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Clean & Clear lemon… vs The Ordinary AHA 30%… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub vs The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Head to head

Clean & Clear

lemon zesty scrub

exfoliant

6.0

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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The Ordinary

AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

exfoliantbudget

7.3

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Score comparison

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Clean & Clear wins 1

Tied 1

The Ordinary wins 3

6.0Clean & Clear

+1.3vs

7.3The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Clean & Clear WINS

4.7

3.9

Clean & Clear

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

The Ordinary WINS

7.4

9.5

Clean & Clear

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

2.0

6.5

Clean & Clear

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Clean & Clear

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

The Ordinary WINS

8.0

9.0

Clean & Clear

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

8% overlap

25Clean & Clear

2Shared

22The Ordinary

Only in Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub

23 unique

Water (Eau)Sodium Laureth Sulfate Cellulose Lauryl Glucoside Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Microcrystalline Cellulose Phenoxyethanol Cera Microcristallina Parfum Methylparaben+13 more

Shared ingredients

2 in common

Glycerin Sodium Hydroxide

Only in The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

20 unique

Glycolic Acid Aqua (Water)Propanediol Salicylic Acid Potassium Citrate Lactic Acid Tartaric Acid Citric Acid Panthenol Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer+10 more

Why The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 6.5 compared to Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub's 2.0. Its formula features Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Irritation Risk is another area of separation. The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution scores 9.5 here versus 7.4 for Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution brings Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid as actives, while clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub relies on Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution comes in at budget pricing with a 7.3 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.3 lead

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

6.0Clean & Clear

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7.3The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub or The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution?

Based on ingredient analysis, The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub and The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub and The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Clean & Clear lemon zesty scrub→Full analysis: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution→

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