Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser versus Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash .
Last updated on August 04, 2023. Published on November 17, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Face Cleanser
Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).
Face Cleanser
Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).
Price
Ingredient Info
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 27 ingredients
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 27 ingredients
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 27 ingredients
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients
Salicylic Acid 2% • Water • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Gluconolactone • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Calcium Gluconate • Triethyl Citrate • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Cholesterol • Tetrasodium EDTA • Caprylyl Glycol • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Xanthan Gum • Hectorite • Phytosphingosine • Benzoic Acid
Water • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Sodium Chloride • Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • C12-15 Alkyl Lactate • Benzalkonium Chloride • Parfum • Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate • Glycerin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide • CI 15985 • CI 16035
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCeraVe Acne Control Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinCeraVe Acne Control Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 12.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideCeraVe Acne Control Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 27 ingredients
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 27 ingredients
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 27 ingredients
Love it! The Salicylic Acid helps me clear my most superficial acne (it obviously won't work on deep cysts) without being overly stripping as many other acne cleansers that contain mint or alcohols that will destroy your skin barrier....
Love it! The Salicylic Acid helps me clear my most superficial acne (it obviously won't work on deep cysts) without being overly stripping as many other acne cleansers that contain mint or alcohols that will destroy your skin barrier. It's so gentle, that I've been able to use it every day on both routines without a problem. So the possibility of a continuous use will also help with its effectiveness. And all of that while being super cheap. I think it's the best and most accessible acne cleanser I've ever tried.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients
Didn't help with acne
Didn't help with whitehead and cystic acne, but it did improve skin complexion and helped with blackheads. But it also left the skin very dry and tight.
Didn't help with acne
Didn't help with whitehead and cystic acne, but it did improve skin complexion and helped with blackheads. But it also left the skin very dry and tight.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 16 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser.
See 16 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash.
See 50 alternatives
