• O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml AHA BHA spot treatment for breakouts, clogged pores and congestion.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml with Salicylic Acid and L-Lactic Acid for active breakouts and congestion.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum for active breakouts, excess oil, clogged pores and rough congested skin texture.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml targeted spot treatment for breakouts, ingrown hairs and localised congestion.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum with 5% L-Lactic Acid, 2% encapsulated Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml targeted blemish treatment for individual breakouts and congested skin.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum AHA BHA treatment for active blemishes, excess oil and clogged pores.
  • O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml concentrated spot treatment for breakouts and localised congestion.
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O Cosmedics

O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml

O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum 30ml

$106.00 AUD
$106.00 AUD
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O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum is a professional-strength AHA/BHA spot treatment designed for active breakouts, stubborn congestion and excess oil. Combining 5% L-Lactic Acid with 2% encapsulated Salicylic Acid, it exfoliates built-up surface cells while working within congested pores to help clear excess sebum and refine rough, breakout-prone skin. 

Niacinamide complements the exfoliating acids by helping regulate oil flow, calm visible redness, strengthen the skin barrier and improve uneven post-breakout tone. Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract provides antibacterial botanical support, creating a targeted formula that addresses several factors associated with blemish-prone and imbalanced skin. 

Unlike an all-over corrective serum, Potent Clearing Serum is applied only where correction is needed. Use it on individual blemishes, localised areas of congestion, ingrown hairs or keratosis pilaris, making it a precise addition to a broader clear-skin routine rather than another active that needs to be applied across the entire face.

Product Size: 30ml

SKIN DEEP MEDISPA EXPERT VERDICT
Our rating: 4.8/5
O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum is one I reach for when the problem is concentrated in particular areas rather than across the whole face. I particularly like it for recurring chin or jawline blemishes, stubborn patches of congestion and individual inflamed breakouts because I can treat those areas without unnecessarily increasing exfoliation everywhere else. The combination of L-Lactic Acid and encapsulated Salicylic Acid also makes sense to me clinically because we're addressing both built-up surface cells and congestion within the pore, while Niacinamide gives the formula useful oil-balancing and barrier support. I also reach for it beyond facial breakouts, particularly for ingrown hairs and keratosis pilaris, which gives it a much broader role than a conventional blemish treatment.

BEST FOR
Breakouts • Congestion • Clogged Pores • Excess Oil • Keratosis Pilaris

I wouldn't use Potent Clearing Serum as a full-face acne serum. If breakouts or congestion are widespread, I want to look at the overall routine and what is driving the skin rather than repeatedly treating the entire face with a concentrated spot treatment. Its value for me is the ability to correct selectively while leaving unaffected skin alone.

Reviewed by: Diana / Founder & Head of Clinical Therapies, Skin Deep Medispa, Armadale

🔥 OUR HOT TIP
If you tend to break out in the same area, don't automatically spread Potent Clearing Serum over the whole surrounding zone. I recommend starting with the smallest area that actually needs correction and expanding only if the congestion itself is more widespread. With a 5% AHA and 2% BHA formula, precision is more useful than simply applying more product.

Not sure if it’s right for your skin? Ask A Skin Deep Medispa Therapist

What We Love

✓ 5% L-Lactic Acid + 2% encapsulated Salicylic Acid provide complementary surface and pore-level exfoliation.
✓ Targeted application keeps correction localised, rather than unnecessarily exposing unaffected skin to additional acids.
✓ Niacinamide balances the formula, supporting oil regulation, visible redness, barrier strength and uneven post-breakout tone.
✓ Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract provides antibacterial botanical support for breakout-prone areas.
✓ Useful beyond facial blemishes, with targeted applications for ingrown hairs and keratosis pilaris.

Key Ingredients

✓ L-Lactic Acid - A water-soluble AHA that helps loosen the bonds between built-up surface cells to refine rough texture and support clearer-looking skin. It also acts as a humectant, helping maintain hydration while exfoliating.
✓ Encapsulated Salicylic Acid - An oil-soluble BHA delivered using liposome technology to work within congested pores, helping reduce excess sebum and pore build-up while refining the appearance of congestion. Its encapsulated delivery is designed to improve stability while reducing irritation.
✓ Niacinamide - Helps regulate oil flow, strengthen the skin barrier, support moisture retention and improve the appearance of redness and uneven tone.
✓ Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract - An antibacterial botanical that helps minimise breakout-associated bacteria on the skin's surface.

Ingredients: Aqua, Alcohol Denat, L-Lactic Acid, Potassium Lactate, Olive Oil PEG-7 Ester, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Thermus Thermophilus Ferment, Niacinamide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Coleus Forskholii Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polyquaternium-67, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80.

Free from parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals and mineral oils, with no artificial colours, harsh preservatives or harsh synthetic fragrances. Vegan-friendly, gluten-free and cruelty-free. The formula is emulsifier-free and biomimetic.

How To Use

Use morning and/or evening, according to breakout activity and skin tolerance.

After cleansing, apply a small amount of O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum directly to individual breakouts, areas of congestion, ingrown hairs or keratosis pilaris.

Allow to absorb before applying additional O Cosmedics serums and your preferred moisturiser. In the morning, always finish with O Cosmedics Mineral Pro SPF.

Important: Do not use Potent Clearing Serum during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you are allergic to Aspirin, due to its Salicylic Acid content.

Pair It With

O Cosmedics Gentle Antioxidant Cleanser

O Cosmedics Potent Retinol Serum 0.5%

O Cosmedics Rebalancing Cream

FAQs

Is O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum a spot treatment or a full-face serum?
O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum is a targeted spot treatment. We recommend applying it directly to individual blemishes or specific areas of congestion rather than spreading it across the entire face.

Can I use O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum every day?
Yes, O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum can be used morning and/or evening depending on breakout activity and skin tolerance. We generally recommend starting according to what the affected area actually needs rather than assuming twice-daily application will always produce a better result.

Is O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum suitable for hormonal breakouts?
Yes. O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum is ideal for individual breakouts and hormonal blemishes. We particularly like it when hormonal blemishes recur in a defined area, such as the chin or jawline, because the treatment can remain localised rather than increasing exfoliation across the whole face.

Can O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum be used on sensitive skin?
We would be cautious. The formula contains 5% L-Lactic Acid and 2% Salicylic Acid and is designed for affected areas only. If the surrounding skin is already irritated or barrier-impaired, we wouldn't automatically introduce a concentrated acid treatment until the condition of the skin has been assessed.

Can O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum be used for ingrown hairs?
Yes. O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum can be used on ingrown hairs on the face or body. The combination of AHA and BHA helps address accumulated surface cells and congestion around the affected area, making this one of the more useful applications for Potent Clearing Serum beyond facial blemishes.

Can O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum help keratosis pilaris?
Yes. We recommend applying O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum to areas such as the backs of the arms or thighs to help soften the rough, bumpy texture associated with keratosis pilaris. We would still introduce it according to skin tolerance rather than increasing frequency too quickly.

Can I use O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
No. We advise against using O Cosmedics Potent Clearing Serum during pregnancy or breastfeeding because the formula contains Salicylic Acid. It should also not be used if you are allergic to Aspirin.

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★★★★★

“I mainly get hormonal spots around my chin rather than breakouts everywhere, so this suits me really well. I just dab a small amount onto the spots as they appear and don't have to dry out the rest of my face.”

Olivia, Melbourne VIC

★★★★★

“I've been using this on a stubborn congested patch around my chin and it's made a noticeable difference. I like that it's meant to be used only where you need it because my cheeks are actually quite dry.”

Maddison, Brisbane QLD

★★★★★

“I originally bought this for the occasional breakout but now use it for ingrown hairs as well. You only need a tiny amount, so the bottle lasts much longer than I expected.”

Evelyn, Adelaide SA