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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 accessible skincare lines offering reliable moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and makeup removers formulated with hydrating glycerin and other active components. The American brand is celebrated for sunscreens and treatments featuring hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, which suit oily acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the British brand is beloved for gentle formulations using niacinamide, which suit skin with dark spots and acne-prone skin best. While both brands support skin health through glycerin, they differ in their targeted ingredients and regional origins.

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 · 95% fit

Neutrogena vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Simple: which is better?

Neutrogena is better for lightweight textures and fast absorption across the products on this page, while Simple is better for affordable pricing and sensitive-skin-friendly formulas. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry sensitive skin as High for Simple and Average for Neutrogena, while both brands reach equal fit levels for all other skin types.

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Simple?

Neutrogena is an American brand founded in 1930 that offers a wide range of products featuring ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid, while Simple is a UK-born brand established in 1960 known for fragrance-free formulations centered on niacinamide and glycerin. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels across most skin types, though Simple provides an Average fit for dry sensitive skin compared to Neutrogena's High fit level.

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. Reviewers report that Neutrogena offers deeply hydrating moisturizers, while Simple provides lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Neutrogena or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena offers cleansers like the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser that fit mature, acne-prone, sensitive, and combination skin at a Superior level, while Simple features the Refreshing Facial Wash with an Average fit for those skin types. Lovi finds Neutrogena is better suited for a wider variety of skin needs across its cleanser range.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Simple?

Simple tends to be more affordable, as the products on this page offer better value and budget-friendly pricing compared to Neutrogena.

Neutrogena or Simple: which brand offers better dry sensitive skin routines?

Simple offers a better dry sensitive skin routine, with Lovi rating Simple High and Neutrogena Average for this skin type. Simple features entirely fragrance-free products on this page, while Neutrogena includes some formulas with fragrance.

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

Between Neutrogena and Simple, which brand provides a lighter and non-greasy texture?

Neutrogena does better than Simple for a lightweight and non-greasy texture across the products on this page. Reviewers mostly mention that Neutrogena offers lightweight and non-greasy moisturizers as well as fast-absorbing formulas.

Neutrogena or Simple for oily skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for oily skin. Neutrogena offers a wider variety of targeted options for oily acne-prone skin, including cleansers with salicylic acid, whereas Simple keeps all products completely fragrance-free.

Neutrogena or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena offers deeply hydrating and lightweight moisturizers that are well-suited for fast absorption, whereas Simple provides value-friendly, gentle, and sensitive-skin-friendly options. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration, while retinol is known to help improve the appearance of aging skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Neutrogena or Simple for sensitive skin?

Neutrogena and Simple both provide a High routine fit level for sensitive skin on this page. Reviewers report that Simple offers acne-safe and gentle formulas, while Neutrogena delivers deeply hydrating moisturizers.

Neutrogena or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin. The products on this page for Neutrogena feature key ingredients like salicylic acid and retinol, while Simple relies on niacinamide and glycerin to help nourish the skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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?

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