Cetaphil advanced defense serum am
Cetaphil cetaphil advanced defense serum am lists 16 ingredients on its label, 16 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 fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains animal-derived
Formulation view Hydrating serum with butylene/pentylene glycol, niacinamide for texture, squalane for moisture, and salicylic acid for gentle renewal. HEC thickener, phenoxyethanol preservative, VE acetate antioxidant. For mixed/oily skin balancing hydration. Factory note: Electrolytes affect HEC viscosity; precise pH adjustment ensures gel uniformity.
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- Aqua
- HUMECTANT
- Butylene Glycol
- SKIN CONDITIONING
- Pentylene Glycol
- SMOOTHING
- Niacinamide
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- Squalane
- ANTIOXIDANT
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- BUFFERING
- Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Other ingredients
Isoamyl LaurateHexyl LaurateSodium HyaluronateAluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateHydroxyethylcelluloseCitric AcidPhenoxyethanolGallyl Glucoside
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Butylene Glycol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Pentylene Glycol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Niacinamide | SMOOTHING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Squalane | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, REFATTING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Tocopheryl Acetate | ANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid | BUFFERING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Isoamyl Laurate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hexyl Laurate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 1 | Green |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate | ABSORBENT, ANTICAKING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyethylcellulose | BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Gallyl Glucoside | ANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Butylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel
- Pentylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin
- Niacinamide
- Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Squalane
- Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light
- Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
- Non-ionic buffer to adjust pH around 5.5; commonly used at 0.1–0.5%
- Isoamyl Laurate
- Lightweight ester emollient; fast-drying, non-greasy feel, suitable for oily skin or summer formulations
- Hexyl Laurate
- Light ester emollient for silky feel; 1-5%, monitor oxidative stability
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture
- Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
- Modified starch absorbent at 1–10%; for powder products, oil-absorbing without heavy feel
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Gallyl Glucoside
- Gallate-derived glucoside as antioxidant and skin conditioner; use at low levels, avoid acidic matrix incompatibility.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-17. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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