CLEARSTEM has become a popular skincare brand among Gen Z, and especially those who care about ingredients.
But as we know (😬), greenwashing is not abnormal among skincare brands. Some companies market their products as ‘clean’ and ‘non-toxic’, but then when you dig deeper, it turns out they contain potentially problematic ingredients—whether that’s endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, or irritants.
So in this article, I’m taking a deep dive into CLEARSTEM’s products to find out if it’s all clean or if there’s anything sketchy going on.
(Oh, and if it matters to you, I don’t have any pre-conceived notions about CLEARSTEM. I’ve heard good things, but I actually haven’t tried the brand before, so I’m going into this investigation feeling neutral.)
What this article covers:
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CLEARSTEM In a Nutshell
CLEARSTEM was started by two women (one of them a Licensed Clinical Esthetician and the other an Integrative Health Practitioner and Nutritionist) who struggled with acne.
Danielle (the esthetician) founded The San Diego Acne Clinic back in 2014, where she apparently had an impressive 98% success rate in clearing her patients’ skin. One of those clients was Kayleigh (the nutritionist). And together, they started CLEARSTEM in 2017.
Their primary selling point is acne treatment/prevention, but they also have products that help with aging (fine line & wrinkle prevention), as well as other skin ‘imperfections’ like dark spots or dry skin.
In terms of the actual products they carry, they have:
- Cleansers, serums, toners, and moisturizers
- Masks and polishes
- Eye patches and gel
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Supplements (digestive bitters & enzymes, hormonal acne support, collagen gummies, among others)
They used to make hair care products, but it looks like most of those have been discontinued. (As of this writing, they only have the Non-Comedogenic Hair Repair Conditioner left.)
Their taglines are “No Pore-Clogging Ingredients, Ever” and “Clear Pore Promise™”, so their focus is truly on helping people prevent and get rid of acne through both external skincare as as well as internal solutions. I like this approach because acne is so much more than just about what you put on your skin. It’s also determined by things like stress, hormones, genetics, what you eat, etc.
They also have a Pore-Clogging Ingredient Checker, which is a pretty cool tool. You can paste in the ingredient list for basically any product and it will tell you if there are any ingredients that could potentially clog your pores.
Their “No” List
Alright, here are the ingredients CLEARSTEM says they never use in their products:
- Parabens
- PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols)
- Petrochemicals (e.g., mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin wax)
- Phenoxyethanol (over 1%)
- Phthalates
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
- Synthetic Dyes and Fragrances
- TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone)
- Oxybenzone
- Toluene
- Triclosan
- Pore-Clogging Ingredients
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Aluminum Chlorohydrate
- BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole)
- BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene)
- Coal Tar
- EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid)
- Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
- Nanoparticles
Not a bad list to start with! I really like that they don’t include synthetic fragrances in any of their products. That’s a very common ingredient that keeps brands from being truly 100% ‘clean’ in my books.
I also love that their formulations are free from some of the worst endocrine-disrupting ingredients, such as parabens and phthalates.
However, there are a few slightly sketchy things about this list as well. Let’s go over them:
Does CLEARSTEM Use Any N0t-Great Ingredients?
I looked at all of the ingredients available on CLEARSTEM’s site as of December 2025. Overall, I didn’t find anything super concerning. But here’s what I did find that you might want to know about:
Stearalkonium Chloride and Cetrimonium Chloride: These are the worst ingredients I found. They are only used in CLEARSTEM’s hair conditioner.
These two ingredients are quaternary ammonium compounds (aka ‘quats’) which can be problematic because they are linked to potential endocrine disruption, can irritate skin and lungs, and build up in the environment.
I do wonder if CLEARSTEM is going to discontinue this product in the near future though, because it’s the only hair product they still have left on the site.
Grapefruit Seed Extract: This is a preservative that I’m not crazy about due to contamination concerns. (You can read more in this breakdown.) It’s used in their Hydraglow moisturizer, Vitaminscrub, and Bounceback Serum.
Liquid Plastics: Liquid plastics are very common in personal care products and cosmetics—even “cleaner” brands. Some liquid plastics are worse than others, and they are not all necessarily toxic. There is a LOT of gray area here, and a lot we still don’t know. (I actually did an entire podcast episode on this if you want to dive deeper.)
Personally, I am not trying to avoid liquid plastics completely at this time, but I am trying to be more mindful of them.
Some of the ones I found in CLEARSTEM’s products include Nylon-12 and various types of copolymers/crosspolymers.
Phenoxyethanol: This is probably the most controversial ingredient in the clean living space! Personally, I don’t have a huge problem with it (although I will still be mindful of how many products I’m using that include it!). You’ll have to decide for yourself if you want to avoid it, minimize it, or not worry about it at all. In order to do that, you can read the full breakdown here.
Petrochemicals: You’ll see that petrochemicals are listed above on CLEARSTEM’s ‘no list,’ but in my opinion, this is misleading.
CLEARSTEM’s product do, in fact, contain petrochemicals. The Nylon-12 that I just mentioned is just one example. Others include butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, and menthoxypropanediol—just to name a few I found.
These ingredients are not necessarily bad or toxic! I just don’t think CLEARSTEM should say their products are made without petrochemicals when that is not actually the case.
Allergens: The last note is just to make sure that if you have any specific allergies or sensitivities, you look for those specific ingredients that are problematic for you. CLEARSTEM’s products do contain things like eugenol, limonene, and coumarin. These ingredients are very common and normal, and they’re nothing to worry about for most people. But since CLEARSTEM is used by folks with sensitive skin, I just think this is worth calling out.
The only other potentially concerning allergens I found that could be irritating (especially for people with sensitive skin) are:
- benzaldehyde (which is found in the Hydraglow)
- sulfur (this can be beneficial for people with stubborn acne, but may not be suitable for people with eczema)
What About Their Supplements?
CLEARSTEM also offers supplements now, which I generally think is a good idea because acne is not just caused by what you put on your skin, but also about what you put in your body. I like the idea of treating acne holistically, not just with topical products.
That said, the supplement industry is extremely unregulated and I do think it’s important to make sure you’re getting a quality product, especially if you’re taking it every day for a long period of time.
In general, CLEARSTEM’s supplements look good to me in terms of their formulations. They contain minimal, functional ingredients and don’t come with a bunch of fillers or weird ingredients.
However, I unfortunately don’t see anything about third-party testing or certifications when it comes to their supplements.
I would definitely like to see some validation that the ingredients in their supplements are tested for things like mold, heavy metals, and/or other potential contaminants. Certifications like NSF can ensure that what the supplement label says it contains is actually what’s in the product.
So, Is CLEARSTEM Worth it For YOUR Skin?
Is CLEARSTEM legit? Does it actually help heal acne?
The thing is: it depends.
Everyone’s skin is different, and we all know that there are SO many different factors that go into why someone has acne, and therefore the solution will not be the same for everyone.
If you read CLEARSTEM reviews online, you will find a range of stories: for some people, CLEARSTEM is the only thing that’s worked for them. For others, it actually made their acne worse.
So unfortunately, the only thing you can do is try it for yourself. (I know! It’s annoying! 😬)
The one piece of advice I’d give when trying any new product or brand—especially if you have acne, eczema, or otherwise sensitive skin—is to only introduce one new product at a time. So if you do want to try CLEARSTEM, don’t start using their topical products and supplements at the exact same time. Spread it out for a week or two. That way, if you do have a negative (or positive) reaction, it’s easier to nail down what exactly is causing it.
Lauren’s Review:
The Filtery contributor, Lauren Plug, has tried a couple of CLEARSTEM products at the advice of a practitioner who is helping her treat acne in a holistic way (through a combination of diet and other things).
Here are Lauren’s thoughts after using the products for a few months:
“CLEARSTEM was one of the first brands my practitioner recommended to try and help heal my acne from a topical standpoint. I also have a friend who swears by their products, so after those two recommendations, I was ready to give them a try.
Obviously, I love that their products are non-comedogenic, so I don’t have to worry about potential ingredients clogging my pores (which is obviously an issue for me, as someone who struggles with acne).
But at the same time, they’re not harsh either, like a lot of other acne products are. (I mean, some of the products I’ve tried in the past would feel like my skin was being burnt off—they’re too intense!) This is important to me because I tend to have sensitive skin as well, so I want something that works but is also gentle.
So far, I have only tried two of the CLEARSTEM products:
The BrightMeUp Toner: This has definitely made a difference in how many blackheads and breakouts I get on and around my nose. I do have to be consistent with it (using it twice a day, every day), but it works.
I’ve also noticed less skin redness when I use it consistently too.
The Sulfur Spot & Mask: I actually have not used this as a mask; I only use it as a spot treatment. It definitely works; I really like this product.
I basically put it on my zit(s), let it dry for 5-10 minutes before laying down or anything, and then I sleep with it on overnight. I will likely continue using this as a spot treatment for a long time.
I do want to try some more of CLEARSTEM’s products in the future, so I will add to this in the future if & when I do.
My one caveat with CLEARSTEM is that I do wish they were more sustainable in terms of lower plastic, refillable options, and things like that.”
What do YOU think? Have you used CLEARSTEM before, and if so, do you like it? If not, do you think you’re going to give it a try? I’d love to hear about your personal experiences in the comments.
CLEARSTEM Quick Notes!
Is CLEARSTEM all-natural? 👉 No.
Is CLEARSTEM non-comedogenic? 👉 Yes. (The term ‘non-comedogenic’ generally means non-pore-clogging. CLEARSTEM is specifically known for not including any pore-clogging ingredients in their products.)
Are CLEARSTEM’s product vegan/cruelty-free? 👉 CLEARSTEM explicitly says their products are cruelty-free. They do not, however, say they are vegan. (I did not find any animal-based products in their formulations though.)
Is CLEARSTEM sold in stores? 👉 Not most. As of right now, you can get CLEARSTEM on their website, Amazon, and at Erewhon.
Is CLEARSTEM refillable/low-waste? 👉 Not at this time. Most of their products comes in plastic. Hopefully in the future they will improve on this!
Is CLEARSTEM actually a “clean” brand? 👉 Overall, I would say CLEARSTEM is a pretty clean brand! Although there are a few potentially “gray area” ingredients, they are ultimately not something I am super concerned about. Overall, I would feel comfortable using or recommending CLEARSTEM, especially if it works for you and your acne!
Who is CLEARSTEM not for? 👉 You would NOT like CLEARSTEM if you:
- want to avoid all phenoxyethanol
- prefer to use all-natural products
- want something that is refillable and/or uses low-plastic packaging
👁️ As a final random side note, I do like that their eye patches are made of truly biodegradable plant materials. No reason to use single-use plastic eye patches!
If you decide you want to try CLEARSTEM, here’s where you can get it:
