Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes — Efficacy 2.7/5.0, Safety 3.9/5.0 | DemythSkin
++++
[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
Neutrogena

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

CleanserCleansing
Efficacy
Weak
2.7 / 5.0
Safety
Mostly Safe
3.9 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is an effective but very dated, fragrance-loaded wipe that removes makeup at the cost of your barrier if you don’t fully rinse afterward. As a cleanser, the emollient-surfactant system will dissolve long-wear makeup well, but it offers no barrier-support ingredients, relies on multiple occlusive esters and silicones plus several preservatives and fragrance in a leave-on wipe format, and is far more irritating and dehydrating than modern, gentle liquid or balm cleansers designed to be rinsed, which drags its efficacy score down for true skincare performance rather than just removal convenience.
Active Ingredients Detected
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Isononyl IsononanoateIsostearyl PalmitatePentaerythrityl TetraethylhexanoateHexylene GlycolPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric GlyceridesSucrose CocoatePEG-4 Laurate
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Fragrance
What Each Ingredient Does
Water
Solvent, formula base
Isononyl Isononanoate
Emollient, makeup dissolver
Isostearyl Palmitate
Emollient, makeup dissolver
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient, cleansing aid
Cyclopentasiloxane
Silicone emollient, slip agent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient, texture enhancer
Hexylene Glycol
Solvent, penetration aid
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Nonionic surfactant, cleanser
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sucrose Cocoate
Mild surfactant, emulsifier
Carbomer
Viscosity controller, thickener
PEG-4 Laurate
Surfactant, cleansing agent
Fragrance
Added scent component
Sodium Hydroxide
pH adjuster
Benzoic Acid
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Preservative booster, humectant
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isostearyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Cocoate, Carbomer, PEG-4 Laurate, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Ethylhexylglycerin.

Frequently Asked

Is Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes worth it?

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes scores 2.7 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Weak) and 3.9 out of 5.0 for safety (Mostly Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is an effective but very dated, fragrance-loaded wipe that removes makeup at the cost of your barrier if you don’t fully rinse afterward. As a cleanser, the emollient-surfactant system will dissolve long-wear makeup

What are the key active ingredients in Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes?

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes as potential irritants: Fragrance. This product does contain fragrance.

How is Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-30. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.