Our Unbiased ClearPores Review: Is it Too Good to be True?

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If you have blemish-free skin or have never suffered from acne, you probably don’t know the angst those with acne face daily. For women, makeup, designed to make your skin look better, often just ends up highlighting the pimples and spots. And men, without the benefit of cosmetics, pretty much just have to suffer the blemishes to be seen.

So, naturally, when a product like ClearPores comes out, promising clearer skin after following their 3-step system, most acne-sufferers will jump on the bandwagon…but should you?

Let’s take a closer look at ClearPores…

What Causes Acne?

Understanding the cause of this skin condition is the first step towards learning how to treat it. Acne can be caused by a number of factors including genetics, exposure to bacteria, or poor skincare habits [1]. While breakouts are most common among teenagers, they can really happen at any age.

Moreover, genetics play a big role in acne. If you come from parents who suffered from these conditions, you’re likely to develop it too.

If your body produces excess oil you are at a higher risk of acne because hair follicles tend to get clogged by oil, which don’t allow your skin to breathe. This also traps bacteria, leads to infections, and consequently you’ve got an outburst of pimples.

Girl with acne

If you have acne, here are some factors that can make it worse:

  • Hormones – You’ll notice that teenagers start seeing pimples on their skin as they undergo puberty. The same thing happens for pregnant woman or those using contraceptives. This all affects sebum production, causing hormonal changes.
  • Diet – The foods you feed your body has a lot to do with the complexion of your skin. Several studies have shown that foods like skim milk, bread, or chips can worsen acne. Chocolate is another food you should stay away from if you’re trying to control the blemishes on your skin. And of course, drink a lot of water every day!
  • Stress – Overthinking and being stressed out about your acne will only make it worse. Instead, take a deep breath and focus on the appropriate steps to eliminate acne from your skin [2].

ClearPores offers a solution to getting rid of the acne. While it’s not an overnight cure, when used consistently it brings forward lasting results.

RELATED: Best Acne Scar Treatment

Product and Claims

According to the ClearPores website:

ClearPores System

ClearPores has been scientifically formulated and is manufactured in a cGMP certified pharmaceuticals-grade lab to combat your acne from BOTH the inside and the outside with a three-step system that aims to restore BALANCE to your skin.

To their credit, the ClearPores site does try to explain that this is not an “overnight” cure for acne:

Breaking the cycle of acne flare-ups takes time and commitment…

Yes, many of our ClearPores clients report seeing improvements in their overall skin condition within as little as 7-14 days. But it actually takes roughly 90 days (3 full months) of using the entire skin care system daily to see more dramatic, long-term changes in your appearance.

This is NOT a miracle 7-day cure all!

The acne cycle is roughly 2-3 weeks long… So breakouts that will occur 3 weeks from TODAY are just starting to form now. And it takes roughly 30 days of supplementation to really begin to restore balance to your body by flushing out acne-causing toxins and bacteria.

The main difference between the ClearPores system and other popular 3-step systems, is the herbal supplement. ClearPores states that the first step in clearing acne starts from the inside. Since pores can trap excess oil and bacteria inside, the body’s immune system attacks the blockage with inflammation, causing a pimple… hence the first step of their system being the herbal supplement.

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Ingredients

Ingredients in each of the steps in the ClearPores cleansing system, as listed on their website:

ClearPores Herbal Supplement: Dandelion Root (Taraxacum Officinale), Burdock Root (Arctium Lappa), Aloe Vera, Yellow Dock (Rumex Crispus), Echinacea, Purpurea, Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense), Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax Officinalis), Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Turmeric (Curcuma), Atlantic Kelp (Ascophylum Nodosum), Cayenne (Capsicum Annuum), Partially Hydrogenated Cotton Seed Oil, Kosher, NF, Magnesium Stearate, Gelatin Capsule.

ClearPores Facial Wash: Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xantham Gum, Linum Usitatissimum (linseed) Seed Extract, Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Root Extract, SD alcohol 40, Farnesol, Polysorbate 60, Cyclopentasiloxane, Salicylic Acid (beta hydroxy acid, abbreviated BHA) , Sclerotium Gum, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Capryloyl Glycine, Phospholipids, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Bisabolol

ClearPores Protection Cream: Water, Isoproply Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearath-21, Dimethicone, Soy Lecithin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Steareth-2, Thioctic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Diazolidinyl Urea, Laureth-7, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben.

Research flask with pink liquid

While the Herbal Supplement does not seem to contain any overtly questionable or dangerous ingredients, it is the Facial Wash and Protection Cream we need to examine. In both you will find Methylparaben and Propylparaben listed. Parabens are commonly used to prevent the growth of microbes [3] in cosmetics products. However, these parabens, found to have links to various cancers, can be absorbed through skin, blood, and the digestive system. In many studies, pregnant women and young children are the most susceptible to their effects.

You will also see Polysorbate 20 as a listed ingredient in the Facial Wash. Polysorbate, by itself, is a harmless sugar alcohol. But, when used in various products, it is treated with ethylene oxide, in order for it to be used as an emulsifier in cosmetic creams. Once an ingredient is treated with ethylene oxide it can then become contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is a potentially dangerous by-product.

Application and regimen recommendations

According to the ClearPores website:

The ClearPores System is a combination of three easy-to-use products:

ClearPores Herbal Supplement – take 2 capsules per day, at any time.

ClearPores Facial Wash – use twice daily (morning & evening) on wet skin for 2-3 minutes, avoiding contact with the eyes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Pat dry.

ClearPores Protection Cream – wait 5 minutes after using the facial wash to ensure skin is completely dry. Smooth a dime size portion over the face and neck, avoiding the delicate eye area.

Woman using facial wash

As you can see, the ClearPores System is NOT time-consuming to use and can be easily fit into your morning and evening personal care routine.

Also available on the site are a Deep Body Wash and a Body Protection Cream, though they are not listed as “required” steps in the cleansing system.

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What Do Other Reviews Tell Us?

Looking into the reviews for ClearPores took a little leg work. While some site reviews praise the ClearPores system, you might notice the same “positive” reviews listed on other sites. Also, many of the positive reviews seem to be fairly outdated (many from 2006).

ClearPores before and after

On other sites, such as Acne.org and Amazon, reviews seem pretty evenly split. Negative comments include the cost (it is one of the most expensive systems on the market), some people commented on an unpleasant smell, but the most common complaint was that it did not seem to work. It is unknown as to whether or not these consumers devoted the time and consistency of use to the system as noted was necessary on the ClearPores site.

Overall

Overall, as you would before starting the use of any product, you need to weigh the pros and cons before using ClearPores. Everyone’s skin is different, meaning this product may not work for everyone. Before using completely on your face, test out on a small section of your skin. If your skin reacts positively to it then you may begin treatment.

After reviewing ClearPores and reading other’s reviews, we are confident it’s a good acne solution. Is it the best? We are not 100% convinced it’s the best option out there, as it’s on the pricier side and does contain some ingredients that have been linked to side effects. But the only way to find out if it’s best for you is to try it. If you don’t, you can always switch to something else.

Smiling woman with laptop

Here is a quick list of what we liked and what we weren’t too thrilled about.

Pros

  • Money-back guarantee (when bought on the website)
  • Does not seem to be overly harsh or drying of the skin

Cons

  • More expensive than comparable brands
  • No clinical test results are shown
  • It can take up to 3 months to see results
  • Some of the ingredients, while common in cosmetics, have been linked to dangers/side effects

So, does it actually “clear pores”? It might. But so might a more natural, less expensive product. Does it clear acne? That seems to be measured on a case-by-case basis.

If you have the time and money, and are ok with a few questionable ingredients, the reward of clear skin might outweigh the risk.

The choice to buy ClearPores ultimately, is yours.

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References:

[1] https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/bad-skin-habits
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321411.php
[3] https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/intro/

Avatar for Megan Foley

Megan has been a freelance writer and editor since 2016. In that time, she’s penned a diverse collection of articles for online publication, with a focus on skincare and beauty. From in-depth product reviews to concise marketing content, Megan is passionate about developing content that informs, entertains, and inspires.