Good mornin’! Happy Friday to you. 👋 I hope your day is getting off to a good start.
Simply for discussion purposes, here are a few drugstore Neutrogena faves I’ve been loving lately…
Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
This paraben-, phthalate- and sulfate-free bad boy’s made for all skin types, but it works extra well for sensitive skin (including acne-prone peeps like moi). This oil-free face wash whisks away oil, sweat, makeup and anything else on your face without stripping your skin. I’ve loved this cleanser for years, and I typically return to using the Foaming Formula in the summer because of how quickly it removes leftover sunscreen and makeup from the day. Great stuff!
$9.99 for a 12-oz. bottle with a pump.
Neutrogena Shampoo Anti-Residue Formula
This basically brings my hair back from the dead! 🧟♀️ If you lean on smoothing hair products to control frizz AND remove leftover residue from shampoo, conditioner and styling products, this gentle but effective clarifying shampoo is SO money. It’s made for all hair types, including color-treated manes, and I use it once or twice a week in place of my regular shampoo to deep clean my roots and strands. Afterwards, my hair looks and feels more voluminous.
Ultra Sheer Face Mist Sunscreen 55
I literally — literally — never leave home without this because I always have a bottle in my little black backpack. I usually do a mineral sunscreen before I leave the house (Elta MD), but I like to touch up with this physical sunscreen when I’m out and about. It’s a sheer, non-sticky liquid sunscreen that feels lightweight and comfortable. I mist a few few pumps in my hands, and then work the liquid onto my neck, arms, face and wherever else I want/need sun protection.
$17.49 for a 3.5-oz. bottle with a pump.
Soothing Clear Turmeric Jelly Makeup Remover
This soothing, lightweight makeup removing gel for dehydrated and/or acne-prone skin melts into my skin, and the turmeric formula smells great to me! — kinda like ripe orange studded with cloves. Good for removing small-to-moderate amounts of face makeup. That said, if you regularly wear long-wearing, heavy-duty face paint or waterproof mascara or liner, you’ll need major backup.
$6.97 for a 5-oz. bottle with a pump.
Soothing Clear Turmeric Mist
This lightweight and refreshing oil-free moisturizing mist won’t make your skin sticky, and it’s a nice extra to have on hand if you don’t mind another step in your skin care routine. Free of sulfates, silicones, mineral oils and parabens.
$9.99 for a 4.2-oz. spray bottle.
Radiant Setting Spray Healthy Skin
When I spray this directly on top of my makeup when I’ll be wearing a mask out in public, my base doesn’t transfer onto my mask. 👍
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 
Sami says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:15 amHow does the sunscreen spray do over make up?
Karen says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:45 amHi Sami!
It is primarily made for going on bare skin. If you’re looking for a sunscreen to put on top of makeup, you might want to try one of the loose mineral sunscreens with a brush attached. Colorscience, Tarte and Sweat Cosmetics makes them. If you want a spray, try Kate Somerville’s Uncomplikated SPF30, which is a setting spray with sunscreen designed to be worn on top of makeup. HTH!
Sami says
July 12th, 2020 at 11:21 amThank you! I’ll look into them 🙂
Christine says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:48 amHi, Sami. I just happened to watch James Welsh feature his twin, Robert Welsh, on his YouTube channel: “How to Reapply Sunscreen Over Makeup.” I think the sunscreen spray Karen mentioned could help with this!
Sami says
July 12th, 2020 at 11:22 amThank you! I’m looking up that video now!
Karina Liao says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:36 amDoes that Gentle Cleanser work on all kinds of makeup? Will my NARS foundation come off with that or do you think its better suited for non longwear foundation?
Karen says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:43 amHi Karina,
I’ve used it to remove long-wear foundation and it works great. 🙂 However, you may want to do a double cleanse… I actually do this! Once to remove most/all of the makeup, and then a second time to get any leftover bits and bobs.
Karina says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:52 amSounds good! I will give this a try! I am acne prone as well and looking for something inexpensive but effective. Thanks for this post. Stay safe!
Christine says
July 10th, 2020 at 11:50 amWow! Great post with so many useful drugstore products. I’m especially interested in the sunscreen spray and anti-residue shampoo, but weary of (and at the same time fascinated by) the turmeric products. Do they impart orange to the skin at all?
Anne says
July 10th, 2020 at 1:36 pmI love sunscreen mists in the summer for touch ups on the go, but as you said this doesn’t work over makeup, it probably is a pass for me.
Anne recently posted … Why is UVA protection important and how is it labelled? Ask Doctor Anne
Rachel Runyan says
July 10th, 2020 at 2:28 pmI use the Ultra Sheer on my face; it absorbs so quickly it doesn’t mess up my makeup. That’s very important since I’m back to having really oily skin. I got the spray-on Ultra Sheer this year. I’m hoping it’ll work on my face for reapplications and not mess up my makeup.
Marcia says
July 10th, 2020 at 2:34 pmHappy Friday! I love the anti-residue shampoo too! I use it once a week as well. Another Neutrogena product I like is the pink grapefruit oil free acne wash facial cleanser. Tried other cleansers, but I always come back to this one. I’ll have to check out the setting sprays.
Lacy says
July 10th, 2020 at 5:19 pmI love the anti residue shampoo! I use 1-2 times a week and is really used my hair game. I swear my scalp and hair are healthier from incorporating this into my routine a year ago.
And the turmeric cleansing jelly is the bomb. I found a new display at Walmart a couple months ago with $3 off coupons. It’s so good I bought a back up! It’s also helped my skin stay healthy and almost blemish free during the pandemic and working with a mask on for the past few months! And if a pimple does start to creep up this really helps stop it in its tracks and reduce redness and lifespan. I’ve been curious about the mist and will have to try per your review thanks!
Tatiana says
July 10th, 2020 at 8:24 pmI used to use Neutrogena products back in the day, before I got sucked into the fancy, high-end stuff. I think I’m going to try the anti-residue shampoo. Looking for something to make my scalp feel cleaner and to remove the build up of product.