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Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
  • Glycerin
  • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Lauryl Glucoside
  • Decyl Glucoside

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

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 cleansing for your oily skin, as decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside effectively decongest pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration without stripping.
  • This cleanser is highly suitable for oily skin due to the presence of ammonium laureth sulfate, which aids in cleansing without causing dryness.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing glycerin.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this 2-in-1 cleanser is highly regarded by users with normal to oily skin for its effective makeup removal and one-step cleansing without eye irritation. Some users with dry or sensitive skin report that the formula can be drying, leaving their skin feeling tight and stripped, and a small number of users experienced breakouts or disliked the scent.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “removes waterproof mascara”
    • “takes off foundation”
    • “cleans in one step”
    • “melts away makeup”
  • Gentle on eyes Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't sting eyes”
    • “safe for contacts”
    • “no eye irritation”
    • “gentle on lashes”
  • Fresh clean scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells very fresh”
    • “mild pleasant fragrance”
    • “clean soap smell”
    • “scent not overpowering”
  • Pleasant foaming texture Sometimes Noted
    • “foams up nicely”
    • “creamy rich lather”
    • “rinses completely clean”
    • “little goes long way”
  • Drying and stripping Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves face tight”
    • “skin felt stripped”
    • “too drying daily”
    • “dry patches appeared”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “broke me out”
    • “pimples appeared overnight”
    • “clogged my pores”
  • Ineffective on waterproof Rarely Noted
    • “didn't remove mascara”
    • “raccoon eyes left”
    • “needed second cleanse”
    • “struggled with eyeliner”
  • Scent dislike Rarely Noted
    • “smells like chemicals”
    • “strong perfume smell”
    • “scent is overpowering”
    • “smells like dish soap”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, influenster.com, hometesterclub.com, kroger.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, offering effective cleansing and hydration without causing dryness or irritation. However, this skin type needs cleansers with a strong focus on oil control and blemish-fighting ingredients to achieve optimal results.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, and ammonium laureth sulfate help decongest pores and wash away oil without causing dryness, while glycerin provides essential hydration. To work best for oily and acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients to actively clear breakouts and control oil production alongside gentle cleansing.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

What does Ammonium Laureth Sulfate do for oily acne-prone skin?

Ammonium Laureth Sulfate helps clean oily acne-prone skin by lifting away dirt and excess oil, but strong cleansers of this type may dry out the skin or disrupt the skin barrier. To safely care for oily skin, a cleanser needs gentle cleansing ingredients combined with moisturizing agents and a balanced pH to keep the skin calm and smooth.

International Journal of Toxicology, 2010Dermatologic Therapy, 2004

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser is used as the cleanser step in both your morning and evening routines. It helps wash away makeup and impurities while keeping your skin calm and hydrated. Oily acne-prone skin often does better with a cleanser that also targets breakouts and excess oil more intensively.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. This cleanser helps wash away excess oil while keeping your skin calm, but an oily acne-prone skin type also needs ingredients like ceramides and soothing moisturizers to protect your skin barrier while using retinol.

How often should I use it?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a mild cleanser helps clear away excess oil without causing dryness, keeping your skin comfortable.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for your oily acne-prone skin, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients and includes soothing glycerin. However, because it only offers moderate cleansing, oily skin types often need deeper purifying ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to fully prevent clogged pores.

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin directly around your eyes. A cleanser for this area needs gentle ingredients like low molecular weight heparan sulfate or hydrating plant extracts to protect delicate skin.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Formulating sodium laureth sulphate with sodium laureth carboxylate and lauryl glucoside prevented significant decreases in cutaneous capacitance and reduced erythema and dryness in healthy volunteers compared to unsupplemented sodium laureth sulphate.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014

  • 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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

  • The 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, Lauryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Glycereth-7, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Glycol Stearate, Dmdm Hydantoin, Tetrasodium Edta, Citric 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.

  • 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

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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