Neutrogena’s cleanser is incredibly popular for a completely different reason: hydration. This is because those very same parabens we raised concerns about also happen to be excellent anti-fungal agents.įurthermore, since it is completely oil-free, non-comedogenic, and astringent without being over-drying (due to the inclusion of cetyl and stearyl alcohol), it is also excellent for those struggling with plain old regular acne, too. It’s not all doom and gloom, though! Both cleansers do of course have special qualities about them that potentially outweigh the downsides - how do you think they got so popular, otherwise?Ĭetaphil’s cleanser is particularly popular for people struggling with folliculitis (also known as mallesezia, or fungal acne). Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Gel Cleanser doesn’t contain quite such egregious offenders, but it’s not entirely in the clear, as it contains fragrances which have also been known to sensitise the skin.
Truth be told, they’re not quite as gentle as they’re made out to be.Ĭetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser contains several parabens that have been known to sensitise the skin, and in severe instances, cause contact dermatitis.