Origins under Revlon

The origins of Clean & Clear trace back to Revlon, which initially developed the brand as a line of personal care products associated with gentle and sensitive skin care. Historical records indicate the Clean & Clear name was introduced in 1956. [2]

The original concept differed significantly from the modern acne-focused identity. The name signified products designed to be free of specific ingredients, such as fragrance and dyes, and to rinse cleanly without leaving residue. Early product ranges included hair and facial care items rather than being exclusively an acne brand. [3]

Over subsequent decades, Revlon expanded the line. By the 1980s, Clean & Clear products encompassed lotions and bar soap, while shampoos and conditioners were also associated with the brand.

Johnson & Johnson acquisition

A pivotal shift occurred in the early 1990s when Revlon sold Clean & Clear to Johnson & Johnson. The new owner repositioned the brand strongly toward facial skincare, acne treatment, oil control, and younger demographics. [4]

This strategic pivot established the identity familiar to many consumers today: a youthful skincare brand associated with pimples, oily skin, blackheads, cleansing, and daily facial care. The brand also adopted the slogan:

“Clean & Clear and Under Control.”

This messaging emphasized that consumers could manage oily or problematic skin through a straightforward skincare routine. [5]

For many years, Clean & Clear was part of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health portfolio, alongside brands such as Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Listerine. Johnson & Johnson later reorganized its businesses to create Kenvue as its dedicated consumer health company. Kenvue was announced as the name of the planned entity in 2022, with the corporate separation finalized in 2023. [6]

Consequently, Clean & Clear is now associated with Kenvue rather than Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical or medical device divisions. This distinction is relevant as older packaging, websites, and articles may still reference Johnson & Johnson.

The Clean & Clear portfolio varies by country. In markets like the Philippines, availability depends on local distribution and regulatory approvals. The U.S. website categorizes products into several broad groups:

• Cleansers & scrubs
• Moisturizers
• Treatments & toners
• Bundles [7]

Products are also organized around specific skin concerns, including acne and blemishes, blackheads and pores, oily skin, dry skin, dull skin, and sensitive skin. [8]

Major product families

Recognizable Clean & Clear lines include:

• Morning Burst: Products designed for refreshing morning skincare, including facial cleansers and exfoliators.
• Deep Action: Products emphasizing deeper cleansing and pore purification.
• Essentials: Everyday skincare items, including cleansers, moisturizers, and acne-related products.
• Acne: Products specifically formulated for pimples, blemishes, and acne-prone skin.
• Blackhead Eraser: Products focused on blackheads and clogged pores.
• Night Relaxing: Cleansing products positioned for evening routines. [9]

Clean & Clear maintains a global presence, but its portfolio is highly localized. For example, the Indonesian market emphasizes teenage skin needs, oil-free formulations, and pore-clog reduction. [10] Its portfolio there includes Foaming Face Wash, Vitamin C Face Wash, Micellar Water, Oil Control Toner, Daily Pore Cleanser, Oil Control Film, Deep Action Cleanser, and Acne Clearing Cleanser. [11]

This illustrates the difference between global brand identity and local execution; individual countries feature distinct products, formulations, packaging, and marketing strategies. A product sold in one market should not be assumed to have the same formulation or positioning as a similarly named product elsewhere.

A core strategic association for Clean & Clear is oily and acne-prone skin. Formulations often target these concerns directly; for instance, certain cleansers utilize salicylic acid and botanical extracts marketed toward acne-prone skin and excess oil. [12]

In other markets, dedicated acne products include Acne Exfoliating Cleanser, Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, Essentials Acne Toner, and Persa-Gel benzoyl peroxide acne treatment. [13] This positions the brand between everyday beauty skincare and specialized problem-skin care.

Historically, Clean & Clear has been strongly associated with teenagers and young women. Marketing materials have explicitly described products designed for teenage skin needs, noting the brand’s popularity among millions of young women globally. [14]

Past marketing framed acne and oily skin as manageable issues within a daily routine rather than exclusive luxury beauty concerns. Today, the target demographic has broadened. Portfolios now frequently include products for combination skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, dull skin, and enlarged or clogged pores, alongside traditional acne and oily skin solutions.

Contemporary positioning has evolved beyond basic cleansing. The current U.S. brand message is:

“Clearer Skin. Clearer Mind.”

The company describes its products as gentle, effective solutions tailored to individual skin needs, connecting skincare with self-care and emotional well-being. [15] The modern proposition suggests that healthy-looking, clearer skin leads to greater comfort, confidence, and improved emotional well-being. This represents a more holistic approach compared to earlier emphases solely on oil and acne control.

Clean & Clear’s identity is traditionally built on several pillars:

• Cleanliness: The name communicates simplicity and hygiene.
• Clear skin: Strong association with reducing pimples, blackheads, and clogged pores.
• Everyday skincare: Emphasis on accessible products for daily routines rather than luxury exclusivity.
• Youth: Teenagers and young adults remain a historically important audience segment.
• Oil control: Oiliness and excess sebum are recurring themes in marketing and development.
• Confidence: Frequent connection between clearer skin and self-assurance.

Clean & Clear does not rely on a single signature ingredient; formulations vary by product purpose and market.

• Salicylic acid: A beta-hydroxy acid used in acne and pore-oriented products to exfoliate inside pores.
• Benzoyl peroxide: Used in certain acne treatments, including Persa-Gel products in some markets.
• Vitamin C: Featured in products marketed for refreshing or brightening effects, such as Morning Burst and specific regional ranges. [14]
• Exfoliating ingredients: Used to remove dead skin cells and cleanse pores.

Formulations differ substantially between countries, so the brand does not utilize a universal formula.

The current U.S. website states that the company does not conduct animal testing in the research or development of its cleansers, scrubs, treatments, toners, oil-absorbing sheets, and moisturizers. It further states support for a future where cosmetic testing is animal-free. [12] This statement reflects current brand policy and should be distinguished from historical policies of previous owners or varying regulations across different markets.

Clean & Clear is notable for its youth-oriented marketing. Advertising has historically focused on scenarios familiar to teenagers and young adults, including breakouts before important events, oily skin, blackheads, first skincare routines, appearance-related confidence, and social situations.

The brand also experimented early with digital marketing, launching campaigns targeting online teen communities around the beginning of the 2000s. This reinforced the perception of Clean & Clear as a brand understanding the social pressures surrounding teenage skin.

Clean & Clear occupies a distinctive position in mass-market skincare, situated between general facial cleansing, teen skincare, acne care, and everyday personal care. Competitive territory historically overlaps with brands such as Neutrogena, OXY, NIVEA, and Garnier, though specific competitors vary by country.

The brand’s competitive advantage traditionally combines a recognizable name, youth positioning, acne and oil-control expertise, and accessible everyday products.

• 1956: Clean & Clear introduced by Revlon. [15]
• 1980s: Product range expands beyond facial cleansing into other personal care categories.
• Early 1990s: Revlon sells the brand to Johnson & Johnson.
• 1990s onward: Johnson & Johnson increasingly positions Clean & Clear around acne, oily skin, and younger consumers.
• 2000s: Brand develops more digital and youth-oriented marketing.
• 2022: Johnson & Johnson announces Kenvue as the name of its planned consumer health company.
• 2023 onward: Clean & Clear becomes part of Kenvue’s consumer health portfolio.
• Today: Clean & Clear continues selling facial skincare, acne treatments, cleansers, scrubs, toners, and related products in multiple markets. [16]

Clean & Clear is a U.S.-origin skincare brand founded under Revlon in the 1950s and acquired by Johnson & Johnson in the early 1990s. Johnson & Johnson repositioned the brand toward younger consumers and concerns such as acne, oily skin, and clogged pores, establishing it as a widely recognized mass-market facial skincare brand. Following the consumer health separation, the brand became part of Kenvue. Today, Clean & Clear sells cleansers, scrubs, acne treatments, toners, moisturizers, and oil-control products, with ranges differing by country. Its modern philosophy connects clearer-looking skin with self-care and confidence, expressed in the U.S. through the positioning “Clearer Skin. Clearer Mind.”

1. About Us | Clean & Clear®
2. Clean & Clear® | Acne Treatment & Skincare
3. Clean & Clear
4. Skin Care Products | Clean & Clear®
5. Acne & Blemishes | Clean & Clear®
6. Browse All Products | CLEAN & CLEAR®
7. Tentang CLEAN & CLEAR® | Clean & Clear® Indonesia
8. Produk Pembersih Wajah dan Sabun Cuci Muka | Clean & Clear® Indonesia
9. Perawatan Kulit Untuk Kulit Remaja | CLEAN & CLEAR® Indonesia
10. Produk Pembersih Wajah untuk Masalah Jerawat | Clean & Clear® Indonesia
11. sec.gov
12. About Us & Company Information – CLEAN & CLEAR® UK
13. Skin and Face care Products | Clean & Clear® India
14. Perawatan Kulit Untuk Kulit Remaja | CLEAN & CLEAR® Indonesia
15. Clean & Clear® | Acne Treatment & Skincare
16. Skin Care & Acne Treatment Products | CLEAN & CLEAR® Canada