Neutrogena = glycerin soap base?

I assume you mean the http://www.neutrogena.com/product/facial+cleansing+bar.do. Here are the ingredients: Triethanolamine, TEA Stearate, Sodium Tallowate, Glycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Sodium Oleate, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Stearate, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Trisodium HEDTA, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Fragrance (Scented option only). Here's http://www.brambleberry.com/Clear-Melt-And-Pour-Soap-Base-P3189.aspx, and the ingredients: Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soy bean protein (conditioner) As you can see, completely different. I assume different brands of glycerin soap base all have different ingredients. Perhaps your skin would be just as happy with any type of glycerin-based soap, perhaps not. But it wouldn't be exactly the same as the Neutrogena.

All soaps have some glycerin in them. It is clear due to adding alcohol and then they add more glycerin for a bit of moisture. All that "sodium tallowate" is a fancy way of saying "lye mixed with tallow" or whatever fat they are using to make the soap. I say try a bunch of different soaps and see which one your skin likes best. For instance, Kiss My Face is pretty moisturizing. But some people might do just as well with Dove.

Yes, you could just use a chunk of glycerin soap base, straight out of the package; you can find soap makings at most craft stores. There are also goat's milk soap bases available; I use that to make an oatmeal soap for a friend with psoriasis, she says it really helps (run plain old edible oats through a blender to pulverize them first; toss in a little cinnamon for scent).