Updated on June 29, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser 12 ingredients
Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser 20 ingredients
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser 12 ingredients
Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser 20 ingredients
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 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 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 2 ingredients 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:
Ingredients Side-by-side
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.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Methyl Gluceth-20 is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin.
Steareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Menthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
2 Concerns
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
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.
Decyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant. Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Glycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. Dimethylaminopropylamine is a diamine, an amine with two amino groups.
This gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
Preservative 5 Benefits 4 Concerns
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.
7 Benefits 2 Concerns
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with a ton of research to back up its benefits.
We don't have a description for Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.
Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant. As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
2 Concerns
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate, Cocamide Mea, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Polyethylene, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Polyquaternium-11, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Sodium PCA, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Parfum
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 WaterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Its main roles are:
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium 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 EDTAParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
When to use
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser 12 ingredients
Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser 20 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser 12 ingredients
AlyssaC
May be good for someone but not for me. The cream cleanser is thick and spreads really nicely and it does have a tingly sensation afterwards that...
May be good for someone but not for me. The cream cleanser is thick and spreads really nicely and it does have a tingly sensation afterwards that feels like clean and fresh. My skin overall is dry, however my face is oilier and more along the lines of normal to combination sensitive skin, like very sensitive. This product does contain Salicylic Acid but with no percentage listed. The tingly sensation most likely comes from the Menthol (which is a common ingredient in a LOT of skincare products), which while is Good for Oily Skin, it is can be BAD for sensitive skin, dry skin, and may worsen Rosacea as well as cause irritation. Just because it wasn't great for me, doesn't mean it won't be useful to someone else. 3 Stars.
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