Let’s talk about washing our faces. Because, apparently, if you’re like me, we’ve been doing it wrong—or at least, we’ve been doing it with some pretty questionable ingredients. Case in point: Neutrogena Liquid Cleansing Formula. You know the one—the suspiciously orange-brown liquid in the clear bottle that you’ve probably used since high school.
Turns out, my beloved “cleanser” was less about cleansing and more about terrorizing my endocrine system. It contains BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene). Yikes! This ingredient has been linked to endocrine disruption, potential fertility issues, and toxicity in various organs. And that’s just one of the concerning ingredients. Phenoxyethanol is also lurking in there, doing who-knows-what to my poor skin. When I scanned this product on the Yuka app, it scored a disastrous 6/100. Six. Out of a hundred. That’s not even an “F.” That’s the skincare equivalent of “my dog ate my homework”.
So, with my face (and my health) on the line, I embarked on a mission to find a facial cleanser that wouldn’t make my skin, my body, or my wallet cry for help. Here’s how the contenders fared:
Cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser – My first stop on the great cleanser quest. And honestly? Not bad! It was creamy, luxurious, and emulsified beautifully—like a gentle oil bath for my face. Best of all, no sticky residue, just clean, moisturized skin. Yuka gave this one a “Good” 58/100, which isn’t perfect, but it’s so much better than 6. Plus, at $12.37 for 8 oz on Amazon, it was a pretty good price. But could I do even better?
Native Coconut and Vanilla Moisturizing Facial Cleanser – This one had an “Excellent” 76/100 score on Yuka, so I was feeling optimistic. It foamed up nicely, did its job, and smelled like a tropical vacation. But… although I liked the fragrance, I wasn’t really looking for a scented face wash. I don’t need, and I don’t want, my skincare routine to smell like a piña colada. Still, solid performance, and at $9.99 for a 12 oz bottle, it was a pretty great deal.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Facial Cleanser – Enter the overachiever. With a near-perfect Yuka score of 93/100, I expected greatness. Instead, I got… mediocrity. The texture was too thin, it left my skin feeling a bit sticky, and worst of all? Serious raccoon eyes. It barely put up a fight against my mascara. At $16.19 for 13.52 oz, I wanted effectiveness, but I got meh. Onward!
Eucerin Hydrating Cleansing Gel – This one also had that glorious 93/100 “Excellent” score, so I figured it was worth a shot. And friends, we have a winner. It cleansed properly—as in, no leftover eye makeup. The texture was smooth, the rinse was clean (no sticky aftermath), and my skin felt genuinely moisturized. At $10.95 for 6.8 oz, it wasn’t the cheapest, but for a product that does everything I need it to, it was worth every penny.
Final Verdict: Had I not been concerned about toxic ingredients, I probably would have been happy with most of these. But since the goal was to find a healthy option, Eucerin Hydrating Cleansing Gel is my new holy grail. It wins on effectiveness, clean ingredients, and reasonable price. Mission accomplished!
So, if you’re still washing your face with questionable orange goo, consider this your sign to upgrade. Your skin (and your future self) will thank you.