The Clear Guide: CLEARITY®Updated 5 days ago

What is CLEARITY®?

Meet your pores' new best friend. CLEARITY®, our Pore Clearing Serum, pairs 8% Mandelic Acid with Pyruvic Acid — and that duo is the difference. Most Mandelic Acid serums stop at one acid; CLEARITY® uses both to dissolve the congestion already sitting in your pores, smooth texture, support collagen, and visibly brighten, all while keeping your barrier happy.

Unlike harsher acids, Mandelic Acid is gentle enough for sensitive and blemish-prone skin while still being powerful enough to deliver real, visible results. CLEARITY® is formulated with Mandelic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Turmeric, Green Tea, Zinc PCA, Copper PCA, and Magnesium PCA — a clinical upgrade designed to visibly clear pores while keeping your barrier intact.

How do I use it?

• Apply to clean, dry skin in the evening.
• Let it sit for 10–15 minutes before following with CELLRENEW® and/or BOUNCEBACK™.
• Start slowly: Begin with every other night and increase frequency as your skin adjusts.
• Always follow with SPF in the morning — acids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun.
• Avoid applying directly under the eyes. Start above the cheekbones where skin is less sensitive.

How does CLEARITY® fit into my routine?

Tip: Pairing CLEARITY® with VITAMINSCRUB® makes it work significantly better — the physical exfoliant opens the path so CLEARITY® can penetrate deeper into the pores.

How often should I use it?

Apply 3 pumps to clean, bare skin and massage into your face, neck, and chest every night. Let it absorb for 10+ minutes alone to let the formula do its dissolving/clearing work inside your pores! No need to rinse off — simply follow with the next step in your routine like CELLRENEW® or BOUNCEBACK™.

Pro tip: If your skin is feeling sensitive or sensitized, start by using this product every other night. Once your skin has adjusted, build up to nightly use for best results.

Avoid the direct eye area.

My skin feels tingly or irritated — is that normal?

Some tingling is normal when you first start using an acid serum, especially if your skin isn't used to exfoliating actives. If your skin feels irritated, pull back to every other night and give it more time to adjust.

If you're experiencing prolonged discomfort, redness, or visible irritation — stop use and reach out to us. Trust your skin.

Will it cause purging?

CLEARITY® helps break down and loosen existing congestion in the pores, so if there's already something there, it may push it out. This is different from creating new blemishes — it's your skin clearing out what was already lurking beneath the surface.

Purging with CLEARITY® is uncommon and typically shorter-lived than retinol purging. The best thing you can do is stay consistent, support your barrier, and make sure you've removed all pore-clogging products from your routine — those are the real culprit if breakouts persist.

Can I use CLEARITY® with retinol or niacinamide?

• Retinol: Do not use CLEARITY® and retinol on the same night. Alternate nights between them. You can use CLEARITY® in the morning if needed — just let it sit on bare skin for at least 15 minutes before following with CELLRENEW®.
• Niacinamide (standalone): Safe to use every night alongside CLEARITY®.
• Retinol product that contains niacinamide: Alternate nights between that product and CLEARITY®.

Can I use it as a spot treatment?

You can, but it's not where CLEARITY® shines. It's most powerful as a full-face preventative to keep pores consistently clear. For targeting individual active spots, SULFUR SPOT&MASK is a better choice — its sulfur and clay formula is designed specifically for that job.

What changed in the new formula?

We upgraded CLEARITY® to deliver even faster clearing and smoother results. The main change: Vitamin C was removed and replaced with Pyruvic Acid, a clinical-grade exfoliant that refines texture, unclogs pores, and reduces post-blemish marks more efficiently.

We also added Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Copper PCA, and additional Turmeric and Green Tea Extracts to hydrate the skin and support the barrier while clearing, so you get the benefits of a powerful acid without the dryness.

Looking for Vitamin C? You'll find potent Vitamin C in our new product VIBRANCE-C, which is our new Vitamin C serum designed to tackle the top 5 complaints with Vitamin C products: irritation, smell, texture, stability, & pore-clogging ingredients — or in GOLDENHOUR Watermelon Barrier Oil, which layers beautifully with CLEARITY®.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CLEARITY® safe for sensitive skin?

Yes — Mandelic Acid is one of the gentlest AHAs available, making CLEARITY® suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. The key is a gradual introduction. Start slowly and let your skin build tolerance.

Is the fragrance synthetic?

No. The scent in CLEARITY® is naturally derived from a blend of essential oils including Orange, Raspberry, and Vanilla.

What is witch hazel and why is it in CLEARITY®?

Witch hazel is derived from the Hamamelis Virginiana plant, native to North America. In CLEARITY®, it supports pore tightening, oil control, and soothing of blemish-prone skin through its natural astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.

Do I need to follow with moisturizer?

Yes — always follow CLEARITY® with CELLRENEW® and/or BOUNCEBACK™, then HYDRAGLOW™ to keep your barrier supported. If you're especially dry, layer HYDRABERRY™ as your final step.

*Always follow with SPF the morning after use. Acids increase photosensitivity. YOUARESUNSHINE® SPF 50+ is our recommended daily sunscreen.