🇫🇷France

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 established skincare brands offering trusted moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and makeup removers. The American brand relies on glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone to suit dry and mature skin best, whereas the British brand utilizes niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best. While both brands share a focus on hydration, they differ in their formulation approaches and target complexions.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Neutrogena vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Neutrogena vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Simple: which is better?

Both Neutrogena and Simple are good options, with Lovi fit levels reaching High across most skin types on these pages. Neutrogena offers a wider variety of specialized treatments featuring active ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid, whereas Simple focuses entirely on fragrance-free formulations that are generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin.

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

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Simple?

Neutrogena is an American brand founded in 1930 that often features lightweight, fast-absorbing textures and ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid, whereas Simple is a British brand founded in 1960 that focuses on fragrance-free, value-friendly products with niacinamide and glycerin. Lovi rates Simple as High for dry sensitive skin, while Neutrogena is rated as Average for that skin type.

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

Neutrogena or Simple for dry skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin on this page. Neutrogena features deeply hydrating moisturizers with hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration, while Simple offers gentle, fragrance-free products.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena offers a wider range of specialized cleansers that target concerns like acne and dark spots, whereas Simple focuses entirely on fragrance-free formulations that are generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin. Reviewers indicate that Simple performs better for acne-safe and gentle formulas, while the products on this page for Neutrogena provide options with higher fit levels for specific skin types such as mature and acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Simple?

Simple offers more affordable price and value than Neutrogena among the products on this page.

Between Neutrogena and Simple, which brand offers better lightweight and non-greasy texture according to reviews?

Neutrogena does better than Simple for lightweight and non-greasy texture.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships 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, whereas Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products listed on the page?

Neutrogena has more fragrance-free products on the page, with 35 options compared to Simple, which lists 7 fragrance-free products.

Neutrogena or Simple for oily skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple offer an equal High routine fit level for oily skin. Neutrogena features lightweight and absorbent options with key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide, while Simple provides fragrance-free products containing glycerin.

Neutrogena or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena offers a wider range of moisturizers with specialized formulas featuring ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid, helping to target specific concerns like aging and deep hydration. Meanwhile, Simple provides gentle, fragrance-free options that are well-suited for sensitive skin. Overall, Neutrogena achieves a High fit for dry skin, while Simple offers an Average fit for dry skin.

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

Neutrogena or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for sensitive skin based on the products on this page. Neutrogena helps deliver deep hydration with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Simple is entirely fragrance-free and known for gentle formulas.

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

Neutrogena or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin. Neutrogena features a broader range with specialized ingredients like salicylic acid, while the products on this page for Simple are entirely fragrance-free.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play