Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Dodecenylsuccinate Starch
Superior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best cleansers for combination skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin is provided by glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, which offer humectant action, alongside mild surfactants that cleanse without stripping. The presence of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate in high concentrations ensures effective pore cleansing, addressing your oily shine.
- This formula offers general skincare benefits, such as hydration and cleansing, which are supportive for your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 23.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to remove impurities without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier, often citing the hyaluronic acid formula as a key benefit. While generally effective for daily cleansing, some users note it struggles with heavy or waterproof makeup and have reported mixed experiences regarding the product's fragrance.
Highlights
Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves my skin soft and thoroughly clean”
- “never leaves my face feeling stripped”
- “skin feels clean and supple.”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “gentle enough to use daily”
- “has not irritated my sensitive skin”
- “no irritation for contact wearers.”
Pleasant texture Often Mentioned
- “foamed up really nicely”
- “silky easy-to-spread lather”
- “feels nice and cool when applied.”
Effective daily cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “removes impurities and most makeup”
- “face is always fresh and clean”
- “cleanses my skin without stripping.”
Fragrance-free option Sometimes Noted
- “appreciate that it's fragrance free”
- “no scent which can be good”
- “doesn't sting or cause migraine.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “perfume in the product didn't bother me but might for you”
- “scent is too strong”
- “caused burning sensation”
Weak makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “unable to remove all my makeup”
- “did not put a dent in my waterproof mascara”
- “left eyeshadow residue”
Poor pump design Rarely Noted
- “pump dispenses a small amount”
- “pump is not great”
- “have to pump 4 times to get enough”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused a reaction”
- “burning sensation around eyes”
- “broke me out”
Unexpected dryness Rarely Noted
- “left my skin dry and tight”
- “felt stripping”
- “caused dry patches”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, neutrogena.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel one of the best fits for combination skin?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel is an exceptional fit for combination skin because its glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid quench dry areas, while mild cleansers wash away oily shine without stripping. It has an excellent safety profile and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid make this cleanser a great fit by bringing in moisture, while mild cleansers wash away oily shine without stripping your skin. These ingredients are very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step in your morning routine and the second step in your evening routine after a makeup remover. It gently cleans your pores and manages oily shine without stripping your skin, and it is very unlikely to cause irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
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 to help cleanse pores without stripping your skin. This formula is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier while you use retinoids.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Its gentle ingredients clean pores and reduce oily shine without stripping your combination skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because it uses mild cleansers that remove excess oil without stripping your skin. It does not contain harsh ingredients, making it safe for your skin type without a risk of irritation.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may need extra care. Its mild ingredients and gentle cleansing action help clean without stripping moisture, though you should always check how your delicate eye area reacts.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
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, 2017Sodium 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, 2007Profhilo 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, 2026Topical 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, 2012Hydrophobically modified polymers and sodium hydrolyzed potato starch dodecenylsuccinate reduce irritation and surfactant penetration while providing effective cleansing and improved tolerability in individuals with sensitive skin compared to commercial mild cleansers.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2026
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Dodecenylsuccinate Starch, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
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
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