The Biggest Makeup Wipes Recall In US History Is Happening Now - How Worried Should You Be?

When you're time-crunched and it's late, makeup wipes can be a lifesaver. Rather than hitting the sack covered in cosmetic buildup, you can quickly clean your face — and avoid risking your skin health by sleeping in makeup.

That said, you may want to check out the lot number on your makeup wipes if your go-to single-use makeup wipe product is Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than 1,300 cases of that brand of wipes were voluntarily recalled by the parent company for Neutrogena, beginning in September 2025. 

The FDA named the recall a Class II, which is the second-highest type of recall. Class II recalls are issued for products that aren't likely to cause permanent harm but whose use might lead to short-term "adverse health consequences." In the case of the Neutrogena towelettes, a type of bacteria called Pluralibacter gergoviae was found in the product during an internal investigation.

The good news is that Pluralibacter gergoviae rarely makes healthy people sick. As dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman told Today, any reactions from exposure to the bacteria were unlikely to cause serious health issues. However, Pluralibacter gergoviae can become a concern for individuals who are immunocompromised or chronically ill and, in some instances, has been connected with respiratory problems, sepsis, and urinary tract infections (via Melbec Microbiology).

A 2022 letter published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy warned that strains of Pluralibacter gergoviae were becoming more resistant to preservatives and parabens, making them an emerging healthcare concern. It also noted that the bacteria had the potential to become resistant to numerous drugs as well.

To be fair, only a modest number of Neutrogena towelettes were recalled. (Read about some of the largest FDA recalls in U.S. history.) But you may still want to be on the lookout for any Neutrogena makeup wipe products that were sold in stores in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida under lot number 1835U6325A in your home. If you have this product, tossing it in the trash might be the best option — after all, better safe than sorry.