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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin versus Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash .

Last updated on August 08, 2023. Published on August 19, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin, reducing pores and scar healing

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 American Brand United States
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

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

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (4)

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (4)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
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 Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Cleansing, Foaming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a cleansing agent made from a mixture of long chain sulfonate salts. It can also help produce foam.

This ingredient may be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Disliked

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.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.

Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.

While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.

Learn more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 3.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
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 Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 5.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 4.

Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate isn't fungal acne safe.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 7.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 5.

6
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for C12-15 Alkyl Lactate.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 8.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 8.

7
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 Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 9.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 16.

8
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 Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 10.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 7.

9
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

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 Parfum

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 11.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 10.

10
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 13.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 15.

11
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant

Ci 15985 is a dye made from petroleum. It is synthetically created and approved by the FDA for use in foods and cosmetics.

The color of this dye is orange/yellow.

This ingredient can be found in makeup, sun care, and skincare.

Learn more about CI 15985

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 14.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 17.

12
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant

Ci 16035 is a synthetic dark-red dye. This dye is created from an acid called Allura red AC, an azo dye.

Azo dyes need to be purified thoroughly before use. This makes them more stable and longer lasting.

This dye is commonly used in foods, approved by both the FDA and EFSA.

Learn more about CI 16035

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin contains this as ingredient number 15.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 18.

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

13% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
47% are disliked or very disliked
33% have no rating yet
22% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
44% are disliked or very disliked
28% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin 15 ingredients

Deep Clean Facial Cleanser Normal to Oily Skin hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Fighting Face Wash 18 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 ratings
davidalukkal_267's avatar

davidalukkal_267

1 year ago · Normal Skin
Review

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...

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.

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