Neutrogena vs Clean and Clear 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

Treating acne or acne-prone skin that is either dry, oily, or combination is complicated. With so many products on the market claiming to effectively treat and even prevent acne, finding the proper skincare routine is a delicate balance.

Today, we will be walking you through how to pick the best products for you and your skin, while comparing two of the leading skincare brands for acne and acne-prone skin: Neutrogena and Clean & Clear.

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What you need to know

2024 update: Since the original date of publishing, Clean & Clear have introduced newer formulations for some of their acne products that used to feature an egregious number of nasties. Here's the full low-down:

Essentials Foaming Facial Cleanser is now Clean and Clear Essentials Sensitive Skin Foaming Cleanser and no longer contains parabens, PEGs, fragrance, or synthetic dyes.

Deep Action Exfoliating Facial Scrub is now Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser and no longer contains parabens, PEGs, or dyes.

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Original Post

Unfortunately, several products in both Clean & Clear and Neutrogena contain a range of ingredients that are concerning for skincare. These include ingredients such as Fragrance, Red 4, Alcohol, Yellow 10, PEGs, Talc and synthetic dyes.

The fragrance is difficult to define as brands do not have to list what the fragrance is or what ingredients it is made from.

Red 4 is a synthetic dye produced from petroleum, and Yellow 10 is a synthetic dye produced from petroleum or coal tar sources.

PEGs are known as human skin toxicants or allergens and are highly debated for their safety in cosmetics. As a result, you will find PEGs listed as one of the Dirty Dozen.

While these ingredients are considered safe and are FDA approved, acne-prone and sensitive skin may react to such ingredients.

Synthetic additives are regulated as safe for cosmetics. Yet, everything we use on our skin is absorbed into the body, so it is essential to consider if you feel these ingredients are suitable for you and your skin type.

If this has put you off (we don't blame you), find alternative brands to construct your skincare routine by checking out our other reviews

Otherwise, keep scrolling to learn more, starting with the fact that Johnson & Johnson have much to do with these misdeeds.

Johnson & Johnson

Neutrogena and Clean & Clear are owned by Johnson & Johnson. As the largest health care company globally, J&J remains at the top of the pharmaceutical list as a health care empire.

"Johnson & Johnson is one of the world's most comprehensive healthcare organizations and was formed in the USA in 1886. Our Family of Companies comprises more than 250 operating companies in 60 countries" - Johnson & Johnson

While the company owns numerous subsidiary corporations and brings in billions of dollars annually, J&J is also known for multiple public recalls and lawsuits. In fact, J&J has faced hundreds of thousands of lawsuits over claims of defective products. The subsidiaries often knew about the concerns regarding certain products yet sold them anyway.

Are Johnson & Johnson Cruelty Free?

Johnson & Johnson is not cruelty-free.

Animal-testing may be done with J&J suppliers, through a third party, or when animal testing is required by law in another country.

Certain products may be accidentally vegan, however, none of the products are certified vegan or cruelty-free.

Neutrogena

Owned by Johnson & Johnson, Neutrogena is a science-driven skincare line known for its effective yet affordable products. Founded in 1930 by Emanuel Stolaroff, the brand was previously called Natone and was later named Neutrogena. Popular products include makeup removing cleansing towelettes, pore refining toner, ultra-gentle cleanser, ultra-sheer sunscreen, and the brand's famous transparent bar soap.

Clean and Clear

Previously owned and founded by Revlon over 60 years ago, Clean & Clear was sold to Johnson & Johnson in 1991. The brand then launched the Clean & Clear Advantage line for acne-prone skin and won numerous awards for its range of cleansers, scrubs, and moisturizers.

Contrary to popular belief, expensive does not always equal more effective. However, leading cosmetic experts say that the price of luxury skincare products will often increase due to expensive marketing campaigns, fancy packaging, and proprietary ingredients.

Neutrogena vs Clean and Clear Face Wash

Choosing the right cleanser is the first step in managing acne and acne-prone skin to ensure that the skin is cleansed yet remains hydrated. According to Derm Collective, "Acne facial cleansers are specifically formulated to reduce the risk of breakouts by removing the bacteria and excess oil that can cause breakouts. However, some cleansers can be too harsh and may irritate sensitive skin".

Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash is just about as typical as an acne cleanser comes. It features Salicylic Acid (a BHA) as the main acne-fighter, as well as a flurry of botanical extracts—Aloe, Anthemis Nobilis, and Matricaria—for a bit of a soothing effect, and a relatively gentle cleansing agent—Cocamidopropyl Betaine—to remove dirt and oils from the skin without being overly-drying.

If the ingredients list stopped there we'd be waxing lyrical about it, but as mentioned in the overview, it unfortunately contains more than a few causes for concern: parabens, PEGs, fragrance, and synthetic dyes.

Clean and Clear's Essentials Foaming Cleanser purports to tackle acne very differently to Neutrogena's, containing the antimicrobial, fatty acid Lauric Acid (instead of a chemical exfoliant such as an AHA or BHA). Unfortunately, it also contains many skincare no-nos such as parabens, fragrance, synthetic dyes, and BHT, so its atypicality can seem like a bit of a moot point. Clean & Clear's version no longer contains parabens, PEGs, fragrance, or synthetic dyes! (That said, it's still not very well-received judging by other reviews)

If you're willing to overlook the risks surrounding some of these ingredients (which is perfectly okay given that they are technically deemed as safe by the FDA), it's worth noting that Salicylic Acid and Lauric Acid are actually intended for completely different types of acne:

Neutrogena vs Clean and Clear Scrub

As we have mentioned before, gentle exfoliation is essential for reducing future breakouts. Face scrubs and mild exfoliation target dull skin, dark spots, scarring, acne, and dryness when used correctly, so adding a scrub to your skincare routine may help to minimize breakouts and hyperpigmentation.

Since both the Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Facial Scrub and the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash Scrub contain the same scrubbing agent—Microcrystalline Cellulose*—they are one and the same physical exfoliation-wise. What sets them apart, though, are their supporting formulas.

*Editor's note (2024): Clean and Clear now contains other naturally-derived beads instead of Microcrystalline Cellulose.

Neutrogena doubles-down on the idea of 'acne treatment' with their scrub. It contains Salicylic Acid (to further expunge nastiness from your pores), as well as Grapefruit Extract (to kill acne-causing bacteria), and a gentle surfactant—Cocamidopropyl Betaine—to avoid further inflaming acne.

Honestly, it seems Clean and Clear forgot the assignment a little bit since their scrub includes no other acne-fighting ingredients, and it actually also includes a slightly harsher cleansing agent in Sodium Laureth Sulfate. That said, it is *extremely* popular and highly-rated, and though we realise that popularity doesn't necessarily guarantee efficacy, it certainly correlates. We take that back! Though its extreme popularity remains to this day, it has a new formula without sulfates or other nasties, and it also contains Glycolic and Lactic Acid which boast acne-fighting properties.

While the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash Scrub seems better on paper, in practice we actually prefer Clean and Clear's Deep Action Exfoliating Facial Scrub. It's important to realize that a combination of physical and chemical exfoliation can be overkill (such as in the case of Neutrogena's scrub), *especially* if you're planning to use it in conjunction with other products such as cleansers, treatments, and moisturizers formulated for acne.

If, however, you're seeking a standalone acne treatment in the form of a scrub (which isn't as bizarre as it might first sound!), then Neutrogena offers this exact one-stop-shop with their Acne Wash Scrub.

Neutrogena vs Clean and Clear Acne Treatment

You can effectively support your skin during flare-ups and unwanted breakouts with a spot treatment. Spot treatment is typically in the form of a gel, cream, or patches, each containing active ingredients that reduce the size and severity of a pimple.

If you get to it fast enough, it can help to reduce the breakout within 24 hours and leave the area with minimal redness and scarring.

At the heart of practically every worthwhile acne treatment is an exfoliating formula which unclogs pores and removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, thereby preventing new breakouts and allowing existing acne to clear up on its own.

Clean and Clear uses Salicylic Acid (BHA) for their formula, whereas Neutrogena's instead contains Benzoyl Peroxide. While Salicylic Acid unclogs pores, Benzoyl Peroxide kills the acne-causing bacteria itself.

If you've been following along with the whole guide up until now, bells might be ringing with regards to how similar this is to the dilemma we had with their cleansers. Long story short, because of the difference in actives, the two products end up being suitable for slightly different types of acne.

While both products are intended for use on individual spots, for blackheads and whiteheads (e.g. oily skin), the Salicylic Acid in Clean and Clear's Acne Spot Treatment Gel Cream will be more effective. For mild pustules (e.g. hormonal acne), the Benzoyl Peroxide in Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Treatment would be better.

It's important to note that the supporting formulas (inactive ingredients lists) are quite different, too. Clean and Clear's contains additional nourishing botanical extracts as well as soothing Witch Hazel. Neutrogena's inactive ingredients simply serve to provide the creamy texture of the solution (with no added benefits). ALSO: Unlike the other products in this guide, there's actually not as many egregious skincare no-nos in these products (other than fragrance in Clean and Clear's).

Neutrogena vs Clean and Clear Moisturizer

Finding the right moisturizer for acne-prone skin serves two roles; regulating oil production and ensuring the skin stays hydrated. If you use the wrong products for your skin type to treat your acne, the skin can become damaged and dry, so replenishing your skin is essential.

A good moisturizer for blemishes is a lightweight formula that is certified non-comedogenic and free from additives, fragrance, and parabens. By ensuring the ingredient list is safe for acne, you can relax knowing the product will be less likely to cause further breakouts.

Both the Clean & Clear Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer and the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer offer exactly what we're looking for in good acne moisturizers: 0.5% Salicylic Acid, a non-comedogenic formula, a lightweight texture, and no oils named in the ingredients lists.

In fact, they actually share 20 out of 22 ingredients, with the only ingredients they don't share having negligible effects on their formulas (unless you want to argue that a tiny amount of Grapefruit Extract—listed at the end of the ingredients list of Neutrogena's—makes a difference). In other words, for all intents and purposes they are the exact same products just in different bottles and with different branding.

Clean and Clear ingredients:
Salicylic Acid; Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Menthyl Lactate*, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Steareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Steareth-2, Fragrance, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin*, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Disodium EDTA, BHT

Neutrogena ingredients:
Salicylic Acid; Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Dietheylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Steareth-20, Steareth-2, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Sodium Benzoate*, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, BHT, Citrus Grandis (grapefruit) Fruit Extract*

*Unshared ingredients highlighted in bold.

So, when it comes to deciding between the two, just buy whichever is cheaper. As of the latest update (8th March 2023), that would be Clean and Clear's Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer.

Neutrogena vs Clean and Clear Conclusion

If you are searching for a clean, vegan, organic product, Neutrogena and Clean & Clear probably are not ideal for your skincare routine. While the brands both hold claim to creating acne fighting skincare lines, there are a number of ingredients that are known to be harsh on the skin included in a range of their cleansers, scrubs and moisturizers.

If you are dealing with acne or have acne-prone skin you may be able to tolerate the active ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid and find you are satisfied with the results. Furthermore, the lower price point does make both Neutrogena and Clean & Clear an affordable drugstore option.

This post was originally written by guest author, Cherie Julie, but since heavily edited by Calum Torrington.

This article was originally published on 14th February 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 23rd 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.