Neutrogena Refreshingly Clear Facial Wash

Neutrogena Refreshingly Clear Facial Wash

Efficacy87/100IrritancyMedium

Works for

Anti-blemish
Salicylic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“Utilising Neutrogena’s MICROCLEAR® technology, the gentle yet effective formula performs an essential deep cleanse that helps eliminate the appearance of blackheads, spots and other imperfections.”
Source: Mankind

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.

Salicylic acidHeroEffect: HighUsed 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)~0.75–1.15%
Cleansing
Sodium laureth sulfate, Lauryl glucoside + 5 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“Refreshingly Clear Facial Wash”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin.

It contains the following cleansing agents that tend to be harsh on the skin: benzalkonium chloride, sodium laureth sulfate.

The following cleansing agents are typically mild, but still can cause an irritation or allergy for some people cocamidopropyl betaine.

Keep in mind that cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Sodium laureth sulfateEffect: HighWorks as a foaming cleansing agent~11–14%
Lauryl glucosideEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~3.8–4.7%
Sodium lauroamphoacetateEffect: High~2.7–3.3%
Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~2.5–3%
Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleateEffect: High~1.5–1.9%
Polysorbate 20Effect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.4–0.65%
Benzalkonium chlorideEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent (detergent). Also used as a preservative. Can be irritating~0.05–0.1%
Exfoliation
Side benefit · Salicylic acid
Works well

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.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed 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)~0.75–1.15%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Citrus grandis fruit extract, Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 13 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agentHigh~11–14%est.
Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~4.1–5%est.
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~2.5–3%est.
Salicylic acidUsed 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)High~0.75–1.15%est.
Benzalkonium chlorideHelps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent (detergent). Also used as a preservative. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.1%est.
Citrus grandis fruit extract—High~0.5–0.75%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Ci 16035A red dyeHigh~0.05–0.1%est.
Lauryl glucosideHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~3.8–4.7%est.
Sodium benzotriazolyl butylphenol sulfonateHelps protect the ingredients in the formulation against UV lightMedium~0.45–0.7%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.2–0.4%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.15–0.3%est.
Sodium citrateHelps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve productsMedium~0.1–0.2%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 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
Ci 16035A red dye3/5~0.05–0.1%est.
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agent2/5~11–14%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Sodium laureth sulfate~11–14%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Works as a foaming cleansing agent

More about Sodium laureth sulfate
Propylene glycol~4.1–5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol
Lauryl glucoside~3.8–4.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Lauryl glucoside
Sodium lauroamphoacetate~2.7–3.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium lauroamphoacetate
Cocamidopropyl betaine~2.5–3%
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
Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate~1.5–1.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate
Salicylic acid~0.75–1.15%
Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryExfoliationAnti-blemishAntibacterialEvens skin tone

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)

More about Salicylic acid
Benzalkonium chloride~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent (detergent). Also used as a preservative. Can be irritating

More about Benzalkonium chloride
C12-15 alkyl lactate~0.95–1.2%
Formula
Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate~0.7–1.05%
Formula
Citrus grandis fruit extract~0.5–0.75%
Irritant · high
Sodium benzotriazolyl butylphenol sulfonate~0.45–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps protect the ingredients in the formulation against UV light

More about Sodium benzotriazolyl butylphenol sulfonate
Polysorbate 20~0.4–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Sodium chloride~0.3–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Disodium edta~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Citric acid~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Sodium citrate~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products

More about Sodium citrate
Parfum~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ci 16035~0.05–0.1%
Comedogenic 3/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
3/5

A red dye

More about Ci 16035
Ci 60725~0.05–0.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Ci 60725
Ingredient list view

Water, Sodium laureth sulfate, Propylene glycol, Lauryl glucoside, Sodium lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, Salicylic acid, Benzalkonium chloride, C12-15 alkyl lactate, Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate, Citrus grandis fruit extract, Sodium benzotriazolyl butylphenol sulfonate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium chloride, Disodium edta, Citric acid, Sodium citrate, Parfum, Ci 16035, Ci 60725

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

🇬🇧 Amazon UK (UK)Price as of 11/8 06:55 GMT
≈ $5.32
Buy
🇬🇧 Lookfantastic (UK)200 ml
≈ $5.59
Buy
🇬🇧 Mankind (UK)200 ml
≈ $6.32
Buy
🇦🇺 Amazon Australia (AU)Price as of 11/11 18:10 GMT
≈ $21.39
Buy

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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
NeutrogenaRefreshingly Clear Facial WashYOUR PRODUCTEucerinDermo Purifyer Oil Control Cleansing GelCLn Skin CareCLn Acne CleanserKmart2 in 1 Deep Gel Cleanser and Makeup Eraser - Salicylic Acid & Vitamin B3
Match—88%87%86%
Price————
Shared key ingredients—2 of 83 of 84 of 8
Key difference—Sodium CocoamphoacetateCocamide MeaNiacinamide
Irritancy Medium Low Low Medium
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: Olay Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid, for Normal Skin, Fragrance-FreeMixa Anti-Imperfection Comfort Cleanser

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
Neutrogena Refreshingly Clear Facial Wash
NeutrogenaRefreshingly Clear Facial Wash

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

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.