Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Efficacy50/100IrritancyMedium

Works for

Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl betaine, Disodium cocoamphodiacetate + 3 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, xanthan gum) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside

Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~9.5–11.6%
Disodium cocoamphodiacetateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent~5.1–6.3%
Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~2.4–3%
Sodium cocoamphoacetateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foam~0.4–0.6%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~0.1–0.2%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~9.5–11.6%est.
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~2.4–3%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.7–1%est.
Disodium cocoamphodiacetateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~5.1–6.3%est.
Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerMaintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~2–2.4%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~1.3–1.6%est.
Sodium citrateHelps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve productsMedium~0.25–0.45%est.
Sodium cocoamphoacetateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foamMedium~0.4–0.6%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.15–0.25%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Cocamidopropyl betaine~9.5–11.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen

More about Cocamidopropyl betaine
Disodium cocoamphodiacetate~5.1–6.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Disodium cocoamphodiacetate
Glycerin~3.1–3.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Coco-glucoside~2.4–3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating

More about Coco-glucoside
Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~2–2.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together

More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
Bambusa arundinacea stem extract~1.6–2%
Formula
Citric acid~1.3–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Heliotropine~1.1–1.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Heliotropine
Panthenol~0.95–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol
Parfum~0.7–1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Phenoxyethanol~0.55–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Polyquaternium-10~0.5–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish

More about Polyquaternium-10
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Sodium chloride~0.4–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Sodium citrate~0.25–0.45%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products

More about Sodium citrate
Sodium cocoamphoacetate~0.4–0.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foam

More about Sodium cocoamphoacetate
Sodium hydroxide~0.15–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Tocopheryl acetate~0.15–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Xanthan gum~0.1–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Ingredient list view

Water, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Disodium cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Coco-glucoside, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Bambusa arundinacea stem extract, Citric acid, Heliotropine, Panthenol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium benzoate, Sodium chloride, Sodium citrate, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Sodium hydroxide, Tocopheryl acetate, Xanthan gum

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/11 18:11 GMT
$19.49
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
CetaphilGentle Exfoliating CleanserYOUR PRODUCTPrequelTRAVEL GLEANSER + SAThe INKEY List CAGlycerin Gentle Purifying CleanserNaturiumThe Calmer Ceramide Body Wash
Match—40%40%39%
Price$19.49$6.00−$13.49$19.00$14.15−$5.34
Shared key ingredients—4 of 74 of 74 of 7
Key difference—Salicylic AcidCentella Asiatica ExtractCeramide Eop
Irritancy Medium Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: REVOLUTION SKINCARE Purifying Facial Gel Cleanser with NiacinamideSelfless by Hyram Centella and Green Tea Daily Gel Cleanser

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