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Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser for oily skin

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

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 oily skin due to the presence of glycerin which provides humectant action and cocamidopropyl betaine which offers gentle cleansing without stripping the skin.
  • The cleanser offers excellent pore-cleansing benefits with cocamidopropyl betaine and lauryl glucoside, though its benefits are mostly supportive rather than directly targeting oily shine.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviews

Most users appreciate the soft, moisturized feel post-wash. A small number of users reported experiencing irritation or a burning sensation, particularly with the foaming version.

Highlights

  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced”
    • “doesn't dry out my sensitive skin”
    • “no tight feeling after washing”
    • “cleans without stripping moisture”
  • Fragrance-free formula Often Mentioned
    • “love that it has no scent”
    • “great for fragrance sensitivity”
    • “truly odorless”
    • “no strong perfume smell”
  • Good for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
    • “calms my acne prone skin”
    • “no irritation or redness”
  • Effective daily cleansing Sometimes Noted
    • “removes daily grime well”
    • “rinses clean without residue”
    • “good morning cleanser”
    • “keeps skin clear”
  • Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't remove mascara”
    • “need a separate makeup remover”
    • “struggles with foundation”
    • “too gentle for heavy makeup”
  • Causes burning Rarely Noted
    • “stings my eyes badly”
    • “burned my face immediately”
    • “skin felt on fire”
    • “caused a chemical burn feeling”
  • Chemical smell Rarely Noted
    • “has a weird plastic smell”
    • “smells like chemicals”
    • “odd scent for fragrance-free”
    • “smells like glue”
  • Watery texture Rarely Noted
    • “formula is too runny”
    • “slips right off my hand”
    • “doesn't foam up enough”
    • “feels watered down”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, neutrogena.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because it uses glycerin to hold in moisture and cocamidopropyl betaine to clean gently without stripping. It also helps clear out pores safely and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Glycerin and cocamidopropyl betaine make this cleanser a great fit for oily skin because they clean gently without stripping and add moisture without heaviness. This combination provides an excellent safety profile with no risks of irritation for your skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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 Caprylyl Glycol do for oily skin?

Caprylyl glycol helps keep your skin soft and hydrated while working safely alongside your daily routine. It is unlikely to cause skin irritation and is generally well tolerated by oily skin.

Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2009

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cleanser is used both morning and evening as a foundational step in your daily routine to gently clean your skin without stripping it. Using a mild cleanser helps support overall skin health and prepares your face for the next steps like hydrating toners, moisturizers, and treatments.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first to clean your skin before your retinol treatment. This cleanser is a great fit because it washes away dirt gently without stripping your skin, and it is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It is a great fit for oily skin because it cleans pores gently with ingredients like cocamidopropyl betaine and lauryl glucoside while keeping the skin comfortable with glycerin, and it has an excellent safety profile with no irritation risks.

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 because it has a very safe formula with gentle cleansers that clean deep down without harsh ingredients. It also includes soothing glycerin to keep your skin calm.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula cleans without stripping moisture and has an excellent safety profile for sensitive areas. Glycerin helps keep your skin comfortable, and the absence of harsh ingredients makes it very unlikely to cause irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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, 2017
  • 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
  • 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
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012
  • A comprehensive topical regimen incorporating niacinamide, Pro-Xylane, and panthenol following PicoWay laser treatment decreased transepidermal water loss, increased hydration and skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles and redness, and improved skin tone in 88 Chinese females compared to a standard care control group.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2026

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide

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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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

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