Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser for oily skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin as sodium methyl cocoyl taurate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine effectively cleanse pores, while glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid provide hydration without adding excess oil.
- The formula is designed to offer general hydration benefits, ensuring your skin remains moisturized.
- This product has a favorable safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 14.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly praised for its hydrating gel formula that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin. It is frequently recommended for dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, leaving it soft and refreshed. While most users find it gentle, a moderate number of reviews mention the original formula's strong scent, and a low number report packaging issues, a stinging sensation, residue, or that it is too drying for very dry skin.
Highlights
Hydrating and gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft/supple”
- “Doesn't strip moisture”
- “No tight feeling”
Good for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “No stinging”
- “Calms redness”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Removes waterproof mascara”
- “Melts away foundation”
- “Cleans thoroughly”
Fragrance-free option Sometimes Noted
- “Love the fragrance-free version”
- “No strong perfume”
- “Great for scent sensitivity”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Lathers well”
- “Silky feel”
- “A little goes a long way”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smell is too strong”
- “Perfume is overwhelming”
- “Smells like cheap soap”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Hard to rinse off”
- “Slimy residue”
- “Film on skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump broke immediately”
- “Hard to open”
- “Dispenses tiny amount”
Stinging sensation Rarely Noted
- “Burned my eyes”
- “Stung my face”
- “Caused redness”
Too drying Rarely Noted
- “Dried me out”
- “Not moisturizing enough”
- “Skin felt tight”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because sodium methyl cocoyl taurate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine effectively clean out pores while glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid add lightweight moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. The formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine make this cleanser a great fit because they effectively clean out pores. Glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid help by giving your skin the moisture it needs without leaving it oily.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser is used both morning and evening as the first step after any makeup remover, helping to clear your pores without adding excess oil. Using a mild cleanser like this keeps your skin clean and comfortable while supporting daily hydration.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment, as it cleanses pores and provides moisture without adding excess oil. This helps keep your skin comfortable and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently cleans pores while providing moisture without adding excess oil, and it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because its ingredients effectively clean out pores while adding moisture without making your skin greasy. It has a safe design that is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it is gentle enough for delicate areas and thoroughly cleans pores without adding excess oil.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Dodecenylsuccinate Starch, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
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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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
How does it fit your skin?
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