CLEARSTEM Skincare: The Best Anti-Acne + Anti-Aging System Explained

If you're searching for a skincare brand that clears acne, supports long-term skin health, and helps you age well without irritation, you'll quickly discover that CLEARSTEM stands alone.

Most anti-acne products strip the skin and accelerate aging, while most anti-aging formulas contain pore-clogging ingredients that can trigger acne. This creates a frustrating gap for anyone who wants both: clear skin that also stays smooth, firm, and radiant over time.

CLEARSTEM finally fills this gap. It's the first skincare brand built to address acne at the root while also supporting collagen, elasticity, and skin recovery.

The result is a system that helps you stay breakout-free, glow confidently, and age gracefully using a blend of clinical expertise, science-backed ingredients, and a holistic understanding of both internal and external skin health.

The CLEARSTEM Philosophy: Clear Skin Through Whole-Body Health

CLEARSTEM was built around a simple but rare philosophy: clear is more than skin deep.

CLEARSTEM connects internal and external skincare through supplements and topicals made with no pore-clogging ingredients, ever.

The company was founded on the simple idea that acne must be treated from multiple angles since breakouts rarely have a single cause. This includes inflammation, pore-clogging ingredients, poor gut health, hormones, nutrient deficiencies, and the wrong topical products that further irritate skin.

Most brands focus only on what you apply to your skin or only on internal supplements, but CLEARSTEM intentionally bridges both.

Internal and External Skin Solutions

CLEARSTEM approaches acne and aging through two pathways at once:

Clinical-grade, non-pore-clogging topicals for targeting the skin’s surface.
Hormone-friendly internal supplements that support the deeper root causes of breakouts (such as an imbalanced gut microbiome, which takes a toll on the gut-skin axis).

This dual method reflects how acne actually develops. Breakouts are influenced by both external factors, like pore congestion and barrier disruption, as well as internal factors, including hormones, digestion, and inflammation. Long-lasting clarity requires addressing the full picture rather than focusing on only one side of the equation.

Two products that embody this inside-out philosophy are MINDBODYSKIN® and GOOD SEEDS™, both of which are designed to support whole-body skin wellness in different but complementary ways.

MINDBODYSKIN® is CLEARSTEM’s flagship internal skin supplement. It supports clear, balanced skin by addressing common internal acne triggers such as hormonal fluctuations, stress, digestion, nutrient depletion, and inflammatory pathways. Instead of spot-treating breakouts, it supports the underlying systems that influence them, which is why so many people experience improvements in clarity, texture, oil balance, and resilience with consistent use.

GOOD SEEDS™ is a more specialized blend that was formulated based on thousands of real lab results. It addresses common patterns seen in those with breakouts. This daily softgel blend features Black Cumin Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, and Sea Buckthorn—ingredients known to support gut health and microbiome balance, cellular hydration, and healthy hormonal signaling.

When used together, MINDBODYSKIN® and GOOD SEEDS™ address the most common internal contributors to breakouts, while topical CLEARSTEM products work externally to keep pores clear and the skin barrier strong.

No Pore-Clogging Ingredients, Ever

Every CLEARSTEM product is formulated without over 450 known pore-clogging ingredients, including many oils, butters, fillers, and additives that are commonly found in other “clean beauty” products.

The brand maintains one of the industry’s strictest ingredient standards and created the most comprehensive Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker (which you can try here), a free tool used by millions that helps people identify hidden acne triggers in their skincare, makeup, haircare, and even supplements.

Rigorously avoiding all acne-clogging ingredients is what allows CLEARSTEM to guarantee that every cleanser, serum, mask, moisturizer, and supplement works synergistically for acne-prone skin.

Anti-Aging and Anti-Acne at the Same Time

Most people with acne are forced to choose between clearing breakouts and using anti-aging products. That's because traditional actives found in acne products and anti-aging skincare often conflict with each other. For example:

Heavy oils and rich creams used for anti-aging can clog pores and trigger breakouts
Harsh acne treatments can cause dryness, irritation, and fine lines, especially in those with sensitive skin

CLEARSTEM solves both problems through dual-function formulas that support collagen production, elasticity, a smooth texture, and a bright tone, all while staying acne-friendly for daily use.

The Best Ingredients That Fight Breakouts and Support Collagen Production

CLEARSTEM formulas are intentionally layered with multiple actives that work synergistically, so you get results across both acne and aging pathways without irritation.

For example, the active ingredients in our products can help reduce breakouts while improving firmness, brightness, and skin density. This combination allows users to follow a true anti-aging routine without worrying about clogged pores or worsening acne.

Actives that target breakouts and support youthful-looking skin include:

Pyruvic Acid to exfoliate, clear congestion, and increase brightness (1)
Azelaic Acid (used in BRIGHTMEUP) to even tone, calm redness, and refine texture (2)
Bakuchiol to support collagen and smooth fine lines, without irritation (3)
Peptides to boost firmness and promote healing (4)
Plant Stem Cells (such as in CELLRENEW®) to help restore resilience (5)

Hormone-Friendly and Whole-Body Conscious

CLEARSTEM is committed to whole-body wellbeing. This includes choosing ingredients that support hormonal balance rather than disrupt it.

Many mainstream skincare and beauty supplements contain artificial sweeteners, fragrances, endocrine-disrupting preservatives, or synthetic dyes that can negatively impact hormones.

Knowing that hormones are among the most common acne triggers, CLEARSTEM avoids hormone-disruptive ingredients and instead offers supplements and skincare specifically designed to support hormone health as part of a clear-skin-focused regimen.

Founders With Deep Clinical and Integrative Roots

CLEARSTEM was co-founded by Danielle Gronich, widely known as "The Acne Guru®," and Integrative Healthcare Practitioner Kayleigh Christina. Together, they recognized the need for a brand that merged clinical dermatology expertise with a holistic understanding of internal wellness.

Both Danielle and Kayleigh struggled with breakouts triggered by pore-clogging ingredients and experienced firsthand how deeply acne impacts self-confidence at every age. Their solution was to create CLEARSTEM, an anti-aging line formulated without acne-causing ingredients of any kind, so people can finally experience the confidence that comes with truly clear, healthy skin.

They are also partnered with a Board-Certified dermatologist to round out their expertise and provide the most comprehensive education to CLEARSTEM customers.

Danielle “The Acne Guru®” Gronich:

Danielle is an acne specialist with more than 11 years of clinical experience and a long record of clearing complex acne cases. Her work has led CLEARSTEM to have one of the highest NPS scores in the skincare category and an industry-leading return customer rate.

Danielle’s educational impact is widely recognized since she teaches acne information that medical school does not cover, including pore-clogging ingredients, dietary triggers, and supplement interactions.

Kayleigh Christina

Kayleigh Christina is creating a paradigm shift in skincare as an Integrative Health Practitioner and Nutritionist, as well as the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of CLEARSTEM. Driven by her personal struggle with severe acne, Kayleigh’s core mission is educating those suffering with acne about whole-body, root-cause solutions. She empowers her community with the knowledge and support they need to achieve and maintain clear skin for life—Because Clear Skin Changes Everything®.

About Dr. Omer Ibrahim, CLEARSTEM’s Dermatology Partner

Dr. Omer Ibrahim is a board-certified dermatologist, clinical researcher, and leading educator in both medical and cosmetic dermatology. His work spans thousands of patient cases, published dermatology research, and national conference presentations where he teaches evidence-based approaches to acne, barrier repair, and anti-aging.

Dr. Ibrahim routinely sees patients who unknowingly worsen their acne with pore-clogging “clean beauty” products, which is why CLEARSTEM’s strict ingredient standards align so closely with his clinical philosophy. He also partners with CLEARSTEM as an expert advisor because he values the brand’s commitment to science-backed formulations, pore-safe ingredients, and whole-body skin health.

Why People Choose CLEARSTEM

CLEARSTEM has developed a loyal community of dermatologists, estheticians, functional medicine doctors, and skincare consumers.

Some of the reasons people stay with CLEARSTEM include:

No pore-clogging ingredients are used in any topical or supplement
Dual-action formulas for both aging and acne
Internal supplements that complement topical routines
Clinically informed, hormone-friendly ingredients
Visible results through a root-cause approach to skin health
Educational leadership that simplifies acne and empowers users
One of the highest NPS (Net Promoter Score) scores in the skincare industry, with an industry-leading return customer rate