CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser — Reddit Reviews
Updated September 1, 2026
0.5% salicylic acid cleanser controls oil and unclogs pores; strips natural oils.
What the community says
A salicylic acid (BHA) cleanser designed to reduce oil and normalize pores. It suits oily and acne-prone skin types but can strip natural oils if used daily, making it less ideal for dry or sensitive skin. Best on alternate nights or alongside gentle cleansers to avoid barrier damage.
What this means for you
What people love
- Contains 0.5% salicylic acid for pore unclogging and oil control
- Helps keep oil in check without overly stripping skin
- Commonly used in AM and PM routines by oily/acne-prone users
Watch out for
- Too stripping for daily use on dry or sensitive skin
- Shouldn’t be used during exfoliation to avoid irritation
- Because it's rinsed off quickly, it has limited leave-on BHA effect
Product details
Skin type data limited
Where to buy
Real Reddit threads — 13 mentions across 5 threads
Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser on Reddit, in one place — 5 threads from r/tretinoin, r/acne and 1 more, summarized.
“CLEAR Paula’s Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser with 0.5% salicylic acid”
Positive
“AM”
Positive
“Here is my skincare routine:”
Positive
“I use either paulas choice pore normalizing cleanser or la roche posay effaclar + m gel cleanser.”
Positive
“the paula's choice pore normalizing cleanser might be a good fit”
Mentioned
“it has bha and really helps keep oil in check without stripping.”
Mentioned
“it's so annoying when they discontinue a product you love! i have oily/acne-prone skin too.”
Mentioned
“-pore normalizing cleanser Paula’s choice”
Positive
“Morning routine: -pore normalizing cleanser Paula’s choice”
Positive
“Night routine: -pore normalizing cleanser Paula’s choice”
Positive
“CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
Mentioned
“AM - pore reducing toner - BP - eye serum - sunscreen PM - cleanser - BHA”
Mentioned
“Make sure to introduce products in one at a time and test for at least a week before you add another product in so you can monitor for irritation”
Mentioned
