Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-blemish
- Exfoliation
- Moisturizing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
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Product Summary
"Neutrogena - Clear & Defend Facial Scrub" is effective for: Anti-blemish, Exfoliation and Moisturizing
Ingredient callouts
- This product contains acids (lactic acid 0.75% - 1.15%). Their concentration is low, and they will not have a strong exfoliating effect. Instead, they work to support the skin natural acid mantle and to attract water (as humectants). Lactic acid is particularly good in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin and improving the skin barrier.
- Salicylic acid (1.20% - 1.40%). This is an oil-soluble exfoliating acid. Because of this property, it can work inside pores and help reduce the congestion. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is used to treat acne. Because it is a quite strong exfoliator, be careful with using this product too often: it could result in over-exfoliation.
- Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.65% - 0.95% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
- Humectants (panthenol 0.65% - 0.95%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails from 3.32£ up to 5.49£ in the United Kingdom, for 4.99$ in the United States and for 9.10CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Works for
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Utilising Neutrogena’s ClearDefend TechnologyTM, the intelligent formula comfortably massages over the complexion, sloughing away dead skin cells and clearing congested pores.
Source: Lookfantastic CA
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Clear & Defend Facial Scrub
Source: From product name
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Ultra pigmented for 24 hours of intense colour and hydration
Source: Feelunique
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
panthenol, sorbitol.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: cera microcristallina.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss from its surface and create a thicker product consistency
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Scrub | Current | $3.32 | |
 B. Kamins Lactic-10 | 86% | $28.00 | |
 Beauty Drops AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling | 81% | $6.95 | |
 Uriage Dépiderm Anti-Brown Spot Targeted Care | 75% | $21.44 | |
 Dermalogica breakout clearing liquid peel | 75% | $23.00 | |
 Paula's choice Clear Regular Strength 2% BHA Exfoliant | 75% | $24.65 |
Key Actives
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss from its surface and create a thicker product consistency
Potential irritants
Helps oil and water mix together and used as a cleansing agent. Can be irritating and is better avoided for sensitive skin
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent (detergent). Also used as a preservative. Can be irritating
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Helps oil and water mix together and used as a cleansing agent. Can be irritating and is better avoided for sensitive skin
Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
Can be used to help absorb oil as well as add volume and imporve texture of products.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss from its surface and create a thicker product consistency
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent (detergent). Also used as a preservative. Can be irritating
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, Sorbitol, Cellulose, Salicylic acid, Sodium hydrolyzed potato starch dodecenylsuccinate, Acrylates crosspolymer-4, C12-15 alkyl lactate, Lactic acid, Panthenol, Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate, Talc, Cera microcristallina, Sodium chloride, Disodium edta, Citric acid, Sodium hydroxide, Benzalkonium chloride, Parfum, Ci 19140, Ci 73360
- Final Report On the Safety Assessment of Sodium Alpha-Olefin Sulfonates
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acid
- Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Analysis of Dyes in Cosmetics: Challenges and Recent Developments