Adult Acne → Style Chicks

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel Why We Love it

August 11, 2025 · Leave a Comment

REVIEW: Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel: Does It Really Work?

Clinique’s Fast-Acting Acne Treatment Explored in Depth

Thought by the time you had wrinkles that your acne would be gone? Think again. Adult acne is hard to treat. The aggressive ingredients of our teenage years are too harsh for mature skin.

So we want a acne treatment that is gentle yet effective.

Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Gel

What is Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel?

Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel by Clinique is a dermatologist-developed treatment designed to visibly reduce blemishes, prevent future breakouts, and clear pores.

It contains treating and soothing ingredients. This spot treatment promises fast, clinically proven results.

But does it work on stubborn adult acne?

Let’s take a look at this acne treatment.

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel Key Benefits

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel has many benefits.

It can be used as a spot treatment or for full-face application. It also:

reduces the size and redness of blemishes
helps to prevent future breakouts
unclogs pores
removes excess oil
fragrance-free
allergy-tested

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel has Salicylic Acid

Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is a dermatologist-developed treatment to fight breakouts and prevent future acne.

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel Pros + Cons

Pros	Cons
Effective spot treatment for active breakouts	May cause dryness or peeling in sensitive skin
Clinically tested and suitable for most skin types	Contains alcohol, which can be irritating to some users
Non-comedogenic and dermatologist-developed	Price point is higher than some drugstore alternatives

What are the Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel Ingredients?

Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel has treating and soothing ingredients. Together they help sensitive skin tolerate acne treatment.

The Active Ingredient is 1% Salicylic Acid, which is a beta-hydroxy acid.

What does Salicylic Acid do? It can:

exfoliate the skin
unclog pores
reduce acne

Read the RELATED SKINCARE GUIDE:

SALICYLIC ACID WHAT IT IS + HOW TO BEST USE IT

The other key ingredients are:

to assist sensitive skin fight acne without irritation:

Acetyl Glucosamine that exfoliates skin and reduces acne scars.
Brown sea kelp hydrates compromised skin. It also is:
- skin soothing.
- antibacterial.
- astringent.
- able to clean pores.
- able to fight breakouts.

To hydrate and soothe sensitive skin

Sea Whip is made from a sustainable soft coral.
- It prevents skin irritation.
- It is helpful to those with rosacea, sensitive or redness-prone skin. (1)
Butylene Glycol hydrates the skin.
Witch Hazel is a natural plant remedy. It eases inflammation and soothes sensitive skin

also:

Alcohol Denat is a drying agent. It delivers active ingredients quickly. But it can also irritate sensitive skin.

How to Best Use Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

Cleanse your face thoroughly before applying.
Apply only a thin layer directly to the blemish or breakout-prone areas 1-2 times daily. Less is more.
If dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to once a day or every other day.
Can be used under makeup or sunscreen. But oily products can dissolve the gel.

User Experience

Many users report seeing a noticeable reduction in redness and swelling within 24 hours.

The gel has a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that doesn’t leave a sticky residue.
Those with oily or combination skin types find it especially beneficial, though individuals with dry or sensitive skin may experience initial irritation or flaking.
With consistent use, it helps keep breakouts at bay and improves overall skin clarity.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Cystic acne is difficult to treat on sensitive skin because most ingredients that treat adult acne are harsh.

The combination of ingredients in this gel works well to target the acne yet minimize the impact on my sensitive skin. I think the Sea Whip extract makes a big difference to help me tolerate acne treatment.

A disadvantage of Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is it is a small bottle for the price. It is more of an investment compared to some acne treatments. I only tried it because other adult acne products failed. But I am glad I did try it because it works so well.

If your skin is not sensitive, or other salicylic acids have not failed you, there are most cost-effective options.
But if the standard treatments don’t work for you, Clinique offers a solid choice. It is a small bottle but you don’t need much.

Similar Acne Products to Consider

GENTLE: Paula’s Choice CLEAR Acne Spot Treatment. It also uses salicylic acid but in a more gentle, soothing formula.
AGGRESSIVE: Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel: has benzoyl peroxide for severe breakouts.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution: A basic but effective formula with twice the Salicylic. It is best for oily and blemish-prone skin.
NATURAL, CLEAN BEAUTY: Acne Slayer to treat mild acne with no chemicals.
Neutralyze Exfoliating Pads improves moderate-to-severe acne. It uses Nitric Oxide, Salicylic, and Mandelic Acids.
Keeva Organic Acne Treatment Cream uses Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid to treat cystic, hormonal, and bacterial based acne.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does it take to see results with Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel?

Many users report visible reduction in pimple size and redness within 24-48 hours.

However, results may vary depending on skin type and severity of acne. For best results, use consistently over several days.

Can I use it with other acne products?

Yes, but with caution.

Avoid using other products with strong active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or retinoids simultaneously. These can cause dryness or irritation.
Always patch test new combinations.

Is it safe for sensitive skin?

The gel is fragrance-free and allergy-tested. But it does contain alcohol, which may irritate sensitive skin. Start with one application per day and moisturize well to minimize side effects.

Can I wear makeup over it?

Yes. The gel absorbs quickly and leaves no residue.

It is suitable under makeup or sunscreen. Just allow it to dry completely before applying other products.

Is Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel suitable for body acne?

Yes. While it’s primarily formulated for facial use, it can be applied to body acne on areas like the back, shoulders, or chest. Be mindful of irritation, especially on dry or sensitive skin areas.

Final Thoughts

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is an effective acne treatment.

It delivers quick results for mild to moderate acne.
It is a fast-drying, oil-free formula.
This is a flake-free gel that dries down with no residue.
It is fragrance-free and has no smell.
This formula is best suited for those with oily or combination skin types.

However, individuals with sensitive skin may need to proceed with caution due to the presence of alcohol.

We find it exceptionally effective on cystic acne.

If you’re looking for a reliable, dermatologist-backed spot treatment, this gel is well worth considering.

How to Best treat Adult Acne with Acne Slayer

October 31, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Review: Acne Slayer a plant-based acne treatment

I thought by the time I had wrinkles that acne would be over. Nope. And adult acne is tricky. Cystic acne, Rudolph red nose, pimples, and full-blown zits. Acne Slayer fights all the above. We got a chance to try this plant-based blemish fighter. It works because it has natural, proven ingredients that are delivered by a unique method of conveyance. Read about the research-backed natural ingredients and our experience with Acne Slayer.

Acne Slayer

WHY Acne Slayer WORKS

Acne Slayer works because it uses proven plant extracts to enhance the skin’s natural ability to heal.

DermaVine is Acne Slayer’s secret weapon. It is a proprietary blend of ingredients like willow bark, lemon peel oil, and cinnamon extract.

DermaVine

Cinnamon bark enhances the permeation and delivery of topical treating ingredients. [1]

Acne Slayer

The DermaVine formula is suspended within an alcohol solution. Alcohol destroys fungal, viral, and bacterial cells that cause acne. This also enables the best possible absorption – better than creams, salves, or serums.

As a liquid, it won’t leave a residue. It is undetectable on a bare face or under moisturizer, sunscreen, or makeup.

Lemon Peel Oil eliminates Cutibacterium acnes, an acne-causing bacteria, better than the antibiotic erythromycin. [2]

Typically, alcohol dries adult skin. But the DermaVine formulation rehydrates and promotes new, healthy skin cells. The result is a natural, effective, plant-based acne remedy.

What is in Acne Slayer?

Let’s take a look at the acne-fighting properties of a few of the ingredients in the DermaVine formula:

Key Ingredients

Willow Bark extract comes from these inner layers of the bark of the willow tree.

Willow Bark Extract

Willow Bark Extract is an excellent acne remedy. It unclogs pores, reduces redness, and regulates sebum production. Yet it is gentle to the skin.

Willow Bark extract has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. [3]

Willow Bark contains salicin, from which salicylic acid is derived. Salicylic Acid is a natural bHA.

It purges clogged pores without excess drying the skin surface.
Salicylic Acid does not cause the dryness that occurs with Benzoyl Peroxide or Retinol.
It also helps build collagen to heal acne scars and improve skin care texture.

Lemon Peel Oil

Lemon Peel Oil clears the skin. As a natural exfoliator and skin purifier, lemon peel oil gives skin a lovely glow. [4]

Lemon Peel Oil alleviates skin inflammation [5] to reduce the angry red appearance of a blemish. It also reduces certain infection-causing bacterias. [6]

One study reported Lemon Peel Oil demonstrates remarkable antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes, Formerly P. acnes) and common microorganisms such as S. aureus, B. subtilis, and E. coli. Even compared with the common antibiotics (such as erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline) for acne therapy, its antibacterial activity against C. acnes is more excellent [7].

Lemon Peel Oil is an antioxidant containing high levels of Vitamin C. Vitamin C reduces excess oil production, shrinks pores, and exfoliates dead surface skin. These reduce the formation of acne.

Direct, undiluted application of lemon peel oil can dry the skin. But it works well within a balanced formulation.

Cinnamonum Extract

Cinnamonum Extract is a type of cinnamon bark.

It is used in skincare as an antiseptic, antibiotic, and astringent.

Cinnamonum Extract helps eliminate bacteria and prevent future breakouts due to its’ detoxifying and antiseptic properties.[8] It is particularly effective in eliminating acne causing Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. [9, 10]

Cinnamon Extract can enhance the absorption and delivery of treating ingredients via the skin.[11]

Studies suggest cinnamaldehyde, a component in cinnamon, may enhance healing in P. aeruginosa-infected skin wounds. [12]

The Acne Slayer Experience

The texture is a bit thicker than water consistency. I am impressed that it is not greasy or sticky.

It smells of alcohol but doesn’t sting. The smell of alcohol evaporates quickly. It is fresh smelling, but I don’t detect a specific note. Maybe a bit citrus with slight spice but not exactly cinnamon. I smell nothing once it is dry.

It dries down completely clean. I can wear makeup or sunscreen on top without any grainy, chalky, or greasy residue.

Apply 4-8 drops of Acne Slayer to the face like a toner

Apply 4-8 drops with a cotton pad

How does it work?

Just on cue, a cystic acne pimple emerged on my chin. Red, swollen and painful.

So I applied Acne Slayer as directed. I wipe it on my face with a cotton wipe, like a toner. It dries immediately without a residue, and I apply my sunscreen or moisturizer directly on top. I apply daily.

Normally cystic acne painfully sits on my face, slowly forming into pimple form for over a week or so. Acne Slayer reduced the size, removed the painful swelling, and the redness. It also accelerated the process. Acne Slayer stopped the painful inflammation and redness of cystic acne, quickly reducing an angry blemish to a non-inflamed white head that resolved on its’ in a few days.

Where to Buy Acne Slayer

Find Acne Slayer at https://www.slayerskincare.com/acne-slayer

Acne Slayer

Acne Slayer natural ingredients

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?

Have any questions about Acne Slayer?

The Style Chicks are here to answer them.

âœ½

Leave a comment or email us at questions@stylechicks.com

References

Jiang, Qiudong et al. “Development of essential oils as skin permeation enhancers: penetration enhancement effect and mechanism of action.” Pharmaceutical biologyvol. 55,1 (2017): 1592-1600. doi:10.1080/13880209.2017.1312464
Hou, He-Shuai et al. “Extraction of essential oil from Citrus reticulate Blanco peel and its antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes).” Heliyon vol. 5,12 e02947. 2 Dec. 2019, doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02947
Shara M, Stohs SJ. Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extracts. Phytother Res. 2015 Aug;29(8):1112-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5377. Epub 2015 May 22. PMID: 25997859.
Gil, M I et al. “Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice and its relationship with phenolic composition and processing.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry vol. 48,10 (2000): 4581-9. doi:10.1021/jf000404a
Anil Kumar Maurya, et al, “The essential oil from Citrus limetta Risso peels alleviates skin inflammation: In-vitro and in-vivo study”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 212, 2018, Pages 86-94
Ibid
Hou, Extraction, Heliyon
Veerasophon, Jinmica et al. “Formulation of anti-acne concealer containing cinnamon oil with antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes.” Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research vol. 11,2 (2020): 53-58. doi:10.4103/japtr.JAPTR_1_20
Ibid
Julianti, Elin et al. “Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Cinnamon Bark, Honey, and Their Combination Effects against Acne-Causing Bacteria.” Scientia pharmaceutica vol. 85,2 19. 11 Apr. 2017
Jiang, Development, Pharmaceutical
Ferro, Thiago A F et al. “Topical Application of Cinnamaldehyde Promotes Faster Healing of Skin Wounds Infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)vol. 24,8 1627. 25 Apr. 2019, doi:10.3390/molecules24081627

About This Post

Acne Slayer

The Style Chicks team personally tests and thoroughly evaluates each product before it is featured.

Style Chicks independently researches product ingredients to understand how every featured product works. We show our research in the References section of each article.

Our opinions are 100% our own.

Why We Love reVive Light Therapy Clinical Acne Treatment

December 5, 2019 · 10 Comments

Back in May 2017, we reviewed the reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment device, a home light therapy device for the treatment of acne. It has continued to be one of our personal favorite skincare devices for reducing and preventing acne.

In case you didnt catch it the first time, we wanted to bring you our review of this astounding device that delivers medi-spa level results in the convenience of your own home. We also have added a few tips we picked up in the time we have been using it!

So let’s get to it!

Thought acne was over now that you’re over 21? Think again. Adult acne plagues both men and women. Light therapy is an effective acne treatment. Non-invasive and pain-free, light therapy is available in spas and dermatologist offices. Now it is also available in cost-effective devices for at-home use. But not all at-home light therapy devices are created equal. So we’re excited to find the highly effective, FDA-cleared, medical-grade reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment device.

reVive LED Light Therapy Device and goggles

reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment

lightweight and easy to use

ACNE CAN OCCUR AT ANY AGE

Teenage skin can bounce back from the drying effect of acne medications. But as an adult, battling acne and aging at the same time is daunting. What is worse, the topical products that worked in your teens aren’t even that effective on adult acne.

WHAT MAKES THE REVIVE LIGHT THERAPY CLINICAL -ACNE TREATMENT DEVICE SUPERIOR TO OTHER AT-HOME DEVICES?

reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment is a superior LED Light Therapy device. It is an FDA-cleared and OTC Class II medical-grade device. It features DPL (Deep Penetrating Light) Technology. This provides in-office quality results at home. DPL technology sets this device apart from many of the at-home use devices. DPL can get deep into the skin as an in-office treatment does.

Supported by Clinical Research

reVive is safe and effective for all skin tones. In a clinical study, 98% of users had improved acne. We liked this aspect because many skincare products cite user reports of how the users THINK they look when using the product. But reVive cites a clinical study with objective measures of efficacy for their results.

Safe for all skin tones, 98% of study participants in a clinical study demonstrated improved acne and dramatically clearer skin

WHY LIGHT THERAPY FOR ACNE

Light encourages the body to heal. LED Light Therapy studies show rapid acne reduction. Blue light eliminates the bacteria on the skin, even in deeper skin layers. Light reaches deeper than a washcloth or sonic facial cleansing brush. It’s painless with no side effects. Continue to use your regular skincare products without a conflict.

WHY REVIVE LED LIGHT THERAPY

Has your acne ever looked better after a day of sun at the beach? All light kills bacteria. But light can cause skin damage. reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment uses only the specific wavelength that eliminates bacteria: 415 nanometers on the blue light spectrum.

This wavelength of light attacks acne in three ways:

It kills acne-causing bacteria
It clears existing breakouts by starving the pimple.
It prevents acne flare-ups by regulating oil production.

Studies show the precise 415 nm wavelength of light used by the reVive is safe and effective for acne treatment

Studies show this precise 415 nm wavelength of blue light used by the reVive is safe and effective for acne treatment

This blue light leads to clear skin, often within just a few days. It also reduces redness and inflammation. This makes acne less noticeable and easier to conceal with makeup. Safe for all skin tones, it will not alter the skin color. It is safe for sensitive skin that cannot tolerate topical acne treatments.

It doesn’t dry the skin like a topical cream. And bonus: the light enhances collagen production.

Shown here on the palm so the multiple, powerful light diodes can be seen in action.

Revive is an FDA-cleared, over the counter, class II medical device. Get in-office results safely at home.

reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment Device Kit

reVIVE LIGHT THERAPY CLINICAL – ACNE TREATMENT CONTENTS

The kit includes:

The light device
Goggles
One year warranty
Travel bag
AC/DC power supply
Instruction manual

This revive light therapy set comes with eye goggles as seen on StyleChicks.com

This set comes with eye goggles

USING THE DEVICE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It is well packed in a sturdy box. The device can be used directly out of the package, there is no charge-up time. Plug it in, turn it on and use it.

reVive set up is quick and easy. Just plug it in and turn it on.

Medical grade light diodes and a large treating head for superior light therapy treatments

The device comes with protective goggles that are optional to wear, but useful.

The device fits easily into my hand, it’s slim and not at all heavy and I can use it while watching TV.

It fits easily into my hand, it is lightweight, and I use it while watching TV a few minutes each night

The reVive slimline device has an extra-long cord for ease of use. I use it a few minutes each night

HOW TO USE THE DEVICE

Hold the light head 1/4 inch from the treatment area for three minutes. Move to the next treatment area, and repeat.

The device is lightweight and easy to use

reVive covers large sections of the face at once with an extra-large treatment head

The LED handheld light covers a large treatment area at once. As a medical-grade device, the blue light is powerful and bathe the area in a concentrated wavelength that penetrates deeply into the skin, killing bacteria.

That’s a lot of blue light! reVive treats a large area of skin in acne-reducing light therapy with powerful diodes

I prefer this device with it’s big head to some of the spot treatment smaller devices to kill bacteria quickly and pre-empt acne instead of spot treating acne after it appears.

RESULTS

After one week of daily device use, my skin appeared much clearer with no major breakouts. Even stubborn blackheads around my nose are diminishing!

Regular use makes for clearer skin with far fewer breakouts.

CONCLUSION

The reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment device features dpl® Technology. DPL provides enhanced treatment efficacy. It gives in-office quality results at home in only a few minutes a day. It uses a safe wavelength of light that is safe for skin but kills bacteria. The large treatment head covers sizable portions of the face at once. It bathes the face in blue light to treat existing acne and prevent future acne. It is FDA-cleared and an OTC Class II medical-grade device. ReVive makes acne treatable for any age or gender in the comfort of your own home in just a few minutes a day.

A wonderful tool in your beauty arsenal to help combat acne breakouts!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment at reVive

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Have any comments or questions about reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment? The Style Chicks are here to answer them.

Leave a comment or email us at questions@stylechicks.com

About this post

Style Chicks received the reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort in 2017. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours. This followup article was not sponsored.

Style Chicks Favorite Things: reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment

December 5, 2019 · 10 Comments

Back in May 2017, we reviewed the reVive Light Therapy Clinical – Acne Treatment device, a home light therapy device for the treatment of acne. It has continued to be one of our personal favorite skincare devices for reducing and preventing acne.