cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser
cetaphil Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser lists 14 ingredients on its label, 12 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains sulfatesContains fragranceContains parabens
Formulation view Glycerin and polyols form a hydrating base, paired with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and SLES for balanced cleansing and mildness. Panthenol supports barrier repair, while acrylates adjust viscosity. Phenoxyethanol and methylparaben ensure preservation, suitable for oily skin. Formulation note: Balancing SLES with amino acid surfactants requires precise pH control to prevent saponification and maintain foam stability.
Key ingredients
- ANTIPLAQUE
- Water
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- CLEANSING
- Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl PalmateSodium Laureth Sulfate
- HUMECTANT
- Butylene Glycol
- ANTISTATIC
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
- Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
- ANTIMICROBIAL
- Phenoxyethanol
Other ingredients
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate CopolymerMasking FragrancePanthenolPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilDisodium EdtaMethylparaben
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SOLVENT, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Butylene Glycol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · – | Green |
| Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Masking Fragrance | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Panthenol | ANTISTATIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Disodium Edta | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Methylparaben | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/12 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
Ingredients explained
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
- High MW PEG derivative for cleansing; water-soluble, smooth feel.
- Butylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Mild anionic surfactant for cleansing and emulsification; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin
- Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
- Not decoded yet
- Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
- PEG-modified nonionic surfactant for emulsification and cleansing; contains PEG, monitor dioxane, low comedogenicity.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Common anionic surfactant, strong foam but drying; check cationic compatibility, high eye irritation
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Masking Fragrance
- Not decoded yet
- Panthenol
- Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery
- Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer at 1–5%; contains PEG, check acid compatibility and sensitive skin irritation
- Disodium Edta
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Methylparaben
- Preservative, narrow spectrum; often combined, check allergen risk and regulatory limits.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-18. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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