The manufacturer acknowledges that a brand icon could be contaminated with a pesky bacterium in at least one U.S. region.
During travel, before a workout, or after a long day, makeup-removing facial wipes help keep a fresh face within easy reach. Neutrogena’s blue-packaged towelettes were an early dominator of the category and remain one of the best-selling face wipes on the market. As we report this, the item ranks as Amazon‘s top-rated makeup remover wipe, with a 4.8 rating out of five from more than 113,000 customer reviews.
This weekend, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that on September 19, Neutrogena voluntarily recalled 15,744 packages of the product that’s officially labeled as Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes, bearing lot number 1835U6325A. The recall was reportedly executed when “During an internal investigation, the firm discovered that the product test positive for pluralibacter gergoviae.” [sic] The FDA’s notice advises that the recalled product was distributed to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, though it’s not clear whether it was shipped beyond those points. Neutrogena’s page listing for the towelettes mentions Walmart, Target, Amazon and CVS as retailers that carry the item, though that list is not exhaustive. Costco, for example, carries a bulk version of the product.
The recall is said to apply to 25-count packages bound and sold in pairs for a total of 50 cloths per unit sold.
The brand’s product page displays a label image suggesting company scientists try to prevent pluralibacter gergoviae by adding ingredients such as chlorphenesin—a synthetic preservative which the National Institutes of Health explains “has antimicrobial and antifungal properties.” (The Environmental Working Group consumer advocacy agency says chlorphenesin presents “low” risk for cancer and reproductive and developmental toxicity, though cites “allergies & immunotoxicity” as low to moderate concerns.)
As we explained in an early 2025 report on an amika-brand shampoo recall, pluralibacter gergoviae is a type of bacteria is known for its resistance to antimicrobial agents and other preservatives that are intended to keep cosmetic products safe. Sources have stated it can present unique complications for the immunocompromised and for individuals with broken skin, such as from acne or psoriasis.
On Friday, October 3, the FDA classified the event as a Class II recall, which they define as “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Kenvue’s New Jersey office is listed as the recalling firm, after the company was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2024.
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