Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser

Efficacy50/100IrritancyMedium

Works for

Cleansing
Lauryl glucoside, Decyl glucoside + 6 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Fresh Foaming Cleanser”
Source: Neutrogena

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (ammonium laureth sulfate, cocamide mea, cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside, glycol stearate, lauryl glucoside, peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate) 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.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside

Lauryl glucosideEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~4.4–6.5%
Decyl glucosideEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating~3.3–5%
Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~2.8–4.1%
Ammonium laureth sulfateEffect: High~1.2–1.8%
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinateEffect: High~1–1.5%
Glycol stearateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.55–1.3%
Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleateEffect: High~0.55–1.25%
Cocamide meaEffect: High~0.2–0.8%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“2% polyhydroxy acid (PHA), a liquid exfoliant and humectant, decongests down to the pores”
Source: Walgreens

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Parfum, Dmdm hydantoin
Medium risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Decyl glucosideHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritatingHigh~3.3–5%est.
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~2.8–4.1%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.1–0.5%est.
Dmdm hydantoinA preservative that releases formaldehyde and can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.35%est.
Lauryl glucosideHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~4.4–6.5%est.
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate—Medium~1–1.5%est.
Glycol stearateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.55–1.3%est.
Tetrasodium edtaHelps to stabilize the product formulationMedium~0.05–0.2%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05–0.1%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Glycerin~4–6.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Lauryl glucoside~4.4–6.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Lauryl glucoside
Decyl glucoside~3.3–5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating

More about Decyl glucoside
Cocamidopropyl betaine~2.8–4.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen

More about Cocamidopropyl betaine
Glycereth-7~1.5–2.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Glycereth-7
Ammonium laureth sulfate~1.2–1.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Ammonium laureth sulfate
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate~1–1.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate
Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate~0.55–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate
Glycol stearate~0.55–1.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Glycol stearate
Cocamide mea~0.2–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Cocamide mea
Parfum~0.1–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Dmdm hydantoin~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A preservative that releases formaldehyde and can be irritating

More about Dmdm hydantoin
Tetrasodium edta~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to stabilize the product formulation

More about Tetrasodium edta
Citric acid~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Ingredient list view

Water, Glycerin, Lauryl glucoside, Decyl glucoside, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Glycereth-7, Ammonium laureth sulfate, Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, Glycol stearate, Cocamide mea, Parfum, Dmdm hydantoin, Tetrasodium edta, Citric acid

Compare prices

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/14 09:20 GMT
$29.99
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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
NeutrogenaFresh Foaming CleanserYOUR PRODUCTKiehl'ss Ultra Facial CleanserFace factsCeramide Blemish Foaming CleanserAveenoUltra-Calming Foaming Cleanser
Match—42%40%40%
Price$29.99$15.00−$14.99$7.79−$22.20—
Shared key ingredients—4 of 94 of 93 of 9
Key difference—Apricot Kernel OilSalicylic AcidSarcosine
Irritancy Medium Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: Superdrug Simply Pure Gentle Foaming CleanserCetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 2 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
NeutrogenaFresh Foaming Cleanser

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

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.