Neutrogena

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser.

Cleansers

About this product

A fragrance-free salicylic acid cleanser formulated with 1% salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and polyhydroxy acids, designed to cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin.

Full ingredients

Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sorbitol, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA

Guru Score

73%

Mixed

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

Experts split on whether this cleanser truly helps stubborn texture. Some question its strength and criticize the marketing as misleading: it's labeled as a salicylic acid treatment but emphasizes glycolic and polyhydroxy acids. Others praise it as gentle, non-drying, and suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin, with the 1% salicylic acid combined with glycolic and polyhydroxy acids helping clear acne, remove surface buildup, and improve texture and blackheads.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take February 2024

What they liked

Fragrance-free gel that lathers without over-drying
Helps exfoliate and smooth rough surface texture

What they flagged

Not strong enough to visibly even out texture
Misleading marketing about active strengths

Best for

Oily skin Acne-prone skin

Type

CleansersLiquid

Key actives

Salicylic acid (BHA)AHA

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Breakouts and acne2 experts

“It's a good product to consider if you have acne or post acne marks that you're trying to heal, coupled with maybe some sensitivity or dryness.”

Dr Dray, watch at 4:24

Clogged or visible pores1 expert

“It contains 1% salicylic acid that can help to gently exfoliate and help to improve like roughness, clog pores, pore congestion, and it's ideal for those that are more like oily and prone to acne.”

Dr. Jenny Liu, watch at 2:57

Dark spots and post-acne marks1 expert

“It's a good product to consider if you have acne or post acne marks that you're trying to heal, coupled with maybe some sensitivity or dryness.”

Dr Dray, watch at 4:24

Rough or uneven texture1 expert

“In addition to that it has 2% glycolic acid which can exfoliate rather than focusing in on the pore, kind of gently exfoliates the top outermost layer of the skin giving the skin a smoother texture.”

Dr Dray, watch at 8:53

Keratosis pilaris (bumpy arms)1 expert

“It's not specifically marketed to the keratosis pilaris crowd but it has one percent salicylic acid, so a touch slower onset compared to the two percent, but less likely to be drying and irritating.”

Dr Dray, watch at 14:56

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Jenny Liu

324k subs

~Yay

"If you have somebody that you know struggles more with like oily and acne prone skin, the Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser is packaged in red from their stubborn acne line, and it's fragrance-free. It is more of a gel cleanser that lathers nicely but again not super drying at the same time. It contains 1% salicylic acid that can help to gently exfoliate and help to improve like roughness, clog pores, pore congestion, and it's ideal for those that are more like oily and prone to acne."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

~Mixed

"This is not going to help even out your texture because it's not strong enough to help you even out your texture. But it says salicylic acid acne treatment, yet they choose to highlight 4% glycolic acid and polyhydroxy acid. I'm a little confused by this one because of the misleading marketing."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Yay

"It is excellent. This cleanser represents an improvement upon some of their older acne cleanser formulations. It has 1% salicylic acid which is an ingredient that exfoliates the pore, is an FDA approved over-the-counter acne treatment for helping to cut down on breakouts and clear existing breakouts. In addition to that it has 2% glycolic acid which can exfoliate rather than focusing in on the pore, kind of gently exfoliates the top outermost layer of the skin giving the skin a smoother texture."

Sponsored

All 5 takes from Dr Dray

✨Best Cleansers Of 2023 ✨

The Top 5 Winter Skincare Tips You Need To Know!

"The Stubborn Texture cleanser is a 1% salicylic acid cleanser but it also has 2% glycolic acid. These ingredients help loosen and shed excess skin cells. It also has 2% polyhydroxy acid to smooth the skin surface. This cleanser helps to clear stubborn acne and shed rough surface skin cells, really leaving your skin smooth and soft."

HOW TO USE SALICYLIC ACID FACE WASH 🚿 Dermatologist @DrDrayzday

"Neutrogena came out with a Stubborn Texture line. This is a really good cleanser option for those of you who maybe have acne and very sensitive skin, or maybe you're just looking to incorporate a salicylic acid cleanser into your routine to improve skin texture, or maybe you have keratosis pilaris. It's not specifically marketed to the keratosis pilaris crowd but it has one percent salicylic acid, so a touch slower onset compared to the two percent, but less likely to be drying and irritating."

BEST DRUGSTORE OILY SKIN CARE ROUTINE 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

"They also came out with a newer salicylic acid cleanser, the Stubborn Texture one, that's really good. It's fragrance free, it has one percent salicylic acid as well as glycolic and polyhydroxy acids, and these [...] help gently exfoliate the skin, which helps if you're prone to blackheads and pore clogging, and it can gently help with hyperpigmentation too."

BEST CLEANSERS FOR OILY SKIN 2021 @DrDrayzday

"The Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser represents a significant advancement for Neutrogena. It's a good product to consider if you have acne or post acne marks that you're trying to heal, coupled with maybe some sensitivity or dryness."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser?

A fragrance-free salicylic acid cleanser formulated with 1% salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and polyhydroxy acids, designed to cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin.

Is Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 73%.

What is Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser's Guru Score?

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser best for?

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

What is Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser is good for breakouts and acne (2 experts), clogged or visible pores (1 expert), dark spots and post-acne marks (1 expert), rough or uneven texture (1 expert) and keratosis pilaris (bumpy arms) (1 expert).

Is Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser good for breakouts and acne?

2 experts who reviewed Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser say it is. Dr Dray put it this way: “It's a good product to consider if you have acne or post acne marks that you're trying to heal, coupled with maybe some sensitivity or dryness.”