Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash Versus Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash versus Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash .

Published on October 19, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens or silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Try a different comparison

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

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

Price

Shop

Buy Clear & Defend + Facial Wash

Shop

Buy Clear & Defend Facial Wash

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash 14 ingredients

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash 14 ingredients

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

BHA

PHA

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (3)

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating (4)

Rosacea (3)

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Good For Oily Skin

Reduces Irritation

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)

Acne Trigger

Irritating (2)

Rosacea (3)

Eczema (3)

Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash 14 ingredients

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash 18 ingredients

Water • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine • Sorbitol • Glycolic Acid • Gluconolactone • Sodium Hydroxide • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate • Sodium Chloride • Potassium Acrylates Copolymer • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Sodium Bicarbonate

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 1.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 1.

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

What it does: Cleansing, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.

It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 3.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 2.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

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 Hydroxide

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 7.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 15.

Salicylic Acid

What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 8.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 5.

Sodium Chloride

What it does: Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances 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 Chloride

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 10.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 12.

Disodium EDTA

What it does:

Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium 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 EDTA

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 12.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 13.

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

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.

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 look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Neutrogena Clear & Defend + Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 13.

Neutrogena Clear & Defend Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 14.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.