Cetaphil : Gentle Skin Cleanser

Brand:
Reviews
4.0
750 Reviews

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben.

Items marked with orange can be irritating and over-drying, especially to acne-prone skin.

The list of ingredients above is provided for informational purposes only. Always check the actual product label in your possession for the most accurate ingredient information due to product changes or upgrades that may not yet be reflected on our web site.

5
45.5%
4
28.5%
3
11.9%
2
7.9%
1
6.3%

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December 4, 2018
gets rid of acne

I copied and pasted a comment I made on a blog. This will get rid of your acne. This product is mentioned. Read the whole thing.

 I also went on Accutane when I was 20. I am now 29. The acne was gone for some time and came back until I've discovered how to get rid of it FOREVER (recently about a year ago I discovered the missing piece). Before I tell you what to do, I'm going to educate you on how the skin works. Many people like to buy products or start harsh treatments without knowing what they do. It is important to know how the skin functions before using anything. First of all, your skin likes oil. Sebum, also known as an oil or fat is naturally acidic to keep bacteria away. Our skin is at a ph between 4-5-5.5 to keep acne away and healthy bacteria on our skin. The issue is humans like to strip their acidic mantle (oil) and dry out their barrier, which makes our skin OVERPRODUCE OIL AND MIXES WITH DEAD SKIN CELLS (your pore gets clogged). You are breaking out because you have dead skin cells sitting on your surface that aren't being properly shed. You have DRY dead skin cells. Our skin knows how to desquamate or shed unless the barrier is dry and damaged. We have certain enzymes that shed our skin but when it's disrupted we get inflammation or dry skin or acne. Our skin needs to be properly balanced with the right amount oil and water, similar to our natural barrier. Too much oil, you get acne. Too much dead skin you get acne. Cleansers and certain alkaline products do this (SOAP). Think about it: Why do you think some of your friends who do nothing to their skin have great skin? They aren't stripping the acidic mantle, or oil from their skin. Most of these people probably cleanse once a night or never. Now I'm going to tell you what to do for clear skin FOREVER.

At night ONCE A NIGHT: Use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (not the daily facial one) for thirty seconds up to a minute max. Why? cleansing the skin too long causes dryness which in turn causes skin cells to dry out and clog your pores. They stick to the pore and do not know how to exfoliate properly. You need to keep skin acidic. If you cleanse too long skin becomes alkaline and a breeding ground for bacteria to invade. 

Next: Apply Cetaphil Moisturizing CREAM (not lotion): With your palms melt this moisturizer on your face. Do not rub!!!!! Pat it into your skin so it absorbs. This cream is in a range of 4.5-5.5. It will keep acne away by being acidic and providing water to the skin that aids in exfoliation/desquamates. Never I mean ever again scrub your skin, rub it hard, never. Moisturizers exfoliate the skin that's a secret. People think they have to scrub and get rid of those dead skin cells that cause acne. NOPE. A moisturizer with oil and water will dissolve dead skin in about an hour and you'll glow. So as I was saying...melt it into your skin and put your finger on your face and if you see oil, good job. That oil is going to dissolve those dead skin cells that cause pore blockage (in about an hour your skin will glow bc all the dead skin went bye bye). Now when you pat it, pat it for about ten seconds or 15. You don't want to be patting it too long or rubbing. You also can sweep it on your face in an outward motion or downward. The point is youre applying heat to the moisturizer. and you are dabbing/patting You can even rub the moisturizer in your hands first then swipe it on your face (that works wonders). What you just did is you made the moisturizer absorb better into your skin and you created a barrier from air and harsh winds. Your skin needs to stay moisturized in order to be acne-free. Acne medications do get rid of acne bc they increase cell turnover and shedding as I mentioned, but guess what???????? MOISTURIZERS DO THAT TOO EXCEPT IT DOESNT DRY OUT YOUR SKIN. People who have healthy skin have acidic skin and moisturized skin. Okay so back to the regimen....you cleanse ONCE A NIGHT AND APPLY THIS CREAM. THIS PROCESSS SHOULD NOT INCLUDE RUBBING, SCRUBBING, LONG EXPOSURE TO WATER (DRIES YOUR SKIN OUT). Oh and when you shower, keep your face away from water.  Let water touch your skin only at the sink, once a night. Why??? bc water is a ph of 7 which is neutral not acidic. Also tap water has chlorine and salts which are drying and slow down the shedding of dead skin cells. In the morning, don't do anything at allllllllll. washing your face too much causes dry skin which causes that combination skin aka acne! comfortable skin is acne-free. When using the moisturizer, pat it in for not that long so you also let the water in the moisturizer get trapped in the skin to effectively exfoliate your skin. Skin needs water and oil to effectively shed. So your job is to provide a barrier overnigh, once a day, only at night. In a month, your skin will be a lotttttt better. it takes 28 days for skin to renew itself. why do u think acne meds take a while? they are shedding layers of dead skin which a moisturizer does the same thing, but bad dermatologists won't tell u that. Only the good ones will. The secret to clear skin to cleanse once a day and melting oil/water in your skin (moisturizer). have questions? message me.

the products mentioned above can be found in any drug store or supermarket and I don't work for the company btw. Those are the only products I like by cetaphil, the other ones haven't been good to me, for other reasons not due to acne. Other water in oil emulsions aka moisturizers can do fine but I just mention this one bc it's correctly ph-balanced and it has oil/water to dissolve that sticky layer that sits on your face. My skin is clear now and it glows every morning. 

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January 17, 2019

So you're not going to use any products in the morning even sunscreen?

February 9, 2019

There are times when I don't wash and put anything on my face at all on weekends (all day) and i have to admit my face does look better when i don't wash'em in the morning. Maybe I should try not washing my face in the morning once when I go to school.. but rn i have a problem with pimple marks.. i'm guessing my pimples are hormonal since i get breakouts every time i'm on my period and pms.

February 9, 2019

replying to Roeldpl...you may use sunscreen in the morning (or MUST IF YOU LIVE IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT). Do not wash your face though. Once a day is enough for at least a month to repair your barrier. What you can do is apply a sunscreen such as one of Nuetrogena's (ex: Neutrogena clear face 55). The sunscreen should have an absorbent property bc if not, excess sebum and sweat may cause irritation/yeast produces fatty acids that cause dermatitis. This is why one must wash their face. So to avoid irritation, get a sunscreen like Neutrogena that contains the ingredient silica. This will absorb excess oils. In addition, depending on how your skin is (either extremely dry or semi-dry) it matters which cream you use. The stickier the cream, the more repair it will do. You see cream acts like a mortar, that holds your skin cells together and traps water, acne patients have a disorganized mortar. I will list three creams down below to repair the barrier, strongest to lightest! Go with the strongest and then move to the lowest once your barrier's mortar is repaired. Think of a brick wall, you have cells that are held by GLUE/cement (mortar). You need moisturizer to repair the glue. Apply it to DAMP SKIN. You pat dry your skin ever so slightly, and immediately apply a cream gently, to trap water in your cells so your skin can shed effectively, acne patients have ten times more dead skin cells than others. YOU HAVE TONS OF DRY, DEAD SKIN CELLS THAT ARE TRAPPING SEBUM..CREATING ACNE. All you need to do is cleanse your skin for less than a minute In the shower or sink, drench skin in water, and then apply a cream in circular light motions and pat.

STRONGEST- CLINIQUE MOISTURIZING CREAM IN A JAR (YELLOW)

MEDIUM STRENGHT- EUCERIN CALMING CREME IN A TUBE

SEMI- CETAPHIL MOISTURIZING CREAM IN A LARGE TUB (THE ORIGINAL ONE)

LIGHT- CETAPHIL MOISTURIZING LOTION

if you don't want to buy these, just get a sticky cream of your choice and apply to damp skin in light circular motions. thats the basic key. the stickier, the better to repair. Once repaired, move down the frame to the lightest product. I did bc I dont like wearing heavy-duty things. It took two weeks to repair and I moved down the spectrum to the moisturizing lotion, and now I apply to wet skin. Be aware though that some people can never move down the Frame, these are older folks and people who suffer eczema etc. I

The key is to repair your mortar/lipid barrier. Lipid barrier is made of waxes, fatty acids, etc. How to do it? GET A STICKY CREAM TO ACT LIKE IT. AND BAM BYE BYE DRY SKIN AND ACNE.

Acne marks take time to go away, some people enjoy exfoliating to rid excess layers of dead skin that smooth out acne marks and discoloration but I say DON'T! Exfoliation if not done correctly will damage the lipid barrier. In fact I just said to apply a moisturizer to damp skin, that right there will shed dead skin leading to less acne marks. cells need water to shed. Do the routine in the morning with one of those products above to damp skin. Use the Cetaphil Daily facial cleanser instead of the gentle since you have excess oil and irritation. 

if you guys aren't understanding this, message me and I'll list out the routine based on your lifestyle..some people go to the gym etc. message me for a more detailed approach, and tell me if your skin is dry etc. and if you workout things like that. everyone is different..

and stingray...just do the routine in the morning and do nothing at night. as long as you repair your mortar it doesn't matter what time of day you do it. I like to do my routine in the morning bc at night we shed dead skin cells, so I like cleansing and moisturizing for a fresh glow and face.

October 15, 2013
Best cleanser ever!

Pros:

very gentle
not over-drying

Cons:

doesn't remove makeup well
doesn't lather well

This is definitely a product I will stick with. It works great with my sensitive skin that is super dry and flaky due to BP. It leaves my skin feeling soft and ready for a new dose of BP. It is fragance-free and my skin feels like I just applied lotion after washing my face with this. Loooove this product!
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May 25, 2013

Pros:

Non-fragrance
Non-lather
Removes makeup

Cons:

Can be slightly drying

Most dermatologists recommend that all skin types, especially acne prone and sensitive skin types should avoid anything that foams or lathers, as usually that means they're drying! This is why I love Cetaphil - there's no lather, it covers my face well, doesn't sting, removes all of my makeup with one wash, and stops major breakouts. I had horrific acne from about 2007 to 2009. I tried everything and no product worked. Eventually it calmed down, and in 2011 I discovered Cetaphil, and my skin is now almost entirely clear. I have small breakouts every once in a while, but the acne has shrunk in size and I very rarely get big white heads. Cetaphil helps to remove acne in just a few days at most. It can sometimes be slightly drying, so I use Cetaphil Moisturizer as well after I shower.
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January 24, 2013

Pros:

Gently Cleanses my skin
No breakouts
PH Level
Non Comedogenic
Leaves skin smooth and very clean
I think Everything!

Cons:

I think it would not work so well for those who have severe acne.

I used this product once 3 months ago just to give it a try and i like it because my skin feels so good every time i use it and i had no breakouts as well. i don't know what crossed in my mind why i temporarily stop using it and now i really regret trying other products that caused more problem into my face so i decided going back to cetaphil one more time and im gonna use it forever.
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August 8, 2009

Pros:

It works wonder on my skin.I have been using the cleanser for almost six months.I followed the regimen suggested by Dan.My acne on my face has clear now. 16 OZ ( BIGGEST BOTTLE) may last up to six months.Really saving up my money.

Cons:

none

use this brand.the only brand that you can trust.
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July 18, 2009

Pros:

I LOVEEEEEE everything about this product so far!

Cons:

NONE!!!

This helped clear up my skin way better than the harsh BP facewash I have been using for the past few years. (It RUINED my skin!) I don't use the gentle facewash, but the daily one. I guess the bottom line is if u have acne and sensitive skin, this is the line of products for u! Wish I had known about Cetaphil sooner! I no longer require cover-up, and I do not even seem to get hormonal breakouts while using this stuff! HIGH FIVE TO THE MAKERS OF CETAPHIL!
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March 31, 2009

Pros:

The cleanser is very affordable.I like the plastic container along with the dispensing pump.It's gentle, it leaves my face smooth and I have little to no break outs since I've been using Cetaphil. The difference in my facial complexion was instant.

Cons:

The scent is a little annoying, but not a deal breaker and I'm highly allergic to most scents.

The bottom line is that I used Neutrogena for years. Until recently I thought it was working. I started getting these hard acne bumps under my skin, it was just so annoying. I'm 35 and decided enough was enough! I did some research on the net for a good over the counter product and several people mentioned Cetaphil. I felt I had nothing to lose. It totally paid off. I can't get over it, there is such a change. I haven't used it for a full winter yet, but I did notice that I could go a day without using it, I could see where it might dry out your skin, if used every day. I still think it's great stuff. I purchased the big container at CVS, on sale for $10 or $11. I've been using for a little or a month and haven't even used a quarter of it yet. The price is totally worth it. Bravo to Cetaphil.
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February 28, 2009

Pros:

I love how my face feels clean for a very long time! I love the non-fragrance smell of it. It fits in perfectly with my regimen!

Cons:

I haven't found any cons yet!

I love it, I love it, I love it!
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January 28, 2009

Pros:

cAn heal red spOts..4 about 2 days!! and if ull use this over && over..itll be awesome!
:00

Cons:

can dry nor peel ur skin..but its ok! as long as its effective for my sensitive skin!

CETAPHIL is soOo gOod!! i dont feel any irrration from the first time i used it.. try to use this cleanser!! it will greatly help you!! P200+.00 is the cost of 1bottle!
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July 22, 2008

Pros:

Cleans without overdrying. Removes oil. Maintains healthy skin.

Cons:

Doesnt fight acne directly.

Great product. I am on antibiotics and topical retinoids, so this complements it perfectly. I do not need a cleanser with salicylic acid or bp so this is great. I have no need to apply moisturizer after using it, and I normally have very dry skin.
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