Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser Review

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser
Review

Does Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser Work?

 
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser is a type of skincare product designed to be rinsed off, peeled off, or otherwise removed from the skin. Research confirming the moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, and soothing effects of such products is very limited. Therefore, we do not provide efficacy ratings for these types of skincare products.

However, you can explore the roles of specific ingredients in the Ingredients Explained section below.

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
70
9
6
4
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Function:
Origin:
Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Chloride
Function:
Origin:
Cetyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Stearyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Function:
Origin:
Phenoxyethanol
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Hydroxide
Function:
Origin:
Caprylyl Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Ethylhexylglycerin
Function:
Origin:
Hexylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Disodium EDTA
Function:
Origin:
Isopropyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Function:
Origin:
Butylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Function:
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Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %70
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Est. %9
Function
Origin
Cocamidopropyl BetaineA mildly cleansing ingredient derived from coconut. It also produces the foam that tells us our soap is actually working to remove dirt and oils.
Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide
Est. %6
Function
Origin
Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateA coconut-derived or synthetic surfactant that creates a gentle, creamy foam. It is popular in baby shampoos, body washes, and many other rinse-off products as a complement to other surfactants.
Sodium Chloride
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Sodium Chloride

You’re definitely familiar with sodium chloride, even if you don’t think you are. It’s table salt! Salt works well with some cleansing ingredients (surfactants) to thicken them into gels. It also acts as a stabilizer for water-in-oil emulsions.

Cetyl Alcohol
Est. %2.5
Function
Origin
Cetyl AlcoholA waxy solid fatty alcohol derived from palm oil. It is most commonly used as a co-emulsifier and affects the final aesthetic of the product, leaving a soft and silky feeling on the skin. Cetyl alcohol is also used as a viscosity controlling agent.
Stearyl Alcohol
Est. %2
Function
Origin
Stearyl AlcoholA natural fatty alcohol that thickens, stabilizes, and keeps emulsions a bright white color. It has many uses, the main one being as an emulsifier. It also acts as an opacifying agent and emollient.
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose DioleateA synthetic thickener often used in cleansing formulations. It can create very thick cleansing products while maintaining foaming ability.
Phenoxyethanol
Est. %1
Function
Origin
PhenoxyethanolThe most frequently used preservative in skincare. It is a clear, oil-like liquid synthetic substance that protects products from harmful bacteria and yeast, whilst still leaving skin microflora unharmed. It is confirmed by research to be harmless.
Sodium Hydroxide
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Sodium Hydroxide

An ingredient that is able to bring the pH of a product up, thereby making it less harsh on the skin.

Caprylyl Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Caprylyl GlycolAn emollient that improves product spreadability and offers a silky feel on the skin. It also acts as a preservative booster that improves the efficacy of other preservatives. According to the manufacturer, it is also a humectant moisturizer.
Ethylhexylglycerin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
EthylhexylglycerinA preservative booster derived from glycerin. It is commonly paired with other preservatives to improve their efficacy. Ethylhexylglycerin is also a humectant due to its chemical base of glycerin.
Hexylene Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Hexylene GlycolA multifunctional ingredient that is best known for its use as a solvent. It can dissolve both water-based ingredients and oils. For this reason, it can also function as an emulsifier, allowing oil and water ingredients to mix and remain stable.
Disodium EDTA
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Disodium EDTAA synthetic chelator that helps to maintain the look and smell of a product by 'locking up' troublesome metal ions.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Isopropyl AlcoholA synthetic solvent that thins out products and negates unwanted foaming behavior.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceA gelatinous juice from Aloe vera leaves that acts as a powerful humectant, emollient, and antioxidant. It contains enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that soothe irritated skin and have wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Butylene Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Butylene Glycol

A clear, colorless liquid humectant that draws moisture to the skin. The humectancy of butylene glycol, owed to its two hydroxyl groups, is quite considerable, although not as powerful as glycerin, which contains three hydroxyl groups.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

An antioxidant green tea extract. In the deeper layers, it slows down the destruction of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid – thus delaying the signs of aging. It also acts as an anti-acne, soothing, moisturizing, and emollient ingredient.