Clean+ Acne Cleanser
Sensitive Skin Acne Cleanser
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Sulfur-based formula is significantly gentler than benzoyl peroxide for sensitive skin
- +Exceptionally mild coconut-derived surfactants that don't strip the skin barrier
- +Completely fragrance-free with no parabens, sulfates, or harsh alcohols
- +Developed with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian
- +Pregnancy-safe formula — sulfur is not contraindicated during pregnancy
- +FSA/HSA eligible as an FDA OTC drug product
- −Premium pricing for a functionally simple cleanser
- −Too gentle for moderate-to-severe acne — limited punch in rinse-off format
- −Squeeze bottle without pump makes dispensing difficult as product runs low
- −Very few reviews available — limited real-world data from a 2023 launch
- −Brand's cruelty-free status remains ambiguous without independent certification
The full review.
If you told the version of Proactiv that aired infomercials at two in the morning in 2003 that it would one day launch a fragrance-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free cleanser with chamomile extract, that Proactiv would have laughed in benzoyl peroxide. But here we are. The Clean+ Acne Cleanser, launched in August 2023, represents the most dramatic philosophical shift in Proactiv’s thirty-year history: the aggressive acne brand has gone gentle.
The change agent is sulfur, one of the oldest acne treatments in dermatology. At 3%, it’s an FDA-recognized active that reduces sebum production and dissolves the dead skin cell buildup that clogs pores — the same fundamental mechanism as many acne treatments, but delivered with considerably less drama than benzoyl peroxide. Sulfur doesn’t bleach your pillowcases. It doesn’t turn your skin into a flaking, peeling crisis zone during the first week. It works quietly, gradually, and with a tolerance profile that includes genuinely sensitive skin.
The vehicle is where the clean-conscious philosophy really shows. Sodium cocoyl isethionate — often called ‘baby foam’ in cosmetic chemistry for its exceptional mildness — provides the primary cleansing action. Coco-glucoside, another coconut-derived surfactant, supports it. These are among the gentlest surfactants available, and their presence here signals that Proactiv isn’t just slapping a ‘clean’ label on the same old formula. The cleansing experience is creamy, smooth, and completely non-stripping.
The ingredient list is remarkably short for a branded cleanser — twenty ingredients including the active, with no fragrance, no parabens, no sulfates, no silicones, and no harsh alcohols. Proactiv claims the line excludes 100+ potentially problematic ingredients, which sounds like marketing until you actually read the INCI list and realize they meant it. Glycerin provides hydration during the cleansing process, and chamomile extract adds anti-inflammatory soothing at the end of the list. That’s essentially it.
Developed in collaboration with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian, the formulation reflects a clinical understanding of sensitive acne-prone skin. These are the patients who break out constantly but can’t tolerate the standard acne treatment arsenal — the benzoyl peroxide that burns, the salicylic acid that dries, the retinoid that flakes. For this population, a sulfur-based cleanser with mild surfactants is genuinely the right approach.
Texture
The texture is creamy and soothing — closer to a gentle facial wash than a medicated treatment. It doesn’t foam aggressively, which may feel unfamiliar to users accustomed to the squeaky-clean feeling of sulfate-based cleansers. But that absence of foam is intentional. Your skin barrier doesn’t need to be stripped to be clean, and acne-prone skin especially benefits from maintaining barrier integrity during cleansing.
Performance
Performance is steady but slow. This is a maintenance cleanser, not a crisis intervention tool. Users report cleaner-feeling skin from the first use and gradually fewer breakouts over four to eight weeks. But for moderate or severe acne, the 3% sulfur in a rinse-off format delivers significantly less punch than a leave-on benzoyl peroxide treatment. The contact time is short, the concentration is modest, and the mechanism is gentle. This is by design — but it does mean managing expectations.
Price
The price is where the proposition gets softer. At approximately $25 for 6 oz at Target — which works out to about two to three months of twice-daily use — this is a premium-priced cleanser by drugstore standards. The Proactiv website often offers a lower price, but the standard retail positioning puts it above generic sulfur cleansers and basic gentle cleansers alike. The clean formulation and dermatologist collaboration justify some premium, but the product’s functional simplicity makes the price feel slightly generous.
Packaging
Packaging is functional but frustrating. The squeeze bottle becomes difficult to use as the product runs low — a universal complaint in reviews that a pump dispenser would solve immediately. For a product that launched in 2023, this feels like an avoidable design miss.
The Clean+ line represents Proactiv’s bet that the acne market has matured beyond the one-size-fits-all benzoyl peroxide approach. For sensitive acne-prone skin that’s been underserved by the brand’s historically aggressive lineup, this cleanser fills a genuine gap. It’s not exciting. It’s not dramatic. It’s a simple, well-formulated, gentle cleanser that treats mild acne without punishing the skin for having it. Sometimes that’s exactly enough.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Active: Sulfur 3%. Inactive: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Coconut Acid, Coconut Alcohol, Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Glycereth-18, Behenyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Hydroxide, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
Sulfur works as a topical acne treatment and has a well-understood mechanism of action. At 3%, sulfur uses keratolytic activity to dissolve bonds between dead keratinocytes in the follicular ostium. This prevents the microcomedone formation that starts all acne lesions. It also has mild antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties, which reduce the bacterial burden and sebum production that cause inflammatory acne.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists sulfur as an FDA-approved OTC acne monograph ingredient. It is less common than benzoyl peroxide or retinoids because it has a gentler efficacy profile. Clinical data shows sulfur works for mild acne, especially in patients who cannot tolerate stronger actives.
The surfactant system in this formula — sodium cocoyl isethionate and coco-glucoside — is the gold standard for gentle cleansing. Sodium cocoyl isethionate is an anionic surfactant with a large hydrophilic head group. It cleans effectively with minimal disruption to the stratum corneum lipid bilayer. Studies on surfactant-skin interactions show isethionate-based systems produce less transepidermal water loss and less protein denaturation than sulfate-based systems, confirming the cleanser's gentle nature.
Chamomilla recutita extract contains bisabolol and chamazulene, which show anti-inflammatory activity in skin models. In a sulfur-containing cleanser, these compounds mitigate the mild inflammatory potential of sulfur on sensitive skin.
Dermatologist Perspective
Board-certified dermatologists recognize sulfur as a legitimate acne active with a favorable tolerability profile for sensitive skin. Dermatologists note that sulfur is less potent than benzoyl peroxide or adapalene as a standalone treatment, but it fills a niche for patients who react to stronger actives. This cleanser's mild surfactant system and clean ingredient profile work well as the cleansing step in a multi-product acne routine. Dermatologists often pair a gentle cleanser like this with a leave-on retinoid (adapalene) and a non-comedogenic moisturizer to get results without barrier disruption.
Where it fits in your routine.
Wet your face with lukewarm water. Massage a small amount onto skin for 30-60 seconds, targeting acne-prone areas. Rinse well and pat dry. Use morning and evening. Apply toner, treatment products, and moisturizer after. The cream texture has low foam; this is normal and shows the product still works.
At roughly $25 for 6 oz at retail, this cleanser costs more than generic brands but less than luxury acne cleansers. A 2 oz travel size offers a lower entry price. Using the full-size bottle twice daily for two to three months makes the monthly cost about $10-12. The Proactiv website often has lower prices ($12.75 at the time of review). Buying directly from Proactiv or during sales provides the best value. The minimal ingredient list means consumers pay for the gentle formulation philosophy and dermatologist collaboration.
Use this for sensitive acne-prone skin irritated or dried out by benzoyl peroxide and other aggressive acne cleansers. It also works for anyone wanting an acne cleanser with the cleanest ingredient profile — no fragrance, no parabens, no sulfates.
People with moderate-to-severe acne needing more potent active ingredients should use this. If you tolerate benzoyl peroxide without irritation, a stronger acne cleanser works faster. This is not the best value for price-conscious shoppers when generic gentle cleansers work similarly.
Product details.
Creamy, non-foaming cleanser with a smooth, gentle feel. Does not lather heavily.
Completely fragrance-free with no noticeable scent
White plastic squeeze bottle with green Proactiv Clean branding. No pump dispenser.
The cream texture feels soothing, unlike the tight, stripped feeling from traditional acne cleansers. It has no tingling, burning, or drama. Skin feels clean but not dry after rinsing. Sulfur results build gradually; do not expect overnight clearing.
2-3 months with twice-daily use
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
For nearly three decades, Proactiv was synonymous with benzoyl peroxide — effective but notorious for bleaching towels and irritating sensitive skin. The Clean+ line, launched in August 2023, represents the brand's acknowledgment that not all acne-prone skin can tolerate the nuclear option. Developed with dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian, it uses sulfur — one of the oldest acne treatments — in a modern, clean-conscious formulation.
About Proactiv
Legacy Brand (20+ years)Stanford-trained dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields developed Proactiv in 1995. Proactiv worked with Dr. Rachel Nazarian to create the Clean+ line, marking a shift toward gentler, clean-conscious formulations for sensitive acne-prone skin.
Common myths.
Sulfur is an outdated acne ingredient
Dermatologists have used Sulfur for centuries because it works. At 3%, Sulfur reduces sebum and dissolves dead skin cells. It is gentler than benzoyl peroxide, so it suits sensitive and dry skin types that traditional acne treatments irritate.
Acne cleansers need to foam to work
Foaming is surfactant behavior, not a measure of cleaning power. This cream cleanser uses a mild sodium cocoyl isethionate base to lift oil and debris. It avoids the stripping caused by heavy sulfate-based foams, which helps keep the skin barrier intact for acne-prone skin.
FAQ.
Is Proactiv Clean+ Acne Cleanser gentle enough for sensitive skin?
Yes — this formula targets sensitive acne-prone skin. It uses sulfur rather than benzoyl peroxide and coconut-derived surfactants instead of sulfates. It contains no fragrance, parabens, or harsh alcohols. It is one of the gentlest medicated acne cleansers on the market.
Myth ---
Does sulfur smell bad in this cleanser?
Reality
No — at 3% in a rinse-off format, the sulfur has no noticeable smell. The formula is fragrance-free, and reviewers say it has no scent. Any trace sulfur odor rinses away during use.
Works for
Can I use this cleanser with adapalene or retinol?
Reality
Yes — this gentle, non-stripping formula works well with retinoid treatments. Use the cleanser morning and evening, then apply adapalene or retinol in your PM routine. The mild surfactant base does not compromise your barrier before you apply the retinoid.
Best for
Is Proactiv Clean+ pregnancy-safe?
Reality
Sulfur at 3% is generally safe during pregnancy. This cleanser lacks retinoids, salicylic acid, or other pregnancy-contraindicated ingredients. Always confirm with your healthcare provider.
How is this different from original Proactiv?
Original Proactiv uses benzoyl peroxide as its main active. This ingredient is aggressive and causes bleaching, dryness, and irritation. The Clean+ line replaces BP with sulfur, removes fragrance and 100+ other ingredients, and uses milder surfactants. It works for the sensitive skin types that traditional Proactiv irritates.
What the community says.
"Gentle enough for sensitive skin without over-drying"
"Effective at reducing mild acne and breakouts over time"
"Fragrance-free formula appeals to sensitivity-conscious users"
"Creamy texture feels soothing during application"
"Non-comedogenic and free from 100+ excluded ingredients"
"Squeeze bottle is hard to use near the end — users want a pump"
"Takes several weeks to see visible acne improvement"
"Less effective for moderate-to-severe acne than benzoyl peroxide"
"Price feels high relative to the product's simplicity"
"Some users miss the fresh scent found in other acne cleansers"
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