Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash Versus CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser - EU
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 25 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 25 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Disodium Tetrapropenyl Succinate
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Panthenol, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium Tetrapropenyl Succinate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Benzalkonium Chloride, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide EOP
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinPeg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is used to improve texture and stability of a product. It is sugar based and helps thicken a product.
Once applied, it also creates a thin film to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
This ingredient is the polyethylene glycol ether of the diester of oleic acid and methylglucose. The 120 represents an average of 120 moles of ethylene oxide.
There is limited research on this ingredient, although it is considered safe to use in skincare products.
Learn more about PEG-120 Methyl Glucose DioleateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTACitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSodium 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 HydroxideIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients
It worked for me and brightened my skin
I used this last year (stopped now since i have a new routine for tretinoin) and this cleanser was the besttt.
My only skincare was this, a cheap alovera gel and bioderma sunscreen and my skin was glowing✨
It did help with my acne, acne marks and hyperpigmentation in general which is so good from just one single product.
Will buy again when my skin calm down from tretinoin but i think i will Show more
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 25 ingredients
Probably good for most people. It helped for my acne at first but i found out that i dont tolerate hyaluronic acid very well and so the cleanser started irritating my skin after a while
this cleanser irritated my skin so bad😭. So, it technically cleansed my skin but after rinsing it off, my skin started to itch and stretch and also got a bit red. I did some research and I’ve found out that there is Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, which can be aggressive for sensitive skin. Anyway, it didn’t work for me and so won’t be repurchasing
