 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, combination, or oily skin specifically wants a scrub cleanser with added AHAs, this fits that preference at the Budget tier. If your routine already has enough exfoliation, a simpler cleanser is easier to use consistently.

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: Provides strong foaming and surface-oil removal.

Cellulose: Helps create the scrub texture and immediate surface polishing.

Glycolic acid: Adds rinse-off AHA exfoliation; the concentration and finished-product pH are not disclosed.

Lactic acid: Adds further rinse-off exfoliating support.

Panthenol: Adds Pro-Vitamin B5 conditioning support.

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

Glycolic acid is a well-supported AHA exfoliant for rough texture, dullness, and some superficial discoloration. Concentration, pH, product format, and frequency matter more than percentage alone.

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

Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is a well-supported AHA exfoliant for rough skin texture, with additional evidence for dullness and selected signs of photoaging. Percentage, pH, contact time, formula, and frequency all matter.

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

The current label carries the standard AHA sunburn warning. Use sunscreen, protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for one week afterward.[1]

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

Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser gives you inexpensive, noticeable physical and chemical exfoliation if you specifically want a scrub-forward cleansing step. Its main limitation is intensity: daily beads, AHAs, menthol, and fragrance make it less flexible for dry, reactive, or already exfoliated routines.

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. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Sources

  1. Clean & Clear. Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser. Current U.S. product page. Accessed October 1, 2026.

    Source for current product identity, balanced, combination and oily-skin positioning, daily-use directions, sulfate- and dye-free claims, naturally derived exfoliating-bead positioning, and the AHA sunburn warning. Stored INCI was accepted as verified for this review cycle.

    Return to citation.

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