Neutrogena Hydro Boost cleanser for oily skin
Glycerin
Hyaluronic Acid
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it 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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin due to Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Glycerin, which help remove impurities while maintaining hydration.
- While Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid provide general hydration, they do not specifically target oiliness or shine, and the formula lacks strong seboregulating ingredients.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited 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 20.0k+ reviewsWhile it is celebrated for leaving skin soft and supple rather than tight, some users find it struggles to remove heavy or waterproof makeup on its own.
Highlights
Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and supple”
- “doesn't leave face tight”
- “locks in moisture”
- “feels hydrated after washing”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation or redness”
- “soothing and mild”
- “doesn't sting eyes”
Fresh, clean scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like fresh rain”
- “pleasant light fragrance”
- “refreshing citrus notes”
- “not overpowering”
Lightweight gel texture Sometimes Noted
- “silky smooth consistency”
- “lathers up nicely”
- “rinses clean easily”
- “refreshing water-gel feel”
Weak makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “struggles with waterproof mascara”
- “didn't remove all foundation”
- “requires double cleansing”
- “left residue behind”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “developed cystic acne”
- “small bumps appeared”
- “clogged my pores”
- “skin reacted badly”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “skin felt tight afterwards”
- “dried out my cheeks”
- “not hydrating enough”
- “left dry patches”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “perfume is too strong”
- “scent irritated my nose”
- “smells like cheap soap”
- “wish it was unscented”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, target.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser work for oily skin?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, cleaning away impurities while keeping moisture in. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but it lacks ingredients that specifically target oiliness and shine. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to manage oily shine and support skin health without causing excess dryness or irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Cocamidopropyl Betaine and glycerin help this cleanser remove impurities and keep oily skin hydrated without causing irritation. However, oily skin needs a cleanser with ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, or ceramides to manage shine and control oil. This product is safe for your skin, but it lacks these specific shine-control ingredients.
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
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.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first step after removing makeup at night. It safely washes away impurities while keeping your skin hydrated, though oily skin of this type also needs ingredients that control shine and reduce excess oil.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol because it is safe for your skin, washing with it before applying your retinol treatment. It helps remove impurities without harshness, but a product for oily skin also needs strong oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines to gently remove impurities without irritation. Oily skin works best with cleansers that also include ingredients to help manage extra shine and control oil.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it is safe with no harsh ingredients. However, it lacks oil-controlling ingredients, so oily skin needs a cleanser with ingredients that help balance oil and shine.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes, as it is gentle and well-tolerated. However, oily skin needs a cleanser of this type to also feature oil-controlling and shine-reducing ingredients.
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, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The 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, 2012Topical 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 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
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hyaluronic Acid, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
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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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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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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