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Cetaphil Pro Soothing Wash
Cetaphil

Cetaphil Pro Soothing Wash

Efficacy100/100IrritancyLow·100% recommend (1 review)
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Sodium trideceth sulfate, Sodium lauroamphoacetate + 1 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Using advanced technology, this creamy wash gently cleanses and rinses to hold skin–nourishing oils in a gentle, soap–free cleanser.”
Source: Walgreens

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamide mea, sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium trideceth sulfate) 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.

Sodium trideceth sulfateEffect: High~5–7.5%
Sodium lauroamphoacetateEffect: High~2–2.9%
Cocamide meaEffect: High~1.1–1.7%
Anti-blemish
Side benefit · Niacinamide, Allantoin
Works well

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

NiacinamideHeroEffect: HighIs proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production~0.85–1.25%
AllantoinEffect: Low, below effective doseHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.3–0.75%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
6 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 6 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.95–1.45%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~0.3–0.75%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.15–0.65%est.
1,2-hexanediolA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.35%est.
Potassium sorbateA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.3%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.05–0.15%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals3/5~5.8–8.7%est.
Alternatives
Cheaper, or higher on efficacy
Lipikar Syndet Shower Body Gel
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet Shower Body Gel
Cheaper66% match
$19.45
The Purifier Niacinamide Serum Body Wash
Naturium The Purifier Niacinamide Serum Body Wash
Cheaper60% match
$15.56
View all alternatives

User reviews

Would you recommend?
100%·yes

1 of 1 community members would buy it again.

100% would0% wouldn't
  • R5uth· Feb 2024Recommends

    Face feels clean and skin still feels like it has moisture. Doesn’t remove eye makeup though, so another product required.

What reviewers noticed
Marker shows the average response

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Butyrospermum parkii butter~5.8–8.7%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals

More about Butyrospermum parkii butter
Sodium trideceth sulfate~5–7.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium trideceth sulfate
Helianthus annuus seed oil~2.9–4.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Glycerin~2.2–3.2%
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
Sodium lauroamphoacetate~2–2.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium lauroamphoacetate
Sodium chloride~1.4–2.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

More about Sodium chloride
Cocamide mea~1.1–1.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Cocamide mea
Citric acid~0.95–1.45%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Niacinamide~0.85–1.25%
Hero · Anti-blemish
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-agingEvens skin toneMoisturizingReduces irritationAnti-inflammatoryReduces rednessAntibacterial

Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production

More about Niacinamide
Sodium pca~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer

More about Sodium pca
Allantoin~0.3–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryMoisturizingReduces irritationReduces rednessAnti-blemishExfoliation

Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated

More about Allantoin
Arginine~0.35–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin

More about Arginine
Tocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.75%
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
Colloidal oatmeal~0.35–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingReduces irritationAnti-oxidationAnti-inflammatory

Helps to restore skin barrier function, soften the upper layer of the skin and calm down inflammation

More about Colloidal oatmeal
Caprylyl glycol~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
1,2-hexanediol~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about 1,2-hexanediol
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride~0.1–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps water and oil mix together and create a nice product texture

More about Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
Potassium sorbate~0.05–0.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Potassium sorbate
Disodium edta~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Ingredient list view

Water, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Sodium trideceth sulfate, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Glycerin, Sodium lauroamphoacetate, Sodium chloride, Cocamide mea, Citric acid, Niacinamide, Sodium pca, Allantoin, Arginine, Tocopheryl acetate, Colloidal oatmeal, Caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Potassium sorbate, Disodium edta

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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
CetaphilPro Soothing WashYOUR PRODUCTLa Roche-PosayLipikar Syndet Shower Body GelNécessaireThe Body Wash Fragrance-Free – Barrier Cleanse With Niacinamide, 5 Essential Ceramides + Hyaluronic Acid With PumpNaturiumThe Purifier Niacinamide Serum Body Wash
Match—66%65%60%
Price—$19.45$42.00$15.56
Shared key ingredients—4 of 112 of 112 of 11
Key difference—Sodium Laureth SulfateLinoleic AcidCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Irritancy Low Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: Olay Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid, for Normal Skin, Fragrance-FreeSVR Sebiaclear Cleansing Cream

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Careonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  2. 2
    Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egyptjournals.lww.com
  3. 3
    Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  4. 4
    Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countriesonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  5. 5
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Cetaphil Pro Soothing Wash
CetaphilPro Soothing Wash
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.