Neutrogena deep clean for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 exfoliation for your oily skin and acne concerns, as salicylic acid and cocamidopropyl betaine work to decongest pores and cleanse effectively.
- Glycerin provides humectant action, supporting hydration without compromising the cleansing benefits for your skin.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 15.5k+ reviewsBased 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 oily acne-prone skin?
Neutrogena Deep Clean works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid helps clear pores and glycerin maintains hydration without causing irritation. To best support this skin type, a cleanser needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics to balance oil production and clear blemishes without stripping moisture.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and cocamidopropyl betaine make this cleanser a good fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because they help clear out pores and wash away dirt, while glycerin adds hydration without making you greasy. For an even better fit, oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that balances oil without stripping moisture, using gentle cleansing agents along with soothing and protective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or as the second step in the evening after removing makeup. It helps clear away oil and congestion while keeping your skin hydrated with glycerin and salicylic acid. To get the best results for your oily, acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing ingredients to help keep pores clear without irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but because it cleans deeply with salicylic acid, it is best to use it at a different time of day or alternate days to keep your skin calm. Oily acne-prone skin typically benefits from gentle, hydrating cleansers and barrier-supporting ingredients that prevent dryness and irritation when using strong treatments like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works safely for your oily acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better. You can use it as part of your daily routine to help clear pores and keep your skin fresh without irritation. To care for this skin best, look for products with salicylic acid and ingredients that balance oil while maintaining hydration.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser helps clear pores for your oily skin using salicylic acid and glycerin, so it is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. However, because cleansers of this type can occasionally dry out skin, an oily acne-prone skin type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and oil-balancing agents to keep skin calm and smooth.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser works fine on your body, but you should avoid using it directly around your eyes because the skin there is much thinner and more delicate than body skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2020Twice 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, 2024The 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, 2023A 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012The 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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