Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser — Efficacy 3.2/5.0, Safety 4.9/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser
Neutrogena

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser

CleanserCleansing
Efficacy
Basic
3.2 / 5.0
Safety
Excellent
4.9 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a well-built, low-drama cleanser that should clean effectively without stripping. The efficacy score is driven by a gentle surfactant blend led by cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl isethionate, and sodium cocoyl glycinate, plus meaningful humectant support from glycerin and butylene glycol and some soothing support from centella. It loses points only because a cleanser’s job is limited, and there is no contact treatment active that would raise it above a strong-but-still-basic cleansing formula; the likely near-neutral pH support from citric acid/sodium hydroxide is a plus, not a treatment claim.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
Glycerin
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Sodium ChlorideCentella Asiatica ExtractSodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch DodecenylsuccinatePEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
What Each Ingredient Does
Water
solvent
Glycerin
humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
mild surfactant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
primary cleansing surfactant
Sodium Chloride
viscosity modifier
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
gentle cleansing surfactant
Acrylates Copolymer
texture stabilizer
Palmitic Acid
emollient fatty acid
Centella Asiatica Extract
soothing botanical extract
Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate
stabilizer and emulsifier
Stearic Acid
emollient fatty acid
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
thickener and solubilizer
Butylene Glycol
humectant
Disodium EDTA
chelating agent
Phenoxyethanol
preservative
Chlorphenesin
preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
humectant and preservative booster
Citric Acid
pH adjuster
Sodium Hydroxide
pH adjuster
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate, Stearic Acid, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide

Frequently Asked

Is Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser worth it?

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser scores 3.2 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Basic) and 4.9 out of 5.0 for safety (Excellent) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a well-built, low-drama cleanser that should clean effectively without stripping. The efficacy score is driven by a gentle surfactant blend led by cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl isethionate, and sodium coc

What are the key active ingredients in Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser?

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser. It scores 4.9 out of 5.0 for safety.

How is Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser 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: 2026-08-17. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.