Neal's Yard Remedies

Neal's Yard Remedies Calendula Cleanser

Name: Neal's Yard Remedies - Calendula Cleanser
Brand: Neal's Yard Remedies

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing

Cetearyl alcohol, Cetearyl olivate + 1 more

Cleanses gently

What the product description says

“This gentle and mild cleansing cream effectively washes away make-up and everyday impurities, leaving skin feeling nourished and refreshed.”

Source: Neal's yard remedies

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Cetearyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~5.3–8%

Cetearyl olivateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.45–1.05%

Sorbitan olivateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.35–0.75%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

8 strong irritants: Alcohol, Hamamelis virginiana water + 6 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 12 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~2.8–4.2%est.

Hamamelis virginiana waterA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~1.9–2.9%est.

Calendula officinalis flower extractA plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritatingHigh~0.55–1.3%est.

Benzyl alcoholA preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritatingHigh~0.3–0.75%est.

Citrus limon peel oilA highly irritating fragranceHigh~0.1–0.3%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.05–0.2%est.

CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.05–0.15%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.

GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.

Olea europaea fruit oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammationMedium~1.4–2.1%est.

Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.Medium~1.1–1.7%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.3–0.7%est.

Comedogenic

3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

3 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~3.9–5.8%est.

Theobroma cacao seed butterHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect3/5~1.8–2.7%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~5.3–8%est.

User reviews

Would you recommend?

No community reviews yet.

Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Cetearyl alcohol~5.3–8%

Comedogenic 2/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 2/5

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol

Cocos nucifera oil~3.9–5.8%

Comedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil

Alcohol~2.8–4.2%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Antibacterial

Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties

More about Alcohol

Hamamelis virginiana water~1.9–2.9%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating

More about Hamamelis virginiana water

Theobroma cacao seed butter~1.8–2.7%

Comedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-dandruff

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect

More about Theobroma cacao seed butter

Olea europaea fruit oil~1.4–2.1%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation

More about Olea europaea fruit oil

Helianthus annuus seed oil~1.4–2.1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil

Simmondsia chinensis seed oil~1.1–1.7%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.

More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oil

Calendula officinalis flower extract~0.55–1.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritating

More about Calendula officinalis flower extract

Cetearyl olivate~0.45–1.05%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Cetearyl olivate

Benzyl alcohol~0.3–0.75%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating

More about Benzyl alcohol

Sorbitan olivate~0.35–0.75%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sorbitan olivate

Tocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.7%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate

Panthenol~0.15–0.6%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Reduces rednessMoisturizingReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol

Sclerotium gum~0.15–0.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions

More about Sclerotium gum

Tocopherol~0.1–0.45%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol

Citrus limon peel oil~0.1–0.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A highly irritating fragrance

More about Citrus limon peel oil

Limonene~0.05–0.2%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene

Citral~0.05–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant

More about Citral

Linalool~0.05–0.25%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool

Geraniol~0.05–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol

Ingredient list view

Water, Cetearyl alcohol, Cocos nucifera oil, Alcohol, Hamamelis virginiana water, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Olea europaea fruit oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Calendula officinalis flower extract, Cetearyl olivate, Benzyl alcohol, Sorbitan olivate, Tocopheryl acetate, Panthenol, Sclerotium gum, Tocopherol, Citrus limon peel oil, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Geraniol

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

🇬🇧 Lookfantastic (UK)100 g

≈ $18.20 Out of stock

Check

🇬🇧 Neal's yard remedies (UK)100 ml

≈ $30.79

Buy

🇨🇦 Amazon CA (CA)Price as of 11/1 09:09 GMT

≈ $34.84

Buy

🇦🇺 Amazon Australia (AU)

Price unavailable Out of stock

Check

🇬🇧 Amazon UK (UK)

Price unavailable Out of stock

Check

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	Neal's Yard RemediesCalendula CleanserYOUR PRODUCT	Adorn CosmeticsNatural Soothing Cleansing Milk \| Refillable	BeautycounterCounterstart Cococream cleanser	frank bodyCreamy Face Cleanser
Match	—	39%	38%	38%
Price	—	—	—	$21.47
Shared key ingredients	—	8 of 8	6 of 8	5 of 8
Key difference	—	Niacinamide	Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride	Salicylic Acid
Irritancy	High	Medium	Medium	Medium
Drying alcohol	Contains drying alcohol	—	—	Contains drying alcohol
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

More alternatives: Formation. Squalane Cream Cleanser Ranavat Luminous Ceremony Cream Cleanser

Cheaper alternatives? See how this stacks up against similar formulas.

We compare ingredient profiles across our catalog — pick the closest match for your budget.

Open dupe finder

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 15 studies and safety reviews.

1
Cocoa polyphenols and their influence on parameters involved in ex vivo skin restructuringncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2
Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oilonlinelibrary.wiley.com
3
Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Careonlinelibrary.wiley.com
4
Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egyptjournals.lww.com
5
Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
6
Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countriesonlinelibrary.wiley.com
7
Topical application of Calendula officinalis (L.): Formulation and evaluation of hydrophilic cream with antioxidant activitypdfs.semanticscholar.org
8
The seamy side of natural medicines: contact sensitization to arnica (Arnica montana L.) and marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
9
Final report on the safety assessment of Calendula officinalis extract and Calendula officinalisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
10
Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products – part 1: Achillea millefolium–Curcuma longaonlinelibrary.wiley.com
11
Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
12
Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
13
Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
14
Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
15
Annex I: Clinical evidence regarding sensitisation to individual fragrance chemicals and to natural extractsec.europa.eu

Neal's Yard RemediesCalendula Cleanser

Find on Amazon

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.