Neutrogena
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 8 sources
Skincare and sunscreen brand owned by Kenvue, which Kimberly-Clark is buying.
Neutrogena's supply chain was linked to abuse of workers in 2020, which it has only partly acted on.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (abuse of workers link, last recorded in 2020) was a link through a supplier, which the company has only partly acted on.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsA confirmed problem counts against it: abuse of workers link, last recorded in 2020
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Uses only synthetic mica or none, or traces natural mica to independently checked mines, and traces or certifies other high-risk ingredients (palm oil) where they're a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: palm oil
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Clear breaches of labour conditions
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From product labels; Neutrogena doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where beauty and personal care products are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| United StatesUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| FranceUsual for the industry | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ThailandUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ItalyUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| GermanyUsual for the industry | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| JapanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| United KingdomUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| SpainUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- Modern slavery statement
- Doesn't show where its palm oil comes from. Palm oil is linked to forced and child labour on some Malaysian and Indonesian plantations, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it. Source
Research notes Neutrogena sunscreens sold in Australia are labelled Made in Australia, by a maker that isn't named; neither the brand nor Kenvue says where its other skincare sold here is made, and Kenvue says only that its own plants delivered over 60% of its sales volume in 2025. Kenvue targets 75% of its palm-based ingredients from physical RSPO supply chains by 2025 and 100% by 2030 but publishes no current share or tracing to the mill, and says nothing about mica (its Australian range is mainly sunscreen and skincare). It has about 12,000 suppliers, reported no confirmed forced or child labour in 2025, and publishes no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment; Kimberly-Clark's purchase of Kenvue is expected to close in late 2026.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Kenvue publishes a global modern slavery statement under Australia's Modern Slavery Act (year to 28 December 2025); it reports no confirmed forced or child labour cases through its grievance channels in 2025. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Kenvue publishes a UK Modern Slavery Act statement for the year to 28 December 2025. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Problem found | Johnson & Johnson, Neutrogena's owner at the time, was named among beauty groups linked to palm plantations where an Associated Press investigation found abuse of women workers (2020); it responded. View |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Listed | The US Department of Labor's 2024 list includes palm fruit and the oleochemicals made from it from Indonesia and Malaysia (child and forced labour), the source of most palm-derived cleansing and moisturising ingredients. View |
| US forced-labour import bans (UFLPA Entity List, CBP Withhold Release Orders) | Not listed | Neither Kenvue nor any named supplier is on the UFLPA Entity List (October 2026 edition). View |
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Link through a supplierAn Associated Press investigation (2020) found physical and sexual abuse of women workers and exposure to harmful chemicals on palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia, and linked palm oil from them to the supply chains of Johnson & Johnson, then Neutrogena's owner, and other beauty groups (Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, 2020). Source · search the archive | PartlyJohnson & Johnson, its owner until Kenvue's 2023 spin-off, responded to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre; Kenvue targets 75% physical RSPO palm but reports no remedy for the workers. |
Sources and actions
Sources 8
Show all 8 sources
- AP investigation reveals women face dangerous working conditions, widespread abuse & rape in palm oil supply chains of global cosmetics brands (Business & Human Rights Resource Centre) · search the archive · AP found abuse of women workers and harmful chemicals on Indonesian and Malaysian palm plantations whose palm oil allegedly reaches Johnson & Johnson and other beauty groups; Johnson & Johnson responded
- Kenvue second quarter 2026 results (SEC Form 8-K, 6 August 2026) · search the archive · Kimberly-Clark's acquisition of Kenvue expected to close in Q4 2026, subject to foreign regulatory approvals
- Neutrogena SPF 50 Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen Lotion 88mL (Woolworths) · search the archive · Neutrogena sunscreen sold in Australia labelled Made in Australia
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 88mL (Woolworths) · search the archive · Neutrogena sunscreen sold in Australia labelled Made in Australia
- Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser 150g (Woolworths) · search the archive · No country of origin shown; ingredients include glycerin, sodium cocoyl glycinate and isethionate, myristic and lauric acid (palm or coconut derived); no mica
Published by Neutrogena or its owner
- Global Modern Slavery Statement (Kenvue) · search the archive · Fiscal 2025 statement under the Australian Modern Slavery Act: in-house manufacturing delivered over 60% of sales volume, the rest from third-party makers; 62 EHS audits in 2025; SMETA-based responsible sourcing audits being refreshed for 2026; no confirmed forced or child labour cases in 2025
- Modern Slavery Act Statement (Kenvue UK) · search the archive · About 12,000 suppliers in over 100 countries; no share of palm from RSPO physical supply chains given; palm grievance dashboard with Earthworm Foundation; no confirmed forced or child labour in fiscal 2025
- Position on Responsible Palm Oil Sourcing (Kenvue) · search the archive · Targets at least 75% of palm volumes from RSPO physical supply chains by 2025 and 100% by 2030, with the rest covered by Book & Claim credits; no traceability to mill disclosed (updated November 2023)
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Neutrogena ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/neutrogena, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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