Dr. Brandt Reset Cleanser

Dr. Brandt Reset Cleanser

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Disodium c12-14 pareth-3 sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl betaine + 6 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Reset Cleanser”
Source: Dr. Brandt

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium c12-14 pareth-3 sulfosuccinate, glycol stearate, hydroxypropyl guar, laureth-10, peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate, peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate) 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

Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~5.4–6.6%
Sodium lauryl sulfoacetateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~3.9–4.7%
Peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~1.3–1.6%
Glycol stearateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~1.1–1.3%
Hydroxypropyl guarEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize emulsions~0.75–1.1%
Peg-6 caprylic/capric glyceridesEffect: HighHelps dissolve other ingredients~0.6–0.9%
Laureth-10Effect: High~0.5–0.75%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 13 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~5.4–6.6%est.
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skinHigh~0.35–0.6%est.
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilAn essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.1–0.2%est.
Salicylic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)High~0.1–0.15%est.
Salix alba bark extractA plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effectHigh~0.05–0.1%est.
Geranium maculatum extractContains an essential oil. Can be irritatingHigh~0.01–0.05%est.
Sodium sulfateUsed to improve the product consistency and stabilize formulationsMedium~1.9–2.3%est.
Peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1.3–1.6%est.
Glycol stearateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1.1–1.3%est.
Hydroxypropyl guarUsed to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize emulsionsMedium~0.75–1.1%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.45–0.7%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.25–0.5%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.2–0.4%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

User reviews

Would you recommend?
No community reviews yet.

Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Disodium c12-14 pareth-3 sulfosuccinate~8.8–10.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Disodium c12-14 pareth-3 sulfosuccinate
Cocamidopropyl betaine~5.4–6.6%
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
Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate~3.9–4.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Sodium sulfate~1.9–2.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to improve the product consistency and stabilize formulations

More about Sodium sulfate
Sodium chloride~1.6–1.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

More about Sodium chloride
Peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate~1.3–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate
Glycol stearate~1.1–1.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Glycol stearate
Hydroxypropyl guar~0.75–1.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize emulsions

More about Hydroxypropyl guar
Peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides~0.6–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps dissolve other ingredients

More about Peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides
Laureth-10~0.5–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Laureth-10
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.45–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil~0.35–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
AntibacterialAnti-oxidation

A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skin

More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil
Citric acid~0.25–0.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Disodium edta~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Glycerin~0.25–0.45%
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
Stearamide amp~0.15–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Stearamide amp
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil
Linalyl acetate~0.1–0.15%
Formula
Salicylic acid~0.1–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishExfoliationAnti-inflammatoryAntibacterialEvens skin tone

Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)

More about Salicylic acid
Salix alba bark extract~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-inflammatoryAnti-blemishExfoliation

A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect

More about Salix alba bark extract
Geranium maculatum extract~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Contains an essential oil. Can be irritating

More about Geranium maculatum extract
Ingredient list view

Water, Disodium c12-14 pareth-3 sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium sulfate, Sodium chloride, Peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate, Glycol stearate, Hydroxypropyl guar, Peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, Laureth-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Citric acid, Disodium edta, Glycerin, Stearamide amp, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Linalyl acetate, Salicylic acid, Salix alba bark extract, Geranium maculatum extract

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Dr. Brandt
$50.00
Buy

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

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
Dr. BrandtReset CleanserYOUR PRODUCTThe INKEY List CASalicylic Acid Acne + Blackhead CleanserFace factsCeramide Blemish Foaming CleanserMuradMini AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Match—84%82%82%
Price$50.00$15.00−$35.00$7.82−$42.18$19.00−$31.00
Shared key ingredients—5 of 103 of 103 of 10
Key difference—BetaineNiacinamideGlycolic Acid
Irritancy High Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
View product Shop Shop Shop

More alternatives: Prequel TRAVEL GLEANSER + SAREVOLUTION SKINCARE Blemish Targeting Salicylic Acid Facial Gel Cleanser

Cheaper alternatives? See how this stacks up against similar formulas.
We compare ingredient profiles across our catalog — pick the closest match for your budget.
Open dupe finder

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 14 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
Dr. Brandt Reset Cleanser
Dr. BrandtReset Cleanser

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.