Beauty product used by millions recalled for possible bacterial danger

• Roughly 1,300 cases of the recalled product were distributed across four states.
• There is a health risk: The bacterium Pluralibacter gergoviae can cause infections in vulnerable people. However, the Food and Drug Administration classifies the recall as Class II (low risk).
• Beauty-product recalls remain rare but rising, as regulators tighten post-market safety oversight.

Most women have a roster of favorite beauty and skin care products. Whether they're fans of luxury brands like Chanel and Y.S.L., or drugstore brands like Neutrogena or E.l.f., woe be the entity that gets between a woman and her beauty routine.

Now, a skin care product used by millions faces a recall. While cosmetics recalls are relatively rare, at least when compared to food recalls, the category does occasionally have a wake-up call.

On Sept. 19, 2025, Neutrogena's owner, Kenvue, issued a voluntary recall of Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes after internal testing identified the presence of the bacterium Pluralibacter gergoviae in one production lot.

On October 3, the U.S. FDA categorized the Neutrogena recall as Class II — meaning serious harm is unlikely but temporary or reversible health consequences are possible.

What the towelette recall means for Neutrogena

For Neutrogena — a brand long positioned as dermatologist-recommended and safe — the recall puts a dent in the brand's reputation. Consumers expect no risk (or at least very low risk) when it comes to skin-application products.

And though no widespread illness has been reported, the mere possibility of infection invites social-media backlash, influencer commentary, and news coverage.

The contamination appears linked to "procedural deficiencies" in manufacturing, rather than an inherently defective formula. People who are immunocompromised are at the greatest risk of problems.

Related: Another egg recall highlights salmonella risk

From a business perspective, the incident sharply highlights several issues: supply-chain vulnerabilities, regulatory exposure, brand-reputation risk, and the cost of manufacturing compliance.

The recall affects 1,312 cases — around 15,000 packages — of the 25- or 50-count wipes distributed across four Southern U.S. states.

“A single product recall can have a lasting impact on a company … Most importantly, there is a human cost if people were sickened by the contaminated product,” Vice President of Casualty Programs at Nationwide E&S/Specialty Marcy Pelecky said about what's at risk for companies facing recalls.

On Reddit, several people are wondering if the infections they have are related, even though they don't live in a region where the products are recalled.

"i have gotten 2 eye infections very recently when i have never had them before and i use these makeup wipes exclusively