I’ve been diving into Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser reviews because literally everyone’s obsessed with this thing and I needed to figure out if it’s legit or just expensive hype. In this review I’m gonna break down what’s actually in it, how it works on your skin, and if you should buy it. Honestly? It’s a decent gentle cleanser with some nice botanical extracts and a bit of exfoliation, but don’t expect the probiotic yogurt do much since you’re rinsing it off in like 30 seconds. It’s not gonna be your acne hero, but it won’t strip your skin either, which is something at least.
Key Ingredients in Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser: What Makes It Work?
LAURYL GLUCOSIDE
This is what’s cleaning your face. It’s made from coconut and sugar and it’s a surfactant which just means it grabs dirt and oil so water can rinse it all off. They used this instead of sulfates because sulfates are harsh as hell and strip everything. This one foams up, gets the gunk off, but doesn’t yank away your natural oils so your skin doesn’t go into panic mode and start overproducing oil.
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: First ingredient so there’s loads of it. Aloe hydrates and calms down red angry skin because it’s got polysaccharides that create a protective film and anti-inflammatory compounds. Good for when your face is pissed off from breakouts.
- Cucumis Sativus Juice: Cucumber juice is mildly astringent so it tightens pores a bit and it’s hydrating and soothing. Keeps the salicylic acid from making your skin feel tight.
- Salix Alba Bark Extract: Willow bark has salicin that converts to salicylic acid on your skin, but it’s way too gentle to exfoliate skin.
- Rosa Canina Seed Extract: Rosehip’s got vitamins A and C. The C can brighten dark spots and the fatty acids help your barrier. In a cleanser though you’re washing it off before it does anything meaningful.
- Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract: Grapefruit peel controls oil and has antibacterial properties but citrus oils are irritating as hell for a lot of people, especially sensitive skin. They can cause redness, stinging, and make your skin more reactive. Plus citrus makes you photosensitive so you’re more likely to burn or get sun damage.
- Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract: Can help with healing but you’re rinsing it off immediately so whatever.
- Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract: Lavender smells nice but it’s a common irritant and allergen. The linalool and other fragrance compounds can cause redness, irritation, and sensitization over time, especially if you have reactive or sensitive skin. Some people are fine with it but plenty aren’t.
- Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract: Horsetail’s high in silica for collagen and its astringent. Pretty mild, not gonna cause problems for most people.
- Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract: Peppermint extract and the menthol in it feel cooling but they’re irritating. They can cause redness, tingling that’s not in a good way, and sensitivity. Not great if your skin’s already inflamed from acne.
- Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract: Calendula’s genuinely good for healing and reducing redness. One of the few botanicals that’s actually gentle and helpful.
- Beta Vulgaris Extract: Beet extract has betaine which pulls moisture in. Pretty harmless, does its job quietly.
- Glycerin: Pulls water into your skin from the air. One of the most effective and non-irritating hydrators out there, stops you from drying out.
- Benzyl Alcohol: Preservative that keeps bacteria and fungus from growing in the bottle. Can be irritating for some people in higher concentrations but in a cleanser it’s usually fine since you rinse it off.
- Sorbic Acid: Another preservative working with benzyl alcohol. Fights yeast and mold. Generally well-tolerated.
- Yogurt: The probiotic thing they’re marketing but in a cleanser it’s pointless. Probiotics need to stay on your skin to actually balance your microbiome and you’re washing this off in 30 seconds. The lactic acid might give you a tiny bit of exfoliation but nothing major.
- Cucumis Sativus Extract: More concentrated cucumber. Soothing and hydrating, pretty harmless.
- Citric Acid: Adjusts the pH.
- Menthol: Feels cooling and tingly but it’s an irritant. Can cause redness and sensitivity, not ideal for inflamed acne-prone skin even though it feels refreshing in the moment.
- Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil: Tea tree oil kills bacteria and is a classic acne ingredient but it’s also pretty irritating and can cause dryness, redness, and peeling, especially at higher concentrations. Some people’s skin hates it.
- Citrus Limonum: Lemon extract with vitamin C for brightening but citrus is irritating and photosensitizing. Can cause stinging, redness, and makes you more sensitive to sun damage.
- Malpighia Glabra Fruit: Acerola cherry has tons of vitamin C for antioxidants and brightening. Pretty gentle, not a problem ingredient.
- Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract: Indian gooseberry with more vitamin C. Antioxidant protection, generally well-tolerated.
- Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract: Baobab fruit with vitamin C and antioxidants. Not irritating, does its thing quietly.
- Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract: Camu camu has insane amounts of vitamin C. Brightening and antioxidant power without being harsh.
- Daucus Carota Sativa Extract: Carrot extract with beta-carotene that converts to vitamin A. Helps with cell turnover, generally fine for most skin types.
- Cocos Nucifera Water: Coconut water hydrates with electrolytes. Harmless and helpful.
- Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract: Goji berry with antioxidants and vitamins. Not gonna cause problems.
- Tapioca Starch: Absorbs oil and gives texture. Pretty neutral ingredient.
- Thioctic Acid: Alpha lipoic acid fights free radicals and inflammation. Actually helpful and not irritating for most people.
- Ubiquinone: Coenzyme Q10 protects and energizes cells. Good antioxidant, not irritating.
Texture
It’s a cream-gel thing, pretty nice actually. Not thick or goopy but not watery either – somewhere in the middle. When you pump it out it looks creamy but add some water and massage it around and it turns into this light foam. Not crazy bubbles, just enough so you feel like something’s happening. Goes on smooth, doesn’t tug at your skin.
Fragrance
The smell is either gonna be your thing or really not your thing. It’s super herbal and botanical. You get cucumber and tea tree smacking you in the face, plus this menthol cooling vibe. Some people love that spa smell but if you’re not into essential oils this is gonna bug you. Pretty strong when you pump it but doesn’t stick around after you rinse. And let’s not forget, fragrance always has the potential to irritate sensitive skin.
How To Use It
Take like a pea size amount, mix it with a little water in your hands till it foams, massage it on your damp face in circular motion for a minute or two. Rinse with lukewarm water and use a toner after. Don’t go crazy near your eyes because the menthol stings like a bitch.
Packaging
Pump bottle, pretty standard. Works fine, gives you a good amount without wasting product. Nothing fancy but does the job.
Performance & Personal Opinion
So it cleans your face without destroying your skin’s barrier, which is good. Skin doesn’t feel tight or weird after, removes makeup and sunscreen decently. The cooling thing feels nice even though I know menthol can be irritating. Does it clear acne though? Nah. The salicylic acid and probiotics are going down the drain before they can do anything. My breakouts looked pretty much the same, maybe slightly less congested but nothing crazy. It’s more like a maintenance thing than something that’s gonna fix your skin. What it’s actually good at is cleaning without being mean about it, which matters if you’re using real acne treatments that stay on. It’s a decent backup player but it’s not the hero.
What I Like About Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser
- Doesn’t wreck your moisture barrier or make your face feel tight
- Gets makeup and sunscreen off pretty well
- Pump bottle is convenient
- Gentle enough to use every day
- Cooling feeling is kinda nice if you’re into that
- Big bottle lasts forever
What I DON’T Like About Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser
- Salicylic acid and probiotics are useless in something you rinse off
- Smell is really strong from all the essential oils
- Menthol, lavender, peppermint, citrus can all irritate skin
- Way too expensive for a basic cleanser
- Stings if you get it near your eyes
- Doesn’t actually treat acne even though that’s the whole marketing angle
Who Should Use This?
Get this if you’ve got oily or combo skin with some breakouts and you want something gentle that won’t strip your face. Works well if you’re already using actual acne treatments that stay on your skin. If you like that cooling tingly menthol feeling and herbal smells don’t bother you, you’ll probably like it.
Don’t get this if your skin’s sensitive because all those essential oils are gonna make it mad. Also don’t get it if you think the cleanser’s gonna clear your acne. It won’t. And if strong smells or tingling annoys you, skip it.
Does Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Cool and balance your skin with our Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser. | This is true simply because it means nothing. There’s no way to prove in court if it does or doesn’t. |
| This clarifying cream-gel cleanser treats oily and problem skin with cucumber and tea tree oil. | Again, what does “treats” mean? It can’t treat acne, yet the claim is so vague, it may just be considered true. |
| Sweet almond milk and yogurt reduce the visible signs of problem skin and breakouts without stripping the skin of moisture. | Again, look at how smart they are. They’re not saying the cleanser does this. They’re saying the ingredients do this. Also, they’re not saying it improves wrinkles or something. It just takes about the “visible signs”. Where am I going with this? Anything moisturising like sweet almond oil does make skin look better, which in turn makes fine lines and wrinkles LOOK smaller to the naked eye. And being moisturising, they add moisture, they don’t strip it. BUT, they won’t do much in a cleanser. After all, they’re being reined off down the drain! This is an example of how brands use ingredients to make you think the product is doing way more than it actually does. |
Price & Availability
$48.00 at Dermstore and Face The Future
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’ve got cash to waste and want organic ingredients and essential oils don’t irritate you, sure. It’s not bad: cleans without destroying your skin which is literally the minimum. But real talk? Get a cheaper cleanser that does the same thing without irritating fragrance. CeraVe Foaming or La Roche-Posay Toleriane will clean your face just as well for way less money and no menthol or essential oils causing problems. Don’t buy this thinking it’ll clear your acne. If you want salicylic acid get a leave-on treatment. If you want probiotics get a serum or moisturizer that stays on your face. Save your money for things that actually work instead of washing them away.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Juice, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Beta Vulgaris Extract, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Yogurt, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Citric Acid, Menthol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Citrus Limonum, Malpighia Glabra Fruit, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
