Clean & Clear
An American skincare brand focused on facial cleansing, acne care, oil control, and related personal-care products, especially for young consumers.
Last updated October 23, 2026
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Overview
Clean & Clear is an American dermatology and personal-care brand owned by Kenvue. Its principal audience has historically been teenagers and young women and men, although some products are designed for broader skincare needs. The portfolio centers on facial cleansers, scrubs, acne treatments, moisturizers, toners, and body washes, with messaging commonly built around clean skin, oil control, blemish management, and uncomplicated daily routines. The brand originated with Revlon as a line of personal-care products for sensitive skin. The Clean & Clear name referred to formulations that were presented as free from fragrance and dyes and designed to rinse without leaving residue. The initial range included a skin cleanser, while lotions and bar soap were added by 1986 and shampoo and conditioner by 1989. This early assortment made the brand broader than its later public identity as a teen-oriented facial-care label. Revlon sold Clean & Clear to Johnson & Johnson in 1991. Johnson & Johnson subsequently repositioned the brand more strongly around acne and teenage skincare. In 1993, the brand adopted the slogan “Clean & Clear and Under Control,” a line that linked facial cleanliness with management of oil and blemishes. This repositioning helped establish Clean & Clear as a mass-market competitor in the acne-care and facial-cleansing categories. Two of the brand’s best-known product platforms are Advantage and Morning Burst. Advantage was developed as an anti-acne range and has included cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, spot treatments, and regimen kits. Morning Burst, introduced in 2004, broadened the brand beyond acne treatment through a general facial cleanser positioned around an invigorating morning routine and vitamin C. The Morning Burst family later expanded into body washes. Other products have addressed blackheads, exfoliation, oil absorption, and sensitive or general-purpose cleansing. Clean & Clear also became an early test case for youth-oriented digital marketing. In 2000, Johnson & Johnson used the Clean & Clear Talking Postcard Superstitial campaign to build a presence in online teen communities; the campaign received an online advertising award from the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council. Later activity included partnerships with Do Something, Demi Lovato, the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, Target retail fundraising, social gaming, and a 2015 advertising arrangement involving Jazz Jennings. These programs extended the brand’s communication beyond conventional product advertising into youth culture, charity, inclusion, and interactive media. The brand has also faced scrutiny. In 2013, several exfoliating products were criticized for containing polyethylene microbeads, which environmental groups associated with risks to marine ecosystems. Johnson & Johnson began phasing out polyethylene microbeads in 2013 and committed to removing them from its products by the end of 2015. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration included Clean & Clear among over-the-counter topical acne products covered by a safety communication concerning rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions. Clean & Clear was historically part of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer portfolio. Following the separation of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer-health business into Kenvue, the brand is owned by Kenvue. Wikipedia describes Clean & Clear as available in 46 countries, although product availability and formulations vary by market.
History
Clean & Clear began as a Revlon line of personal-care products for sensitive skin. The brand was introduced in 1956, initially with a skin cleanser. Its name was associated with products that contained no fragrance or dyes and were intended to rinse clean without leaving residue. Revlon expanded the range over time: lotions and bar soap were added by 1986, while shampoo and conditioner followed by 1989. The original assortment therefore covered facial care and hair care as well as basic cleansing. In 1991, Revlon sold Clean & Clear to Johnson & Johnson. Under Johnson & Johnson, the brand’s market role changed substantially. It was repositioned toward teenagers and young adults, with acne, oil control, and blemish prevention becoming central themes. The “Clean & Clear and Under Control” slogan, adopted in 1993, expressed this repositioning by linking clean skin with the management of common adolescent skincare concerns. The brand’s later portfolio developed along two principal paths. Clean & Clear Advantage served the acne-care market with products such as cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, spot treatments, and treatment kits. The range became one of the recognizable mass-market acne-care offerings in the United States. Clean & Clear also introduced Morning Burst Facial Cleanser in 2004. Positioned as a general facial cleanser rather than a dedicated acne treatment, Morning Burst used an energetic morning-routine concept and vitamin C-related messaging. The line expanded into body washes in 2011. Marketing was an important part of Clean & Clear’s development. In 2000, Johnson & Johnson used the brand for an online advertising experiment aimed at teen communities. The Talking Postcard Superstitial campaign later received an award in the online advertising category from the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council. During the 2010s, the brand pursued partnerships that combined youth culture, celebrity visibility, digital media, and social causes. These included Join the Surge with Do Something and Demi Lovato in 2010, a partnership with the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign and the Unite for Girls tour in 2011, a social-gaming promotion connected with The Sims Social in 2012, and a 2015 commercial agreement involving Jazz Jennings. Clean & Clear also encountered environmental and safety scrutiny. In 2013, advocacy concerning plastic pollution focused on polyethylene microbeads found in products including Advantage 3 in 1 Facial Scrub, Blackhead Eraser Scrub, and Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub. Johnson & Johnson began phasing out the material during 2013 and stated that it would remove polyethylene microbeads from its products by the end of 2015. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration included Clean & Clear among over-the-counter topical acne products in a safety communication about rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions. The brand was historically owned by Johnson & Johnson and is now owned by Kenvue following the transfer of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer-health activities into that company. Clean & Clear is described as being available in 46 countries, although the assortment, claims, and product names can differ between markets. Its enduring identity is that of an accessible, youth-oriented skincare brand spanning everyday cleansing, acne management, exfoliation, oil control, and selected body-care products.
- 2023
Brand ownership moves to Kenvue
[1]Clean & Clear becomes part of Kenvue following the separation of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer-health business.
- 2014
FDA acne-product safety communication
[1]The FDA includes Clean & Clear among topical acne-product brands covered by a warning about rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions.
- 2013
Microbead phase-out begins
[1]Johnson & Johnson begins phasing out polyethylene microbeads after criticism of their use in several Clean & Clear exfoliating products.
- 2004
Morning Burst launches
[1]Clean & Clear introduces Morning Burst Facial Cleanser, broadening its positioning beyond dedicated anti-acne care.
- 2000
Online advertising experiment
[1]The Talking Postcard Superstitial campaign targets online teen communities and receives online-advertising recognition.
- 1993
The brand adopts its current slogan
[1]“Clean & Clear and Under Control” becomes the brand’s principal slogan during its acne-focused repositioning.
- 1991
Johnson & Johnson acquires the brand
[1]Revlon sells Clean & Clear to Johnson & Johnson.
- 1989
Hair-care products are added
[1]Shampoo and conditioner are added to the brand’s broader personal-care portfolio.
- 1986
Lotions and bar soap join the range
[1]Revlon expands the original cleanser-led assortment with lotions and bar soap.
- 1956
Clean & Clear is introduced by Revlon
[1]Revlon introduces the brand as a sensitive-skin personal-care line beginning with a skin cleanser.
Products and positioning
Mass-market skincare for teenagers and young consumers, combining daily cleansing with acne care, oil control, exfoliation, and accessible personal-care routines.
Acne skincare
Clean & Clear Advantage
Advantage is the brand’s principal anti-acne platform. It has included facial cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, spot treatments, and regimen kits intended to address blemishes, excess oil, and related everyday acne-care needs. The line represents Clean & Clear’s strongest connection with dermatologist-oriented, mass-market acne management.
Facial and body cleansing · 2004
Clean & Clear Morning Burst
Morning Burst began as a general facial cleanser introduced in 2004. Its positioning emphasizes an energizing start to the day and includes vitamin C-related product messaging. Unlike the Advantage range, it broadened Clean & Clear’s reach beyond acne treatment. The platform was later extended to body washes.
Acne-care regimen
Advantage Acne Control Kit
The Advantage Acne Control Kit packages multiple acne-care steps into a coordinated regimen. It was recognized by InStyle as a best acne regimen in 2008 and illustrates the brand’s attempt to make treatment routines accessible to mass-market consumers.
Acne spot treatment
Advantage Spot Treatment
Advantage Spot Treatment is a targeted blemish product within the Advantage family. It received a Glam.com readers’ choice beauty award in 2007 and later appeared among Allure’s Best of Beauty selections in 2011 and 2012, according to the cited reference material.
Facial exfoliation
Advantage 3 in 1 Facial Scrub
This exfoliating product was one of the Clean & Clear items identified in 2013 criticism concerning polyethylene microbeads. The controversy contributed to Johnson & Johnson’s subsequent phase-out of polyethylene microbeads from its products.
Facial exfoliation
Blackhead Eraser Scrub
Blackhead Eraser Scrub was marketed around the removal or reduction of blackheads and was among the products cited in the 2013 microbead controversy. Its current availability is not established by the supplied material.
Facial exfoliation
Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub
Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub was another exfoliation product identified in connection with the brand’s 2013 polyethylene-microbead criticism. The supplied sources do not establish its current market status.
Controversies
2013
Criticism over polyethylene microbeads
Environmental criticism focused on polyethylene microbeads in Advantage 3 in 1 Facial Scrub, Blackhead Eraser Scrub, and Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub. Advocates raised concerns about the persistence of these particles in waterways and possible effects on marine life. Johnson & Johnson began phasing out polyethylene microbeads in 2013 and later promised to remove them from its products by the end of 2015.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012The Sims Social promotion
United States
Clean & Clear’s first reported social-gaming tie-in, using The Sims Social as an interactive youth-marketing channel.
Outcome. Expanded the brand’s digital and entertainment-platform activity.
- 2011Unite for Girls
United States
A partnership with the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign, including a tour cosponsored with Lily Halpern and a Target fundraising promotion.
Outcome. Connected the brand with girls’ empowerment and charitable fundraising.
- 2010Join the Surge
United States
A partnership with Do Something and Demi Lovato that combined youth-focused brand promotion with nonprofit participation.
Outcome. Extended Clean & Clear’s marketing into celebrity and charitable partnership activity.
- 2000Talking Postcard Superstitial
United States
An online advertising initiative designed to build Clean & Clear’s presence in online teen communities.
Outcome. Received recognition in the online advertising category at the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council Awards.
- 1993Clean & Clear and Under Control
United States
A slogan and positioning campaign that emphasized acne, oil control, and managing teenage skincare concerns.
Outcome. Helped establish the brand’s youth-oriented acne-care identity.
Brand decisions
2023
Transfer of consumer-health ownership to KenvueM&ABackground
Johnson & Johnson separated its consumer-health activities into Kenvue.
Action taken
Clean & Clear became a Kenvue-owned brand.
Aftermath
The brand continued within Kenvue’s consumer-health and personal-care portfolio.
2013
Decision to phase out polyethylene microbeadsStrategyBackground
Several exfoliating products faced criticism because they contained polyethylene microbeads.
Action taken
Johnson & Johnson began phasing out polyethylene microbeads and committed to complete removal from its products by the end of 2015.
Aftermath
The decision addressed an environmental controversy affecting Clean & Clear and other consumer products in the Johnson & Johnson portfolio.
2004
Launch of Morning BurstProduct launchBackground
The brand was strongly associated with anti-acne products and sought to reach consumers seeking general daily cleansing.
Action taken
Clean & Clear launched Morning Burst Facial Cleanser with an energizing morning-routine proposition.
Aftermath
The platform broadened the portfolio and later expanded into body washes.
1993
Repositioning around acne and oil controlStrategyBackground
Johnson & Johnson sought to define a clearer youth-oriented role for the brand after acquiring it.
Action taken
The brand adopted the “Clean & Clear and Under Control” slogan and emphasized acne-related skincare.
Aftermath
Clean & Clear became more closely associated with teenage blemish care and control of excess oil.
1991
Revlon sells Clean & Clear to Johnson & JohnsonM&ABackground
Clean & Clear had operated as a Revlon personal-care line since its introduction.
Action taken
Johnson & Johnson acquires the brand and assumes ownership.
Aftermath
The brand is repositioned more strongly toward teenage skincare and acne management.
Recent events
Johnson & Johnson announced plans to discontinue skin-lightening products[2]
Reported:
Johnson & Johnson said it would soon remove its skin-lightening products from sale in Asia and the Middle East and would not manufacture them in the future, after criticism that Neutrogena and Clean & Clear products promoted lighter skin as preferable.
Sources2 sources
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