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Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin Review

Facial Cleansers

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Product Grade
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Best Feature:
Affordable, gentle soap-free cleanser
Worst Feature:
Contains fragrance and is tested on animals
Best Uses:
Good for cleaning normal, combination or oily skin
Pricing:
$8
Manufacturer:
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
Drugstore.com
$9.59
Walgreens
$12.99
Ulta
$14.49

Overview

Cetaphil is the #1 dermatologist recommended brand of cleansers and moisturizers. Cetaphil's Daily Facial Cleanser is a non-irritating, non-comedogenic formula designed for normal, combination or oily skin. It is a clear gel foaming cleanser that purifies your skin of dirt, oils, and makeup without stripping your face of moisture. It is well known in the skincare industry for being a no-frills, affordable face wash.

You can purchase Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser at your local drugstore or online at places like Amazon.com or Drugstore.com for about $8 (8 fl oz).

Product Report Card Grade

We give Cetaphil's Daily Facial Cleanser a B+ because it is a good, basic cleanser that removes impurities without dehydrating skin or leaving residue behind. We had to deduct points because it contains fragrance that could irritate sensitive skin and because it is tested on animals.

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Comparison at a Glance
 
This Product
Product Name
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System
Fresh Soy Cleanser
Price
See Prices
See Prices
See Prices
Overall Score
Our Awards
Date Reviewed
February 2012
April 2013
February 2012

Pros/Cons
Pros
Affordable; gentle and effective cleanser; non-comedogenic
Excellent cleanser and exfoliator that improves skin's tone and texture; can adjust brush heads and speed based on skin type; device is waterproof, so you can use it in the shower or bath; can use brush heads on other areas of your body such as your back, neck and décolleté ("Body" brush head is basically just a larger version of the "Normal" brush head); comes with 1 oz. trial sizes of Refreshing Gel Cleanser, Gentle Hydro Cleanser and Nourishing Care Cleanser
Gentle and effective cleanser; does not contain sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, phthalates, GMOs or triclosan; rosewater and cucumber extract give it a pleasant smell; gentle enough to be used on eyes; it is soap-free so it won't leave behind any film or residue
Cons
Tested on animals; contains fragrance, so not good for sensitive skin; you will still need to use makeup remover
$200 is very expensive for a tool to help wash your face; brush heads cost $20 - $25 each and should be replaced every 3 - 4 months; only receive a "Normal" or "Sensitive" brush head with purchase and have to purchase others brush head types separately
Expensive; you will still need to use makeup remover

Details
Skin Type
Suitable for normal, oily and combination skin types
Suitable for all skin types (including sensitive)
Suitable for all skin types (including sensitive)
Skin Concern
Basic, affordable cleanser with no frills
Provides gentle cleansing and exfoliation to maintain healthy skin and/or alleviate skin concerns such as seborrhea dermatitis, rosacea and acne
Very gentle cleanser for soothing and softening skin that is easily irritated
Price
$6.80 - $12
$195 (2-year warranty and 90-day satisfaction guarantee)
$15 or $38
Size
8 or 16 fluid ounces
The device measures 7" x 2.8" (L x W) and weighs 2.2 pounds. The brush heads are about 2" in diameter.
1.7 or 5.1 fluid ounces
Technology or Active Ingredients
This cleanser has a very basic formula consisting of water, gentle detergents and glycerin, a humectant.
Hand-held device features a dual action brush head that oscillates at a sonic frequency of over 300 movements per second. It enhances the effectiveness of your cleanser by gently massaging your pores open to loosen dirt and oil and exfoliate away dead skin cells. It has rechargeable batteries that last for 30 minutes, and it comes with one of two replaceable brush head options - "Normal" or "Sensitive". There are four additional brush heads options sold separately including "Delicate", "Deep Pore", "Acne" and "Body".
The cleanser's active ingredient is soy protein, which provides amino acids that help maintain skin's moisture, elasticity and firmness. Additional important ingredients in the cleanser include borage seed oil for nourishment, as well as cucumber extract and rosewater. Cucumber extract is known for possessing powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It provides an immediate cooling effect and helps to calm skin. Rosewater is known for its calming, balancing and toning properties and helps to reduce redness in the skin.
Fragrance
Yes, it does contain fragrance, but a fragrance-free version of the cleanser is available.
N/A
No, it does not contain synthetic fragrances, but it is formulated with rosewater and cucumber extract, which give it a pleasant smell.
Ingredients
Water, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, acrylates/steareth-20 methacrylate copolymer, glycerin, PEG-200 hydrogenated glyceryl palmate, sodium laureth sulfate, butylene glycol, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, phenoxyethanol, masking fragrance, panthenol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, disodium EDTA, methylparaben.
N/A
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Flower Water, Coco Glucoside, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Xanthan Gum, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Germ Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Peg-40 Sorbitan Peroleate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Methylparaben, Sodium Propylparaben, Polysorbate 20, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Peg-35 Castor Oil, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, BHA, BHT.
Product Design
It comes in an opaque pump bottle to limit exposure to light and air.
It comes in three colors - Graphite Gray ("Normal" brush head included), White ("Sensitive" brush head included) or Pink ("Sensitive" brush head included).
It comes in an opaque white tube to limit exposure to light and air.

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review

Pros And Cons

Pros

  • Gentle and effective cleanser
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Tested on animals
  • Contains fragrance so not good for sensitive skin
  • You will still need to use makeup remover

Key Features

Product Size
8, 16 or 20 fluid ounces
Skin Types
Normal, combination or oily skin
Skin Concern
Cleanser
How It Works
Cetaphil has a basic formula consisting of water, gentle detergents and the humectant, glycerin.
Directions
Wet skin with warm water and gentle massage over face. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with soft towel. You can use it twice a day (morning and night).
All Ingredients
Water, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, acrylates/steareth-20 methacrylate copolymer, glycerin, PEG-200 hydrogenated glyceryl palmate, sodium laureth sulfate, butylene glycol, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, phenoxyethanol, masking fragrance, panthenol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, disodium EDTA, methylparaben.

Reputation

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser received good online feedback from customers at Makeupalley.com (3.5/5 out of 897 reviews), Totalbeauty.com (8.3/10 out of 570 reviews) and Drugstore.com (4/5 out of 359 reviews). In May 2011, the editors of InStyle Magazine named it the "Best Cleanser for Normal Skin". This is a very basic, affordable cleanser for people with normal to combination skin. It isn't hydrating enough for people with dry to very dry skin, and people with acne-prone skin should alternate with an acne-specific cleanser or it might make you breakout. It contains fragrance, so it may be irritating for people with sensitive skin. It is often confused with Cetaphil's Gentle Skin Cleanser, so you want to be sure you pick out the right one for your skin type.

Reviews

Customer Responses, Reviews, or Complaints

Username:
944d4985-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e
Location:
944d4991-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e, CO
Age:
38
Gentle and Light, Yet Unremarkable
Review submitted: 2014-02-11
I generally wash my face with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser once a day at night before bed, followed by an oil-free facial moisturizer. I also use an oil-free facial moisturizer in the morning and exfoliate with an exfoliation mitt about every other day. I began using Cetaphil upon my dermatologist's recommendation after I broke out in hives while using my previous facial cleanser. Although Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is extremely light and gentle, it doesn't moisturize as well as it advertises. In fact, sometimes my face still feels dry after using a moisturizer following Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Additionally, Cetaphil has not improved my skin's complexion as I had hoped. I still have quite a few acne outbreaks each year as well as numerous blackheads and large pores. I really wish that Cetaphil would include exfoliating properties because adding on an exfoliating step to my routine in addition to using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and my facial moisturizer is quite a hassle. I also wish that this cleanser would moisturize better and reduce my acne outbreaks and blackheads.
Username:
96233c22-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e
Location:
96233c2d-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e, OR
Age:
43
Review of Cetaphil
Review submitted: 2014-02-10
I love using Cetaphil. My dermatologist recommended this product to me because she said that it was for sensitive skin. This product is affordable, cleans well, and is perfect for my sensitive skin. I commonly have reactions to products that I will have reactions to the first time I use it. I have NEVER had a reaction from this product. In addition, after I clean my face with Cetaphil, I use toner. With other facial cleansers, I usually have dirt left over after I clean, but not with Cetaphil. I feel as though it cleans very well. I am going to start to use the moisturizer soon. I absolutely love it.
Username:
911d55da-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e
Location:
911d55e5-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e, NY
Age:
54
light and clean
Review submitted: 2013-11-10
I love the Cetaphil facial cleanser. It has a light and clean feeling that is refreshing in the morning, and calming in the evening. A small amount can be used each and every day to remove dirt and makeup. Its reasonably priced, and can be conveniently purchased at stores like CVS. I turned 43 this summer. People regularly tell me that I look younger. I have even had an individual say that he wanted to see my driver's license to prove my age. I credit this to regular skin care with quality products such as Cetaphil.
Username:
8e953998-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e
Location:
8e9539a6-bcfb-11ee-9981-000d3a96b61e, MA
Age:
68
Facial Cleanser
Review submitted: 2013-07-28
I have used Cetaphil cleanser for at least 10 years. My dermatologist recommended it for my combination skin. I had tried other more expensive products and was not particularly satisfied with them and was therefore open to change. In addition, it is very important for me that the product is unscented as I am highly sensitive to smells and subject to headaches. Cetaphil is highly effective, a nice weight, unscented and unoffensive smell, and is very reasonably priced. Moreover, I can get it in any drugstore and do not have to go to a specialty store to buy it.

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