Neutrogena
Oil-free Acne Stress Control® Triple-action Toner
Oil-free Acne Stress Control® Triple-action Toner
Neutrogena
oil-free-acne-stress-control-r-triple-action-toner
Tone
9818403406117
Morning or Evening?
How often will you use this product?
Notes
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Triple-action toner with salicylic acid
FEATURES
Contains MicroClear® Technology, dissolves oil, reduces redness and irritation, treats and prevents acne
BEST FOR
oily
CHECKS
Free of paraben, sulfate, oil
Who Is It For?
Teens And Adults With Acne-prone SkinWhat Does It Help With?
Acne Treatment Oil Control Shine Reduction Preventing BreakoutsBudget
Affordable (under $30)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Neutrogena Says
Product Description:
A refreshing, multi-tasking facial toner with MicroClear® Technology that works in three ways for clearer, shine-free skin. Helps treat acne before it emerges, eliminates oil and shine, and contains skin-soothers like green tea and cucumber extracts.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Water, Alcohol-Denatured, Butylene-Glycol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, C12-15-Alkyl-Lactate, Fragrance, Sodium-Citrate, Cocamidopropyl-PG-Dimonium-Chloride-Phosphate, PEG/PPG-20/6-Dimethicone, Sodium-Hydroxide, Benzalkonium-Chloride, Cetyl-Lactate, Sodium-Benzotriazolyl-Butylphenol-Sulfonate, Disodium-EDTA, Glycerin, Camellia-Oleifera-Leaf-Extract, Cucumis-Sativus-Fruit-Extract, Blue-1, Green-5, Yellow-5
Key Ingredients
Salicylic acid, Green tea extract, Cucumber extract, MicroClear Technology
Ingredients Details
Benzalkonium Chloride
Common Name(s): Benzalkonium chloride,cosmetic active,functional ingredient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.
Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.
How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Benzalkonium chloride has an established safety profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.
Last Verified: Cosing database,benzalkonium chloride technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Butylene Glycol
Common Name(s): 1,3-butanediol,bg,1,3-butylene glycol
CAS Number: 107-88-0
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides humectant hydration and active ingredient solubilization with excellent skin feel.
Why It's Used: Preferred glycol humectant in premium and k-beauty formulations for superior skin feel vs propylene glycol with equivalent functionality.
How It Works: Two hydroxyl groups at 1,3-positions provide water binding and solvent activity. better tolerated than propylene glycol with minimal sensitization risk. 4-carbon backbone provides slightly greater hydrophobic character enabling dissolution of less polar actives vs pg.
Typically Found In: Toners,essences,serums,k-beauty formulas
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient – glycol humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%–10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes – synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
K-beauty's preference for butylene glycol over propylene glycol is driven by two factors: bg's superior skin feel (less tacky than pg's higher viscosity) and its lower sensitization potential (1,3-bg has better spatial distribution of hydroxyl groups that reduces protein interaction vs pg's 1,2-position oh groups).
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
Common Name(s): C12-15 alkyl lactate
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Loosens corneocyte adhesion in the stratum corneum, accelerating cell turnover, refining skin texture, and improving radiance.
Why It's Used: Organic acids at cosmetic ph values provide controlled keratolytic exfoliation that improves skin texture, pore appearance, and radiance without mechanical irritation.
How It Works: At appropriate ph, the acid's undissociated form penetrates the stratum corneum and dissolves the ionic bonds between corneocyte desmosomes (calcium chelation mechanism), facilitating controlled desquamation and cell renewal.
Typically Found In: Toners,exfoliants,serums,peels,cleansers
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Exfoliants
Secondary Functions: Brightening,keratolytic
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5–20%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or plant-derived acid; no animal components.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 2
Comedogenicity Rating: 0
Sensitivity Concerns: May cause irritation or stinging in sensitive or barrier-compromised skin at high concentrations; patch test recommended.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Conditional
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Safe within recommended ph and concentration ranges. sensitization risk increases above 10% aha. patch test recommended for sensitive skin. mildly irritating to some individuals at typical cosmetic use concentrations.
Works Well With: Niacinamide,hyaluronic acid,ceramides,vitamin c
Avoid Combining With: High concentrations on sensitive/broken skin; avoid with physical exfoliants
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Cosmetic acids function at the pka boundary: only the undissociated acid (rcooh) penetrates the stratum corneum lipid barrier, while the ionized carboxylate (rcoo⁻) does not. the henderson-hasselbalch equation governs the fraction of active species at formulation ph; typically 0.5–3.0% undissociated acid provides efficacy while minimizing irritation.
Last Verified: Cosing eu database; pcpc cosmetic ingredient safety reviews; ingredient-specific safety and efficacy literature
Primary Sources: 2025-01-15
Cocamidopropyl Pg-dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Common Name(s): Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate,inci ingredient,cosmetic active
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides documented cosmetic activity from cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phos.
Why It's Used: Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phos delivers formulation value through its specific biological activity and established safety and efficacy.
How It Works: Source: cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phos. mechanism: documented in cosmetic literature. safety: cosing-reviewed. standard cosmetic use concentrations.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations,active products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient – antioxidant
Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate provides cosmetic activity through its characteristic mechanism. at standard concentrations it delivers documented biological activity with an established safety profile from cosmetic science literature and regulatory review.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phos technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12