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Neutrogena vs Simple

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Neutrogena and Simple are two well-established skincare brands that offer reliable daily essentials for varied complexions. The American brand features moisturizers, sunscreens, cleansers, and toners with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, suiting sensitive and mature skin best. Meanwhile, the British brand provides gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners incorporating niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin. While both share a commitment to skin-friendly care, Neutrogena relies on scientific backing for barrier restoration and targeted concern relief, whereas Simple focuses on respecting delicate barriers with minimal formulations.

Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

This page compares some of the most popular Neutrogena and Simple products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Neutrogena vs Simple products

People Say

NeutrogenaSimple
  • Acne-Safe and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Foundation glides right over it — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Concealer doesn't cake or get stuck in crevices — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable Price and Value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “great price point — Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Fast Absorption Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Absorbs quickly — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “Absorbs really well into my skin without leaving a greasy residue behind. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Applies easily and quickly absorbs. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “absorbs really well — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Insufficient Hydration or Dryness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Not moisturizing enough for winter months — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Not rich enough for very dry mature skin — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “not rich enough — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Packaging and Design Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “hard to get last bit out — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Formula change ruined it — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
  • Poor Makeup Removal and Waterproof Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't remove mascara — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”

Neutrogena vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · A$208.81 · 84% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · A$116.40 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Neutrogena vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · A$388.80 · 86% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · A$244.80 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Neutrogena vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · A$322.10 · 84% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · A$195.25 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Simple: which is better?

Both Neutrogena and Simple are equal because they share the same routine fit levels across all skin types on this page. Neutrogena features a broader range of specialized active ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid, whereas Simple focuses entirely on fragrance-free, gentle formulations.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Simple?

Neutrogena is best suited for sensitive, mature, and dry skin, whereas Simple fits acne-prone, oily, and oily acne-prone skin best. Neutrogena features key ingredients like retinol, which helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin, and hyaluronic acid, which helps with wound healing. Simple relies on ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Neutrogena or Simple for dry skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve an equal High Lovi fit level for dry skin. The products on this page from Neutrogena offer deep hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena and Simple both offer cleansers with a high Lovi fit for various skin types. Neutrogena features options like the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, while Simple provides products such as the Refreshing Facial Wash.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Simple?

Simple is more affordable than Neutrogena. Reviewers on this page frequently mention Simple for its affordable price and value.

Between Neutrogena and Simple, which brand offers a wider selection of fragrance-free products?

Neutrogena offers a wider selection of products on this page, with 35 out of 39 listing no fragrance, compared to Simple which has 7 fragrance-free products.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Neutrogena and Simple compare?

Neutrogena was founded in 1930 in the United States and has been owned by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026. Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Which brand performs better for lightweight and non-greasy texture according to reviewer themes?

Neutrogena performs better for lightweight and non-greasy texture according to the reviewer themes on this page.

Neutrogena or Simple for oily skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple offer an equal High routine fit level for oily skin. Neutrogena features key ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid across the products on this page to help hydrate, while Simple utilizes niacinamide.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Neutrogena or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena offers better options for lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers, while Simple provides more affordable, value-friendly formulas for the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration in moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Neutrogena is best suited for sensitive skin, mature skin, and dry skin, whereas Simple fits acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and oily skin best.

Neutrogena or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on this page, but Simple is noted as doing better for acne-safe and gentle formulas while Neutrogena offers a wider range of targeted treatments like salicylic acid products.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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