What Clean & Clear does

Clean & Clear is a heritage mass-market skincare brand founded in 1956 and currently operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kenvue Brands LLC, the consumer health arm of Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVNUE, spun off from Johnson & Johnson in November 2023). The brand sells over-the-counter acne treatment and general skincare products — facial cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, toners, and spot treatments — organized into collections including Acne, Classics, Deep Action, Essentials, Morning Burst, and Night Relaxing, with 18 active SKUs and 7 discontinued legacy products. Core technology centers on FDA-recognized OTC active ingredients (salicylic acid at 0.5-2%, benzoyl peroxide at 10%) supplemented by Vitamin C, Pro-Vitamin B5, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, plus licensed MoodScentz fragrance technology from Givaudan SA that anchors the Morning Burst and Deep Action lines.

Name

Clean & Clear

Legal name

Kenvue Brands LLC

Website

https://cleanandclear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clean & Clear is a 65+ year heritage mass-market skincare brand owned by Kenvue Inc., selling OTC acne treatments and everyday skincare (cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, toners) through drugstores, mass retailers, and direct e-commerce to teens, young adults, and increasingly adults with acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Skincare (Acne Treatment and Facial Care)

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Antibacterial & Medicated Cleansers (e.g., Acne, Antifungal, Antiseptic) (CRABAEAH), Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare (CRABAAAH)

Keywords

• Acne treatment products
• Facial cleansers
• Skincare moisturizers
• OTC acne medication
• Teen skincare

Headquarters

HQ city

Skillman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consumer OTC Skincare Products: Clean & Clear generates revenue through the sale of over-the-counter acne treatment and skincare products including cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, toners, and spot treatments. Products are sold as one-time purchases through mass retail channels (drugstores, mass merchandisers) and direct e-commerce. The brand targets the mass-market consumer segment with affordable pricing positioned below premium skincare brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clean & Clear manufactures and sells over-the-counter acne treatment and everyday skincare products, including facial cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, toners, spot treatments, and oil-absorbing sheets. The portfolio is organized into collections (Acne, Classics, Deep Action, Essentials, Morning Burst, Night Relaxing) and is sold as one-time purchases through mass retail channels (drugstores, mass merchandisers) and direct-to-consumer e-commerce at affordable price points.

Product overview

Clean & Clear is a skincare brand under Kenvue Brands LLC offering a portfolio of acne treatment and general skincare products. The product line consists of facial cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, treatments/toners, and bundles organized into collections (Acne, Classics, Deep Action, Essentials, Morning Burst, Night Relaxing). The brand positions itself around the concept of 'skincare is self-care,' with products formulated for different skin types (sensitive, dry, balanced, oily, combination, acne-prone) and skin concerns (acne & blemishes, blackheads & pores, dry skin, dull skin, oily skin). Key active ingredients used include salicylic acid (0.5-2%), benzoyl peroxide (10%), Vitamin C, and Pro-Vitamin B5. Some products feature MoodScentz technology for sensory benefits. The portfolio includes 18 active products across cleansers, moisturizers, treatments, and oil-absorbing sheets, plus 7 discontinued products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Morning Burst® Facial Cleanser Oil-free facial cleanser with Vitamin C and BHA (salicylic acid), featuring MoodScentz technology that gently removes oil and pore-clogging impurities with bursting beads. Designed for morning skincare routines.
• Morning Burst® Hydrating Facial Cleanser Oil-free hydrating cleanser made with BHA, cucumber and aloe extracts that gently removes oil and pore-clogging impurities for clean, smooth and hydrated skin.
• Morning Burst® Exfoliating Cleanser Gentle exfoliating cleanser with naturally-derived plastic-free beads, Vitamin C and Pro-Vitamin B5, designed with MoodScentz technology for daily morning skincare routine.
• Morning Burst® Day & Night Cleanser 2-Pack Value bundle containing Morning Burst Facial Cleanser with bursting beads for morning use and Night Relaxing Facial Cleanser with deep sea minerals and sea kelp for evening use.
• Morning Burst® Hydrating Day & Night Cleanser 2-Pack Bundle of two oil-free facial cleansers with hydrating morning wash and purifying night wash with sea minerals and kelp.
• Night Relaxing Facial Cleanser Oil-free night relaxing facial cleanser with hyaluronic acid and sea kelp extract that gently cleanses away daily build-up without drying skin, featuring MoodScentz technology.
• Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer Non-greasy moisturizer with salicylic acid that treats acne while Pro-Vitamin B5 moisturizes and replenishes the skin's moisture barrier for healthy looking skin.
• Essentials Acne Toner Oil-free facial toner with 2% salicylic acid that penetrates deep into pores to clear blackheads and thoroughly cleanse pores, formulated with Pro-Vitamin B5.
• Essentials Sensitive Skin Foaming Facial Cleanser Gentle foaming facial cleanser with surfactants derived from coconut oil that removes dirt, oil and makeup without drying skin, suitable for oily and combination skin.
• Daily Mattifying Moisturizer Lightweight mattifying moisturizer with niacinamide and pro-vitamin B5 that hydrates skin without shine, non-greasy and non-comedogenic for oily, combination and sensitive skin.
• Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser Daily exfoliating face wash with Pro-Vitamin B5 that gently exfoliates to leave skin soft, smooth and refreshed, oil-free and paraben-free formula.
• Deep Action Cream Cleanser Refreshing creamy formula with cooling tingle that removes oil and pore-clogging impurities without disrupting the skin's moisture barrier, designed with MoodScentz technology.
• Blackhead Eraser® Scrub Exfoliating face scrub with unique multi-action non-plastic beads and salicylic acid that clears blackheads and helps prevent new ones from forming.
• Persa-Gel® 10 Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Maximum strength 10% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment that starts working immediately, visibly reducing acne size and redness in 1 day, fragrance free.
• Daily Pore Cleanser Daily pore cleanser with gentle non-plastic micro-scrubbers that remove impurities like pore-blocking dirt, oil and dead skin to reveal softer and smoother skin.
• Acne Exfoliating Cleanser Exfoliating scrub with salicylic acid that fights pimples by exfoliating, treating and helping prevent new breakouts, with aloe and mint.
• Advantage Acne Spot Treatment Best-selling spot treatment that reduces visible signs of acne with witch hazel and 2% salicylic acid that dissolves oil and penetrates pores.
• Oil Absorbing Sheets Cult classic oil absorbing sheets that instantly soak up excess oil and remove shine without smudging makeup or leaving powder residue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum strength benzoyl peroxide visibly reduces acne size and redness in 1 day
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Givaudan SAcoreTechnology or IntegrationGivaudan SA provides MoodScentz technology to Clean & Clear under a licensing agreement. MoodScentz is a proprietary fragrance technology that connects the power of scent and mood to enhance the skincare self-care ritual experience. This technology is featured in Morning Burst and Deep Action product lines, transforming functional skincare into an emotionally engaging experience.
• Humane Society InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean & Clear and its parent company Kenvue support the Humane Society International's #BeCrueltyFree campaign, which calls for an end to cosmetic animal testing globally. This partnership aligns with the brand's stated commitment to a future where cosmetic testing is always animal-free.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Neutrogena: Mass-market acne and facial skincare brand using salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, sold through the same US drugstore and mass-retail channels as Clean & Clear; a direct sister-competitor under Kenvue's portfolio and one of Clean & Clear's closest substitutes on retail shelves.
• Clearasil: Reckitt-owned OTC acne treatment brand built around benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in cleansers, creams and spot treatments, competing head-to-head in the teen/young-adult mass drugstore channel against Persa-Gel and Advantage Spot Treatment.
• Proactiv: Benzoyl-peroxide-led multi-step acne treatment system sold direct-to-consumer and through retail, targeting the same teen/young-adult acne-prone demographic and competing for the same shelf space and Instagram share-of-voice as Clean & Clear.
• Differin: Galderma-owned OTC acne treatment brand built around adapalene, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide formulations sold through mass retail and direct e-commerce — competing directly with Clean & Clear's Persa-Gel and Deep Action lines.

Broad incumbents

• CeraVe: L'Oréal-owned mass-dermocosmetic skincare brand with an extensive acne and oily-skin portfolio featuring salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and ceramides — currently outpacing Clean & Clear among ingredient-literate teens and adult acne consumers.
• La Roche-Posay: L'Oréal-owned dermocosmetics brand with Effaclar — a full acne-prone-skin regimen (cleanser, toner, treatment, moisturizer) — competing for the same acne-prone consumer at drugstore and dermatologist channels, often at a higher price point.
• Cetaphil: Galderma-owned dermatologist-recommended sensitive-skin skincare brand with acne-cleanser and Pro Dermacontrol lines, often co-located with Clean & Clear on drugstore shelves and competing for the same sensitive-skin segment.

Emerging players

• Paula's Choice: Ingredient-focused skincare brand best known for BHA (salicylic acid) exfoliants and acne regimens, capturing the ingredient-literate young-adult consumer that Clean & Clear's teen-heritage positioning struggles to retain.
• The Ordinary: DECIEM/Estée Lauder-owned affordable single-active skincare brand (salicylic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid) that has reshaped teen and young-adult acne skincare purchasing toward ingredient-driven regimen-building, pressuring mass-market incumbents.

Others

• Aveeno: Kenvue-owned mass-market skincare brand focused on oat-based sensitive-skin and acne-related skin concerns, sold through the same retailers as Clean & Clear; illustrates internal portfolio cannibalization and adjacency risk.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanandclear
• Xx.com/cleanandclear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean & Clear