Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash
The Neutrogena Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (18 low-risk) rates it Excellent (83/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Neutrogena Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (18 low-risk) rates it Excellent (83/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
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Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Foaming) |
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Sodium Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Chloride
(Bulking Agent, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Hamamelis Virginiana Flower Water
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
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Coconut Acid
(Cleansing, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Polyethylene
(Abrasive, Adhesive, Binding Agent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Oral Care Agentagent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Isopropyl Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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CI 42090
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
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Tetrasodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent) |
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Sodium Laureth Sulfate
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foaming, Surfactant) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Sulfate
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Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
(Sufactant, Emulsifying) |
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Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Benzalkonium Chloride
(Antimicrobial Agent, Antistatic Agent, Cosmetic Biocide, Deodorant, Surfactant Suspending Agent, Preservative) |
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Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Cetyl Lactate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking) |
Allergens
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Fragrance
(Deodorant, Masking, Perfuming) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Lactic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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