Neutrogena vs Aēsop
Neutrogena and Aēsop are two distinct skincare lines offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, and serums for daily routines. The American brand relies on trusted ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, suiting dry and mature skin best to support barrier function and hydration. Meanwhile, the Australian counterpart is driven by botanical and scientifically validated ingredients, suiting balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best with gentle compositions. While both provide targeted solutions for concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging, they differ fundamentally in their foundational ingredients and sensory experiences.
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
This page compares some of the most popular Neutrogena and Aēsop products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Neutrogena vs Aēsop products
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
- “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
- “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Skin Safety and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
- “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
- “calms my acne prone skin — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
- “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
- “dries down completely matte — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
- “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
- “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
Skin Texture and Anti-Aging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
- “Deep lines have softened — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
- “I can see a difference in my forehead wrinkles. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
- “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
Fast Absorption Sometimes NotedSometimes 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 incredibly fast — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
Makeup Compatibility and Base Often MentionedNot noted
- “dissolves stubborn waterproof mascara — Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover”
- “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”
Price and Value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Jar is too small for the price — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
- “Runs out quickly — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
- “Pricey for just one mask — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
- “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
Packaging and Container Concerns Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “The dropper is not efficient. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
- “Slippery and hard to grab — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
- “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
- “pipette means potential contamination — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
Pilling, Flaking, and Sticky Texture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “balls up under foundation — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
- “Left a tacky feeling on my skin. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
- “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Smell is too overpowering and lingering — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
- “Scent is so off-putting — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
- “smells like carrots — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Nasty smell... would not buy again. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
Questions and answers
Neutrogena or Aēsop: which is better?
Neutrogena is generally better for skin safety, gentle formulas, and anti-aging benefits among the products on this page, while Aēsop focuses on luxurious hydration with higher pricing. Neutrogena features key ingredients like retinol, which helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin, and hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
What is the difference between Neutrogena and Aēsop?
Neutrogena and Aēsop differ mainly in product variety and pricing, with Neutrogena offering a large selection of affordable skincare items, while Aēsop focuses on a smaller range of luxurious options. Reviewers note that Neutrogena performs better for skin safety and lightweight texture.
Neutrogena or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?
Neutrogena offers a wider variety of cleansers with strong fit levels across most skin types, such as the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser which is rated Superior for mature, acne-prone, sensitive, and combination skin on this page. In contrast, the Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser from Aēsop achieves only Average fits for those same skin types and Low fits for dry skin.
Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Aēsop?
Neutrogena is more affordable, whereas Aēsop has review themes noting a high price as a primary drawback for the brand.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Neutrogena or Aēsop?
Neutrogena is better for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page offer superior or high fit levels for acne-prone skin compared to Aēsop.
Between Neutrogena and Aēsop, which brand offers better options for sensitive skin?
Neutrogena offers better options for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates several of its cleansers, sunscreens, and moisturizers as Superior or High for sensitive skin types. Reviewers also note that Neutrogena provides better skin safety and a gentler formula compared to Aēsop.
How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Neutrogena and Aēsop compare?
Neutrogena was founded in the United States in 1930 and has been owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026, whereas Aēsop was founded in 1987 with its corporate ownership currently held by L'Oréal Groupe since 2023.
Which of the two brands has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products?
Aēsop has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products on this page, as every single one of its listed products contains no fragrance, whereas Neutrogena includes fragrance in several of its formulas.
Neutrogena or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?
Neutrogena offers a wider variety of moisturizers with specialized formulas for specific skin concerns, while Aēsop focuses on balancing gels and rich treatments. Neutrogena's moisturizers help provide deep hydration and anti-aging benefits, utilizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and retinol.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Research behind their key ingredients
Final report on the safety assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Anti-inflammatory activity of parthenolide-depleted Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Evaluation of moisturizing and irritation potential of sacha inchi oil
Solid lipid nanoparticles bearing oxybenzone: in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Application of N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Design and in vivo evaluation of emulgel formulations including green tea extract and rose oil
Highly efficient and compatible shampoo for use after hair transplant
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Evolution of lipid composition in skin treated with blackcurrant seed oil
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Natural Moisturizing Factor-Enriched Formulations Compared to a Ceramide-Based Cream
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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