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Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Liquid Exfoliating Treatment
Neutrogena

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Liquid Exfoliating Treatment

Efficacy100/100IrritancyLow
See all ingredients

Works for

Exfoliation
Glycolic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“Stubborn Texture™ Liquid Exfoliating Treatment”
Source: Neutrogena

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: glycolic acid.

Glycolic acidKey activeEffect: HighAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid~3.7–5.6%
Evens skin tone
Side benefit · Glycolic acid
Works well

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid

Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

Glycolic acidKey activeEffect: HighAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid~3.7–5.6%
Moisturizing
Side benefit · Panthenol, Glycerin + 1 more
Works well

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, butylene glycol.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

PanthenolHero· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.2–0.8%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~4.5–6.8%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~2.6–4%
Anti-aging
Side benefit · Glycolic acid
Works well

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

Glycolic acidKey activeEffect: HighAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid~3.7–5.6%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 3 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Glycolic acidAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acidHigh~3.7–5.6%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~1.4–2.1%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.05–0.1%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
Alternatives
Cheaper, or higher on efficacy
Kale-Lalu-yAHA
Krave Beauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA
Cheaper66% match
$24.82
Smooth Out
Geek Gorgeous Smooth Out
Cheaper66% match
$12.80
View all alternatives

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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~4.5–6.8%
Key active
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
Glycolic acid~3.7–5.6%
Key activeIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-agingEvens skin toneExfoliationAnti-blemish

An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid

More about Glycolic acid
Butylene glycol~2.6–4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Polysorbate 20~1.9–2.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Citric acid~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Sodium hydroxide~1–1.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Panthenol~0.2–0.8%
Hero · Moisturizing
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
C12-15 alkyl lactate~0.2–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about C12-15 alkyl lactate
Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate~0.05–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate
Disodium edta~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Ingredient list view

Water, Glycerin, Glycolic acid, Butylene glycol, Polysorbate 20, Citric acid, Sodium hydroxide, Sodium benzoate, Panthenol, C12-15 alkyl lactate, Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate, Disodium edta

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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
NeutrogenaStubborn Texture Liquid Exfoliating TreatmentYOUR PRODUCTNo7Glycolic Exfoliating PadsGeek GorgeousSmooth OutKrave BeautyKale-Lalu-yAHA
Match—67%66%66%
Price—$33.40$12.80$24.82
Shared key ingredients—3 of 33 of 33 of 3
Key difference—GluconolactoneAnhydroxylitolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Irritancy Low Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Product summary

"Neutrogena - Stubborn Texture™ Liquid Exfoliating Treatment" is effective for: Exfoliation, Evens skin tone and Anti-aging

This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • Exfoliating acids (glycolic acid 3.70% - 5.60%). In this concentration, they will have a noticeable exfoliating effect. They can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run.
  • Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.20% - 0.80% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
  • Humectants (glycerin 4.50% - 6.80%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Price

The product retails for 17.97CA$ in Canada and for 14.99$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Photoprotective and antiinflammatory effects of topical glycolic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Glycolic acid peel therapy – a current reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinmdpi.com
  5. 5
    Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
  6. 6
    Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Liquid Exfoliating Treatment
NeutrogenaStubborn Texture Liquid Exfoliating Treatment
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Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.