Clinique All About Clean™ Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser Review

BeautyBrief™

Brand

Clinique

Product

All About Clean™ Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser

Claims check

If you want rich foaming removal of everyday buildup, this fatty-acid cleanser supports that goal, but it does not guarantee a non-stripping result.

Shopper fit

  • Combination
  • Oily

Formula flags

  • Added color
  • Soap-style fatty-acid/potassium cleansing system

Shopper preferences

  • None Found

Key ingredients

Myristic AcidSupplies the fatty-acid cleansing base alongside the neutralizing system.
GlycerinAdds water-binding support during cleansing.
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateComplements the fatty-acid cleansing system.
Sodium HyaluronateProvides water-binding support, not a leave-on treatment.
Cholesteryl HydroxystearateContributes conditioning lipid character within the foam cleanser.

Price tier

$$ Mid-Range

Value check

At the Mid-Range tier, you pay for dense cream-mousse foam and daily cleansing, not demonstrated skin-barrier repair.

Where to buy

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

Bottom line

If you have combination-to-oily skin and like dense foam, Clinique provides a fatty-acid-based cleansing system. Your comfort depends on the complete formulation rather than its non-stripping marketing alone. At the Mid-Range tier, choose it for rich lather and daily makeup removal.

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 combination or oily and you like dense, creamy foam with a very clean rinse, Clinique All About Clean™ Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser gives you a Mid-Range option with strong makeup, sunscreen, and excess-oil removal. The main tradeoff is cleansing intensity: the soap-style fatty-acid/potassium-hydroxide system makes the blanket “non-drying, non-stripping” claim less convincing for drier or treatment-stressed skin.

Beauty Briefing Verdict 2026 09 21T124231.316

What it claims

Clinique describes this fragrance-free cream-mousse cleanser as a rich foam that removes pollution, dirt, excess oil, long-wearing makeup, and sunscreen while leaving skin fresh and clean. The current U.S. page positions it for combination and oily skin and calls the cleanser non-drying and non-stripping.[1]

The current page also highlights glycerin and hyaluronic acid and identifies the formula as free of fragrance, drying alcohol, SLS, and SLES.[1]

Claims vs. formula

The cleansing and makeup-removal claims are well aligned with the product. The current formula uses fatty acids and potassium hydroxide with supporting sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, giving you dense foam and efficient removal of excess oil, sunscreen residue, and everyday makeup.

Glycerin appears high in the formula, while sodium hyaluronate, butylene glycol, and cholesteryl hydroxystearate add conditioning support.

Those ingredients help soften the after-feel, but they do not erase the cleansing character of a soap-style system. Reviews of cleanser science describe traditional soap systems as more likely than syndets to raise skin-surface pH and increase dryness or tightness in susceptible skin.[2]

The current official page also lists Ext. Violet 2 and Red 4, so BB keeps the Added Color Formula Flag.[1]

Ingredients that matter

The updated exact-product formula lists myristic and behenic acids, glycerin, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate and potassium hydroxide. The fatty acids and base support its dense foaming wash, while sodium hyaluronate and butylene glycol add conditioning components.

The new listing names individual fatty acids rather than the preformed potassium salts recorded previously. This remains a fatty-acid-based cleanser, but its final pH and effects on a particular person’s skin cannot be inferred from INCI alone.

Close-up of glycerin dropper and test tube with glycerin.

Glycerin

If your skin feels dry or tight, glycerin helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need a high percentage or a separate serum when your moisturizer already works well.

Read the IngredientBrief
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a well-established cleansing and foaming surfactant used mainly in rinse-off formulas. The complete surfactant system determines cleansing strength and tolerability.

Read the IngredientBrief
Hyaluronic acid serum dropper with liquid on a soft pink background.

Hyaluronic Acid

If your skin feels dry or tight, hyaluronic acid helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need several HA forms or a separate serum when your moisturizer already hydrates well.

Read the IngredientBrief
Close-up of a clear glass bottle of sodium hyaluronate serum for skin hydration.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium hyaluronate is a well-established humectant and skin-conditioning form of hyaluronic acid for surface hydration and temporary plumping. Molecular weight and the complete formula matter more than the ingredient name…

Read the IngredientBrief

Safety and regulatory context

Clinique labels this formula fragrance-free and allergy-tested and lists Ext. Violet 2 and Red 4 in the current U.S. INCI.[1] These are added colors, so that Formula Flag applies.

General cleanser research explains why cleansing intensity and tolerance matter, but it cannot prove that this finished product will disrupt your skin barrier.[2]

What to expect in the short term

You get dense, creamy foam and efficient removal of ordinary makeup, sunscreen, excess oil, and daily residue. Combination and oily skin that likes a very clean finish is the clearest fit.

If your skin is dry, dehydrated, peeling, or treatment-stressed, you are more likely to notice tightness despite the humectants and conditioning ingredients.

What to expect over time

The repeat-use value is reliable removal rather than cumulative hydration or barrier repair. If the cleanser repeatedly leaves your skin comfortable, the strong foam may suit your routine; if it leaves tightness, the formula is more cleansing than you need.

At the Mid-Range tier, you are paying for the rich cream-mousse texture, strong makeup and sunscreen removal, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, conditioning ingredients, and Clinique’s polished sensory experience.

Who it fits

This makes the most sense if your skin is combination or oily and you specifically prefer dense foam and a thorough clean.

If your skin is dry, dehydrated, sensitive from treatment, or prone to post-wash tightness, a milder syndet or cream cleanser is easier to fit into your routine.

Compare before you buy

For the wider decision between a rich foaming wash, a milder foam, and a cream cleanser, read BB’s How to Choose a Facial Cleanser for Your Skin Type. The amount of lather alone does not establish which formula fits dry, oily, or sensitive skin best.

Final Assessment

If your combination-to-oily skin prefers a dense mousse, Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser removes daily makeup and excess oil in a fatty-acid-based wash. Its non-stripping marketing does not guarantee comfort if your skin is dry or treatment-stressed. At the Mid-Range tier, its value is the foaming texture rather than a barrier-repair effect.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Sources

  1. Clinique. All About Clean Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser. Official U.S. page, accessed October 14, 2026; complete updated formula, usage and claims.

    Return to citation.

  2. Mijaljica D, Spada F, Harrison IP. Skin Cleansing without or with Compromise: Soaps and Syndets. 2022. General cleanser-science context.

    Return to citation.

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