Neutrogena • Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser • Cleansers

rated 3.3(144 reviews)

Average Rating.3.3
Would buy this product again.54%
Package Quality3.6
Price2.4
Ingredients

rated 3 of 5 makeup4evrchristine on 4/23/2013 9:35:00 PM more reviews by makeup4evrchristine

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

It took a long time until I could effectively see the results of this product on my face. I have mild to moderate acne and this is just not effective at treating my break outs. It does not suds up a lot, which I don't like and it does not get rid of all of the oil on my face. And this stings if you get it in your eyes so don't try to get eye make up off w/ this!

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rated 2 of 5 palefawn on 2/10/2013 1:15:00 AM more reviews by palefawn

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I got this one day when I went to Walgreens to get my normal Deep Clean Cream Cleanser by Neutrogena, but they were out so I picked this stuff up instead. It didn't help my acne at all, actually made it worse and dried out my skin horribly. Also has a strange unpleasant smell to it that I don't like near my face. Wouldn't repurchase ever.

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rated 1 of 5 tina622 on 2/10/2013 1:02:00 AM more reviews by tina622

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I use this product, because i got too many white and blackheads, and really need a cleanser that day, so, I purchase this Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser, and I never have acne, my breakups are like a tiny little dots , but this cream , fill me up with lots of that , all over my cheek area, my nose, my front head, from one day to other, never inflammation,or pain, just appear ready to pop, the little tiny breakups yellow, color, so, that make me scare , my husband say , that the cream, was pushing all impurity of my face, but, i not sure about that.

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rated 3 of 5 baconator on 11/15/2012 12:22:00 AM more reviews by baconator

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

*** skin type, routine, etc. are found at the end of the review ***



So far, I've gone through one 6 oz bottle of this and I haven't noticed a major improvement in my skin. I think my skin might've even declined with this. I'm halfway through my second 6 oz bottle of this, but I only repurchased it because it was on sale.
It doesn't live up to its claims for me since I can't use it as a daily cleanser. If I do, my skin stings more and more with daily use, so I use it every other day.
After using and patting my skin dry, my skin feels tight and looks like there's a film of "grease" especially on my cheeks. Grease in quotes because, when I touch it, it feels sticky yet dry. But moisturizer usually does the trick and calms that down afterwards.
I still get pimples and acne, but I might have to credit that to my crazy teenage hormones, so who knows? It's possible that this product does help me, but I don't see a difference. When I get, for example, a gigantic whitehead, it shrinks within 1 1/2 weeks and completely goes away after 3, and it leaves hyperpigmentation behind. However, I feel like my skin can heal faster than that.



Overall: If my skin acts up from another cleanser, I would go back to this, only because I'd need to use some kind of a cleanser to clean my face. Other than that, I'm all-too-ready to finish this 6 oz bottle so that I can try my luck with another cleanser.



Quick Background: I've been struggling with mild acne since 8th grade. It's only this year that I decided to finally do something about it. Oh and I'm a pimple picker, shoot me.



Acne Type - Varies: I have sebaceous filaments (pores clogged with a "waxy substance") on & around my nose and some on my forehead & chin; prominent hyperpigmentation on my chin & sides of my cheeks; occasional whitehead on cheeks, chin, & forehead; rare cystic acne pimple on chin & forehead. I normally get the last 2 around my period.



Skin Type - Combo & (kind of) Sensitive: Right now, my skin has really dry patches on my cheeks, the corners of nose & mouth, and even on the outer corners of my eyes. This has never happened before and I can only assume that it's from the cold weather. My nose is oily with the exception of the dry corners where my nose meets my face.



Routine: Every morning I splash my face with warm water, then cold water, dry it off, and apply Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer. Every night I do the same thing plus apply Differin, then seal everything off with Vaseline (new addition to my routine, I don't know how it affects me just yet). When I wash my hair (every other day), I use this while my conditioner is sitting on my hair. I don't use cleanser everyday because I noticed that my skin stings if I use it too much so I stopped daily use.

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rated 4 of 5 marissakmoore on 10/6/2012 9:03:00 AM more reviews by marissakmoore

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

As many of you probably already know, it takes your skin about 6 weeks to get used to any new skincare product that you introduce to it, so for those that are experiencing breakouts after starting this cleanser it may just be from changing products? I would try to stick with it if you can!
Moving on to the review- I used this stuff all throughout high school and college and always had such clear skin. Well, after college I decided I needed something new and I no longer wanted an "acne wash" so I branched out and tried many of the high-end cleaners and lotions however, my skin is now still recovering from that mistake. I am now back to Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash and I have been using it for a few days now. My existing acne has dried up (but still visible) and I have only had 1 new spot show up so that is a plus for me! I use it morning and night (night with my clarasonic) and I actually love the cooling sensation that it leaves- feels very clean! I remember when I used this years ago it would leave my face feeling slightly tight/stripped afterwards but I am no longer experiencing that with this new formula. I will update in about 6 weeks and let you know what I think! Hopeful that my skin will be nice and clear by then!
(minus 1 lippie because it is a little drying on my skin but I would rather have that than new pimples popping up every day!)

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rated 1 of 5 hipster101 on 7/31/2012 2:39:00 AM more reviews by hipster101

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

At first it cleared up all of my pimples, but then a few days later it came back redder than before, so I quit using it. Then I decided to give it one more try, and now it gave me clear/ red bumps all throughout my face. Very dissapointed.

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rated 3 of 5 NerdyMonique on 7/15/2012 5:34:00 PM more reviews by NerdyMonique

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this cleanser because i wanted something to help my acne and something that wasn't so drying, since it's a cream(i used cetaphil before) I have oily skin in my t-zone btw. Well overall, i dont like this product.. lemme start of with the pros and cons
PROS
- leaves a tingly, refreshing feeling

- not super expensive. it was around 6/7 dollars

- i dont think it caused me to break out.. although i was only using it for about a week.. i did get a few pimples but im not completely sure it this product caused it

CONS
- left my skin MAJORLY oily!!! I used this at about 12 pm one day, and at 5pm i felt my forehead and it was super duper greasy and oily ughhh. I have never been that oily before in my life!! This is what caused me to stop using it, i've only used it for about a week

- claims to clear breakouts... it didnt clear mine

- claims to see results in only 1 day.. that didnt happen

- my face didn't really feel clean after i used it.. it felt refreshed but not clean




so, i do not recommend this product to people with oily skin. if u have dry skin this might work for you. And My review might not be that helpful since I've only used it for about a week, so u shud probably check out other reviews too.

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rated 2 of 5 TisTou on 7/12/2012 4:45:00 PM more reviews by TisTou

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

It may be perfect for dry skin, but not me :( oily skin.
i feel my face is not clean and still dirt.

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rated 2 of 5 mhglitter97 on 5/25/2012 7:16:00 PM more reviews by mhglitter97

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I didnt notice my acne getting any better with this product, and it made my acne even redder and brighter. It was very cheap, but not very good quality either. I defidently wouldnt but it again. I feel like it made my acne even worse

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rated 5 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* TimeAndBlame on 5/23/2012 4:13:00 AM more reviews by TimeAndBlame

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I must say I'm rather surprised at the many negative reviews. This product really has helped my skin in multiple ways: cleansing it and removing makeup without drying out my skin, reducing oiliness, even seemingly improving the black heads on my nose. I also noticed the small random bumps I would get (sort of like pimples just more under the skin and less red) have greatly reduced!

I actually picked this up on a fluke, I notice the drugstore was out of my previous favorite face wash and this was very budget friendly so I figured I'd give it a try and I am very glad I did. It smells pleasant yet slightly medicated (maybe the Salicylic acid?), so not everyone may like it.


The texture is very creamy and doesn't lather, the formula does leave my skin slightly tingly especially if I leave it on as a sort of mask for a couple minutes. My one complaint is that it seems to be a little more time consuming to wash off with just hands and water, but a face cloth fixes that problem. I would repurchase, and recommend!

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rated 5 of 5 tahiti1 on 5/21/2012 3:49:00 AM more reviews by tahiti1

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I THANKED GOD when this cleanser came back on the market. It disappeared from shelves for about a year and the reappeared in a new formulation.

I used the old formula for about 15 years and loved it. It was gentle on my skin, but tough on my adult acne. I was worried that the new formula wouldn't be as good, but I don't notice much difference except for the scent, which I don't much care for, but can live with. It feels a bit smoother than before (perhaps the addition of glycolic acid has something to do with the change in texture).

Overall, this is a must have for me.

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rated 1 of 5 mzlovely on 10/20/2011 3:19:00 AM more reviews by mzlovely

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

As for me this is probably one of the most harsh cleansers Ive ever tried. This had my face soooo irritated it gave me a burning swelling painful sensation , however luckily my face appeared to be normal yet it felt terrible. I tried putting up with it thought maybe my skin could get a bit prone to it but nope. Even after I stopped using this for 2 days my face still felt really sensitive to the touch, it hurt. I felt this also contributed to my acne worsening.


Ultimately the worse face wash i've tried and won't buy again.

Ive gone back to what I now know is my HG cleanser, because it doesn't do what these other acne cleansers do (irritate my skin) and my skin is already clearing up effortlessly.

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rated 5 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* specialribbons on 9/2/2011 12:09:00 AM more reviews by specialribbons

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I'm surprised at the negative reviews, because I actually really like this cleanser.

How I use it: I start out with my normal cleanser to remove any makeup. Then I take a pea-sized amount of this Neutrogena cleanser (yes, I use two cleansers), and smooth it over my face, chest, and the top of my back. I let it sit for about a minute, and then I rinse the cleanser off of my back and chest. I rinse the cleanser off of my face after I leave the shower and visit the sink, rinsing with cold water. This process gives me an interesting cooling sensation.
This is what seems to work for me. I can't really say I have a bad acne problem, but I do get spots occasionally. This has really smoothed out my skin quite nicely. I will definitely repurchase...though probably not soon. I've been using it for about 3 weeks and haven't made a dent!

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rated 4 of 5 astrick on 8/22/2011 11:05:00 AM more reviews by astrick

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I struggle with adult hormonal acne, so my skin is acne-prone, but also dry (a terrible problem since most acne products either over-dry or aren't very effective). I also have some fine lines I'm struggling with. This cleanser does a nice job cleansing, and removes makeup well. It is not as drying as some of the other acne cleansers on the market, and not as drying as the foaming neutrogena cleansers. I like this product and will buy again!

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rated 5 of 5 xheni on 8/11/2011 9:49:00 PM more reviews by xheni

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I'm loving the new formula of this face wash! I have used this face wash for as long as I can remember, in the old formulation. I had terrible acne when I was younger and thankfully it's subsided for me the most part. I know the old formula did something, because when I'd go without I'd break out. But when I purchased it the last few times the white part would separate from the clear part, and it was grossing me out.


I figured that since I was still breaking out, I should move on and experiment with other things. I used PanOxyl, but realized that bp products can really dry out your skin, and I'm paranoid that would contribute to aging even though I'm still young. Well I've decided to give salicylic acid another go, and after this face wash disappeared from shelves I noticed it came back. The new formula smells different to me, it's a nice smell, but I'm not too bothered by what face wash smells like anyway; as long as it gets the job done. Also the new formula contains glycolic acid! It feels very rich and creamy, and is not as drying like the old formula. I remember how it used to feel as though it was stripping my skin (but I was young and stupid, and thought that was a good thing).


I've learned that one face wash alone isn't going to tame my problem skin. It's the combination of products/ skincare routine. And I feel this face wash is a good part of my skincare arsenal. I recommend that you revisit this product if you've used it in the past and weren't crazy about it, it's a whole lot better.

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rated 1 of 5 CyndiRai on 8/11/2011 6:46:00 AM more reviews by CyndiRai

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

i usually love neutrogena cleansers but this was no good. i have oily skin with some acne, instead of clearing up my skin it made me break out and my skin felt irritated. i stopped using it and switched to another neutrogena cream cleanser and my skin is now soft. i would not buy this product again.

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rated 4 of 5 southerngirl1913 on 6/8/2011 12:50:00 AM more reviews by southerngirl1913

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Dark   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

In the past few years I have been struggling with adult hormonal acne. I have tried so many products. This was recommended by a friend and since I started using it daily I have not had any breakouts. I read a lot of people are having difficulty locating this product. I was able to find it at several of my local CVS drugstores (on their website as well). I admit it has been extremely difficult to find at Walmart and Target stores.

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rated 4 of 5 l3512 on 4/8/2011 11:17:00 AM more reviews by l3512

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This product has be re-formulated. The new ingredients are as follows:

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Polysorbate 60, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Cetyl Lactate
Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Panthenol, Benzalkonium Chloride, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl, Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.

I got it from ULTA. I have not used the original formula and only used the new formula a couple of times and like it - it doesnt dry out my face like the clear acne wash. I will update when I have been using longer. I just wanted to let everyone know it is a new formula and they have it available at ULTA for all those who want to give it a shot!!

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rated 5 of 5 IHEARTKERLY on 3/26/2011 7:05:00 PM more reviews by IHEARTKERLY

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

i have modereatte to severe acne. i had used this product once. and then my mom through it away; and THIS THINK IS LIKE THE HOLY GRAIL!!! please someone contact me telling me where i can buy this.. or the best dupe out there.!!!!!!!!!

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rated 3 of 5 eokada1 on 3/8/2011 7:34:00 PM more reviews by eokada1

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I picked this up and wasn't expecting too much from it. While admittedly less drying than the original version, this still leaves my skin feeling tight, and I don't have very dry skin! It kept my skin relatively clear, but I still broke out around my forehead, even though I don't have acne prone skin. After having this in my cupboard for a few months, the product started to settle so that I had a clear liquid coming out whenever I squeezed the bottle! I think that there are much better options in the drugstore that to be settled on this- Neutrogena's acne line disappoints me in general, and I know I won't be buying this again.

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