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Neutrogena deep clean for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Neutrogena deep clean

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate cleansing for your combination skin, as cocamidopropyl betaine and salicylic acid work to decongest pores and manage oiliness. Glycerin provides humectant action, supporting skin hydration.
  • The salicylic acid concentration is suitable for managing oily shine and providing moderate exfoliation for your combination skin.
  • The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
  • Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
  • For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 15.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly effective at removing dirt, oil, and makeup, making it a popular choice for normal to oily and acne-prone skin types. However, a significant number of users with sensitive or dry skin report that it can be overly stripping, leading to dryness and irritation.

Highlights

  • Deeply cleanses skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “thoroughly removes dirt, oil and dead skin cells”
    • “cleans very well, even make up”
    • “leaves your skin feeling soft, clean and fresh”
    • “removes external impurities and opens up clogged pores”
  • Controls excess oil Often Mentioned
    • “keeps my skin relieved of all the greasiness”
    • “reduces oiliness on my face”
    • “keeps a check on greasiness”
    • “controls shine”
  • Dries out skin Often Mentioned
    • “my skin feels dry after using this”
    • “stretches my skin and make it deficient of moisture”
    • “can leave drier complexions feeling tight”
    • “made my face look dull due to extra dryness”
  • Prevents acne breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “makes my skin safe from acnes”
    • “cleanses without irritation or breakouts”
    • “acne-fighting properties have proven effective in preventing breakouts”
    • “It didn't break me out”
  • Removes makeup effectively Sometimes Noted
    • “Removes makeup and oil completely”
    • “Removes my makeup well”
    • “cleans very well, even make up”
    • “Effective makeup removal”
  • Irritates sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
    • “experienced a burning sensation on sensitive areas”
    • “nose would often have red marks and feel irritated”
    • “harsh on my skin”
    • “fragrance, dyes, and stripping potential make it a poor fit”
  • Contains artificial ingredients Rarely Noted
    • “contains fragrance... plus Yellow 5 and Red 40 dyes”
    • “added fragrance and dyes may irritate”
    • “I don't like to smell too much fragrance”
    • “fragrance, dyes... make it a poor fit”

Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.ca, citymarket.com, purplle.com, tryandreview.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Neutrogena Deep Clean work for combination skin?

Neutrogena Deep Clean works moderately well for combination skin, as salicylic acid and cocamidopropyl betaine help manage oil while glycerin supports hydration. A cleanser for combination skin needs gentle ingredients that balance oily areas and maintain moisture without stripping dry zones.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?

Salicylic acid and glycerin make this cleanser a good fit because they help manage oily shine and support skin hydration. To work best for combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients that effectively clean without stripping moisture while supporting the skin barrier to address both oily and dry areas.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Water do for combination skin?

Water helps keep combination skin hydrated, though a product of this type needs additional barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides or petrolatum to lock in that moisture and support overall skin health.

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine before your toner and moisturizer to help manage oiliness and keep pores clear. Combination skin needs gentle cleansers with ingredients like glycerin and salicylic acid that clear out pores without stripping moisture.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first and following it with your retinol treatment. Because this cleanser contains salicylic acid, using it with strong retinol may sometimes dry or irritate your skin, so you may want to start slowly. Combination skin often does better with a gentle, hydrating cleanser and a separate exfoliating step rather than a combined approach.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It helps clear pores and manage oily shine while keeping the skin hydrated, though a combination skin type ultimately needs balanced ingredients that target both oil and moisture without stripping.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as salicylic acid helps clear out oil and debris from pores. However, because it can dry out skin, a cleanser for this skin type needs extra gentle ingredients that wash away dirt while keeping moisture locked in.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should avoid applying it around the eyes because the skin in that area is much thinner and more delicate. This skin type needs gentle cleansers with soothing ingredients and extra moisture to prevent dryness and irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Dmdm Hydantoin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score 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

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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

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