Neutrogena Oil Balancing Facial Wash for combination skin
Citrus Aurantifolia
Aloe Barbadensis
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 exfoliation and cleansing for your combination skin, as salicylic acid helps decongest pores and citrus extracts aid in seboregulation, while glycerin provides essential hydration.
- The formulation is well-suited for managing oily shine, with ingredients working to balance oil production and maintain skin clarity.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including glycerin to soothe and prevent irritation.
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
★4.4Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis facial wash is highly effective for oily and acne-prone skin, with many users noting a significant reduction in shine and improved skin texture. While it is praised for leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed, those with sensitive or dry skin should use it cautiously as it can occasionally cause tightness or irritation.
Highlights
Controls excess oil Mostly Mentioned
- “Less shiny throughout the day”
- “tackling the oiliness”
- “balances my skin's oils”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Cleanses thoroughly”
- “removes dirt and oil”
- “does a great job”
Refreshing, clean feel Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling clean”
- “refreshed without tightness”
- “clearer complexion”
Pleasant lime scent Sometimes Noted
- “Light and refreshing scent”
- “smells really lovely”
- “pleasant, subtle lime scent”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “Slightly drying”
- “made my skin tight”
- “need to use moisturizer after”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused facial burns”
- “burned my eyes”
- “too strong for sensitive skin”
Price concerns Rarely Noted
- “More expensive than others”
- “don't know the reason for price”
Sources: lovi.care, ebay.com, lemon8-app.com, neutrogena.co.uk, superdrug.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Oil Balancing Facial Wash work for combination skin?
Neutrogena Oil Balancing Facial Wash works reasonably well for combination skin by offering moderate cleansing and exfoliation to help manage oily shine while keeping the skin hydrated. However, to achieve a better fit for this skin type, a cleanser needs to provide exceptionally safe and balanced hydration for dry areas alongside effective oil control without any risk of irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and citrus extracts make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin by clearing out pores and managing oily shine, while glycerin provides essential hydration. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that balance oil and maintain moisture without causing irritation in dry areas.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Lime do for combination skin?
Lime essential oil helps keep skin clean thanks to its antimicrobial properties, but it can be drying or irritating on combination skin if not used carefully. A product of this type needs gentle balancing ingredients and hydrating properties to keep dry areas smooth and oily zones calm.
What does Aloe Vera do for combination skin?
Aloe vera helps keep combination skin hydrated without making it oily. It increases skin water content while supporting the skin barrier.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first step or right after your makeup remover, helping to clear away oily shine while keeping your skin calm.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, applying it first to cleanse your skin before your retinol treatment. Because combination skin needs extra care when using strong ingredients, this skin type needs gentle cleansers with soothing and hydrating ingredients like glycerin to prevent irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. Combination skin needs a product that provides gentle exfoliation, manages oily shine, and includes hydrating ingredients like glycerin to keep the skin balanced and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because salicylic acid helps clear out trapped oil and dirt from your pores. However, it may feel a bit drying for some, so combination skin often benefits from formulas that combine gentle exfoliating acids with extra hydrating ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid.
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 it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes to prevent irritation. A cleanser for this area needs gentle hydrating ingredients and a very mild formula that protects delicate skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
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, 2017Twice 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 cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The 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, 2012Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.
Langmuir, 2014
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Polysorbate 20, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Tangerine Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Ci 15985, Ci 42090
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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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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