Neutrogena advanced acne cleanser
Neutrogena neutrogena advanced acne cleanser lists 16 ingredients on its label, 16 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains sulfatesContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains essential oils
Formulation view Acne-fighting cleanser combining sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate with mild amphoteric surfactants. Features salicylic acid and glycolic acid for exfoliation, buffered by gluconolactone. Includes sorbitol for moisture and a benzoate/phenoxyethanol preservation system. Best for oily or acne-prone non-sensitive skin. Factory observation: Acid combinations require fine-tuned pH to balance cleansing power and gentle exfoliation without causing barrier irritation.
Key ingredients
- ANTIPLAQUE
- Water
- CLEANSING
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- ANTISTATIC
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- HUMECTANT
- Sorbitol
- CHELATING
- Gluconolactone
- BUFFERING
- Glycolic AcidSodium Hydroxide
- ANTI-SEBORRHEIC
- Salicylic Acid
Other ingredients
Sodium BenzoatePotassium Acrylates CopolymerDisodium EDTADipropylene GlycolEthyl LinaloolMethyldihydrojasmonateMethyl Anthranilate3-Hexenol
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate | CLEANSING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 3 · 0 | Green |
| Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sorbitol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Gluconolactone | CHELATING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 2 · 1 | Green |
| Glycolic Acid | BUFFERING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Salicylic Acid | ANTI-SEBORRHEIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, KERATOLYTIC, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE, SKIN CONDITIONING · 限制 III/98 V/3 | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Sodium Benzoate | ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/1 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Potassium Acrylates Copolymer | BINDING, FILM FORMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Dipropylene Glycol | FRAGRANCE, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ethyl Linalool | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Methyldihydrojasmonate | FRAGRANCE | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Methyl Anthranilate | FRAGRANCE | 0 · 0 | Green |
| 3-Hexenol | FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Sulfate surfactant at 1–5%; strong cleansing, may cause dryness/irritation
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- Mild amino acid amphoteric surfactant for cleansing and foam boosting; low irritation, biodegradable
- Sorbitol
- Polyol humectant with strong hygroscopy; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives; also a solvent or adjuster.
- Gluconolactone
- Multifunctional agent for chelation and permeation; acidic, may irritate at high levels, buffer recommended.
- Glycolic Acid
- Glycolic acid for exfoliation; requires buffering at concentrations >10%, avoid combination with other acids.
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Salicylic Acid
- Lipophilic BHA at 0.5-2%; exfoliant/sebum control, irritation/sensitization at high conc., photosensitivity (SPF needed), avoid sensitive/pregnant.
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates
- Potassium Acrylates Copolymer
- Film-forming and binding agent for emulsion thickening or makeup; water-soluble, avoid high local concentration.
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Dipropylene Glycol
- Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG
- Ethyl Linalool
- Fragrance ingredient providing floral notes; listed as one of EU 26 allergens, labeling required.
- Methyldihydrojasmonate
- Methyl dihydrojasmonate, jasmine accord; synthetic fragrance, potential allergen.
- Methyl Anthranilate
- Jasmine-like fragrance, photosensitizing; avoid sun exposure combination, comply with regulatory limits.
- 3-Hexenol
- Plant essential oil component with green scent; fragrance and potential allergen, control concentration.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-17. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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