CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser Versus Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser versus Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser .

Last updated on September 19, 2023. Published on November 29, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser

Face Cleanser Canadian Brand Canada

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Price

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Buy Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

Starts at $12.44

Shop

Buy Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser

Starts at $9.97

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser 28 ingredients

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser 18 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser 28 ingredients

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser 18 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Niacinamide

Benzoyl Peroxide

Ceramides (3)

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (5)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)

Acne Trigger

Irritating (3)

Rosacea (3)

Eczema (3)

Benefits

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Acne Fighting

Concerns

Drying (2)

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser 28 ingredients

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser 18 ingredients

Benzoyl Peroxide 4% • Water • Glycerin • Propylene Glycol • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Xanthan Gum • Potassium Hydroxide • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Niacinamide • Glycolic Acid • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Sodium Hydroxide • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Propanediol • Citric Acid • Tetrasodium EDTA • Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate • Phytosphingosine • Ethylhexylglycerin • Benzoic Acid

Water • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Sodium Chloride • Cetyl Alcohol • Stearyl Alcohol • Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Hydroxide • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Isopropyl Alcohol • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Butylene Glycol • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Sodium Chloride

What it does: Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 27.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.