Review: Clean & Clear Advantage Mark Treatment

with 2% salicylic acid

Pros:

- Sanitary packaging (nose dispenser)

- Helps acne a little bit

- Doesn't dry up pimple as much as benzoyl peroxide (could also be con)

Cons:

- Balls up certain moisturizers (see verdict)

- Strong fragrance

Verdict:

The first time I tried this, I didn't think much of it. I started using this again a few weeks ago and found that, with consistent use, it does help with small pimples, but not so much cystic acne.

I noticed that if you apply this then your moisturizer, the product balls up on your skin. However, if you apply a moisturizer first, then apply this, it does not ball up. Note that this only applies to moisturizers that completely absorb into your skin. I tried applying this after a moisturizer that leaves a dewy finish, and it balled up again.

I only recommend using this at night since it also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Price:

$5-7 for 0.5 oz / 15 ml

Repurchase?

Maybe.

Review: Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying moisturizer SPF 15

Pros:

- Leaves a very matte finish

- SPF 15 with mineral based sunblock ingredients (the Pore Refining one from C&C has oxybenzone )

- Sanitary packaging

Cons:

- Doesn't actually control oil (as it claims)

- Leaves white cast

- Not very moisturizing

- Accentuates flakes / dryness (kind of expected out of a mattifying product)

Verdict:

When this product first comes out of the tube, it is very liquidy. As you blend it into your skin, it becomes more pasty and is hard to completely blend into your skin, hence the white cast. The reason it's so hard to blend is also partly because it has clay ingredients in it.

I only use this on my nose because it's too dry for my cheeks.

Price: 

$6-7 for 1.7 oz / 48 g

Repurchase?

No.