Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Describe the brand in five words.

Affordable. Chemist/Drugstore. Simple formulas.

What is it?

‘Cleanser developed for even the most sensitive and dry skins.’

Who is it for?

It says ‘ideal for dry and sensitive skin’ but I wouldn’t go quite that far. All skin types except really dry and really sensitive.

What’s in it?

Water, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, ethylhexylglycerin, cetearyl glucoside, caprylyl glycol, carbomer, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol

What’s not in it?






Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Not really, but as always, you can be allergic to anything.

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?



Yes (probably)/No/Yes**

How does it smell?


How does it feel on the skin?

It’s faintly creamy, like a runny cream-gel.

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?

Apply to dry skin, or wet skin if you prefer, massage in, flannel off.

Does it remove makeup?/1st or 2nd cleanse?

No it doesn’t. 2nd cleanse or AM cleanse, hence the ‘can be used on damp skin’.

How long did I test it for?

I’ve had it for 2 weeks.


Big. 12ozs for $9.49. Will last ages.

What’s good about it?

This is the first cleanser of this nature I have tried in a long time that has not left my skin feeling like a shrivelled up prune. It is fairly gentle, although I would stop short of saying I could use it every day without dryness becoming an issue.

My skin felt comfortable after use, it was soft and not parched. If you were particularly oily/combination I think you would like the effects of this.

In essence, this is definitely a suitable alternative to Cetaphil. Similar price bracket/claims/distribution/packaging/minimal ingredients and yet this is superior, if only due to the lack of sls, although for those of you concerned with them, it is also paraben free.

What’s not so good about it?

I would not describe this as suitable for very dry or eczema-prone skin, as it says on the bottle. It will be too harsh, regardless of the label.

Works well with?

Anything, it’s a cleanser.

What’s the website like?

Good for information, but the product would no doubt be bought from huge drugstores/Target etc.

Would I purchase/repurchase?


Do you need it?

If you use Cetaphil, yes.

If you have normal/combination/oily/slightly dry skin, yes.

If you have really dry or really sensitive skin, I would stick with balms and milks.

Similar products?

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

Yes To Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser

Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is available from, and

**Neutrogena is owned by Johnson & Johnson, they are made in the USA, which has not banned testing, sold in the EU, which has, and sold in China, which requires it on products sold into the country.


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