Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser
by Cetaphil · skin_care
Editor's Take
Cetaphil put real exfoliating muscle into a gentle cleanser here: salicylic, gluconolactone, and mandelic acids, with enough barrier backup to keep it sensible.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Efficacy: 7.8 / 10
- Modern Tech: 6.2 / 10
- Clean Beauty: 7.9 / 10
- Sustainability: 7.8 / 10
The Verdict
For a drugstore sensitive-skin cleanser, this is better built than the shelf usually gives you. Salicylic Acid gets the pore-clearing job, while Gluconolactone and Mandelic Acid give surface smoothing without going full scrub. Niacinamide, Panthenol, Betaine, and mild surfactants help keep the acid blend from feeling too punchy, though rinse-off contact time limits the treatment upside. Worth it as a steady clarifying wash, with PEG thickener and Phenoxyethanol as the ordinary compromises.
Full INCI list
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycereth-26 Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Pantolactone.