Inside Our Clarifying Brightening Cleanser

Our Clarifying Brightening Cleanser is a cream-to-foam face wash that pairs three sources of vitamin C with a blend of BHA, AHA and PHA exfoliating acids and turmeric. It cleans and clarifies without leaving skin tight, and it sets your skin up for the rest of your brightening routine.

You may know it by its old name, the Vitamin C Active Cleanser. Here's what's inside, why we made it this way, and how to get the most from it.

What is the Clarifying Brightening Cleanser?

It's the first step in our brightening routine: a daily face wash for anyone who wants clean, clear-feeling skin and a brighter, more even-looking tone over time.

We had two goals. The first was a thorough clean that lifts away oil, dead skin cells, makeup, sunscreen and the day's grime. The second was doing that without stripping the skin barrier, because tight, dry, irritated skin is more prone to new dark marks, especially melanin-rich skin. So we built gentle exfoliation and vitamin C into a formula that still feels comfortable.

If you're comparing brightening cleansers in general, our brightening cleanser guide explains what to look for in any face wash. This article is about ours.

What's inside the Clarifying Brightening Cleanser?

Three sources of vitamin C

• 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid (0.5%). A stable form of vitamin C that holds up well in a formula. Read more about 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid.
• Desert lime. A native Australian citrus rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
• Lilly pilly. A native Australian fruit, used as a botanical source of vitamin C.

A blend of BHA, AHA and PHA

Three types of exfoliating acid, each with a slightly different job:

• 2% salicylic acid (BHA) dissolves in oil, so it can work inside pores and help keep them clear.
• Mandelic acid (AHA) works on the surface, loosening the dull, dead cells that make skin look flat. It's a larger AHA, known as one of the gentler ones.
• Gluconolactone and lactobionic acid (PHAs) are the gentlest of the three and work slowly at the surface.

Combining them gives a more rounded exfoliation than one strong acid on its own, with no scrubbing particles.

Turmeric

The same golden spice as in our Vitamin C Clay Mask, loved for its calming, glow-boosting reputation.

Gentle cleansers

The lather comes from mild, sulfate-free cleansing agents made from coconut, with glycerin to help skin feel comfortable after rinsing. The cleanser is fragrance-free and vegan, and it comes in a 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) tube.

Why is it a cream-to-foam cleanser?

It starts as a soft cream and turns into a light foam as you massage it into wet skin. The cream feels cushioned while you work it in, and the foam lifts away oil and buildup, then rinses clean.

That texture suits most skin types. It's creamy enough for drier skin, with enough lather to feel thorough on oily skin.

Why does a cleanser only need a little vitamin C?

A cleanser sits on your skin for well under a minute before you rinse it away. That's not long for vitamin C to do much, so packing a face wash with a high percentage would mostly send it down the drain.

Instead, the cleanser's job is support: a gentle exfoliating cleanse plus a touch of vitamin C, so your skin is clean, smooth and ready for the leave-on steps. The heavy lifting comes from the Superactive Serum, with 15% vitamin C, and from daily sunscreen.

Who is the Clarifying Brightening Cleanser for?

• Oily, combination or breakout-prone skin. The acid blend helps keep pores clear. You can use it morning and night.
• Dull or uneven-looking skin. Regular gentle exfoliation helps skin look fresher and smoother.
• Dry or balanced skin. Start once a day and see how your skin feels. If you want a second cleanse, keep it plain and gentle.
• Sensitive skin. Because it contains exfoliating acids, patch test on your inner arm first and start once a day or every other day. Our sensitive skin FAQ has more tips.

It's made for the face. Keep it out of your eyes, and don't use it on intimate skin, which needs gentler care.

What does "clarifying" mean in a cleanser?

"Clarifying" describes a cleanser that goes a step beyond removing surface dirt. It helps clear away the oil and dead skin cells that build up on the surface and around pores, so skin feels fresh and looks less congested.

In our cleanser, that job falls mainly to the salicylic acid, which works in oil, and to the mandelic acid and PHAs, which loosen surface buildup. The difference from a harsh "deep clean" face wash is balance: the goal is skin that feels clean and comfortable, not squeaky and tight. If your skin ever feels tight after rinsing, use it less often.

How do you use the Clarifying Brightening Cleanser?

1. Wet your face with lukewarm water.
2. Massage a small amount over damp skin in small circles for about 30 seconds, avoiding the eye area.
3. Rinse well, or wipe away with a soft, damp cloth.
4. Pat dry and follow with serum and moisturizer.
5. In the morning, finish with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.

At night, if you wore makeup or sunscreen, cleanse twice. The first cleanse lifts off the day and the second cleans your skin.

Exfoliating acids, especially AHAs, can make skin more sensitive to the sun, which is one more reason to wear sunscreen every morning.

How does it fit into a Gleamin routine?

Morning and night:

1. Clarifying Brightening Cleanser
2. Superactive Serum, 1 to 2 pumps
3. Advanced Brightening Moisturizer
4. Sunscreen, in the morning

Once or twice a week, swap your night serum for the Vitamin C Clay Mask.

Because the cleanser already exfoliates gently, you don't need an extra acid toner or scrub in the same routine. See the full routine, with tweaks for each skin type.

Can you use it with retinol or other exfoliants?

You can, with some care. The cleanser already gives your skin a gentle daily dose of exfoliating acids, so adding more exfoliation on top is where most people run into trouble.

• With retinol or retinoids: keep your retinoid at night and watch how your skin responds. If you notice dryness or stinging, use the cleanser in the morning only, and a plain gentle cleanser at night.
• With acid toners, peels or scrubs: pick one main exfoliating step. On days you use a peel, swap the cleanser for something plain.
• With a clay mask: that's fine. Cleanse, apply the mask, rinse and moisturize.

Signs you're overdoing it include tightness, flaking, redness and stinging when you apply your serum. If that happens, cut back for a week and let your skin settle.

What can you expect, and when?

• Right after rinsing: skin feels clean and soft, not tight or squeaky.
• Over the first few weeks: a smoother, fresher-looking surface.
• After 8 to 12 weeks: as part of a full routine with vitamin C and daily sunscreen, a brighter, more even-looking tone.

Results vary from person to person. A photo in the same light on day one is the best way to see your progress.

Where can you buy the Clarifying Brightening Cleanser?

Like the rest of our range, it's sold on Amazon. See the product page for the details, or find it in our Amazon store.

The bottom line

The Clarifying Brightening Cleanser gives you a clean, clarified feel and gentle exfoliation without the tight, stripped feeling, and it gets your skin ready for vitamin C. Pair it with a serum, a moisturizer and daily sunscreen, and give it time.

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If you have a skin condition or concern, talk to a doctor or dermatologist.