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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar versus Vanicream Cleansing Bar .

Last updated on February 14, 2024. Published on July 05, 2023

Overview

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens 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.

Face Cleanser American Brand United States
Body Wash 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).

Body Wash

Products for cleansing your body. These include soaps, gels, cleansing creams, cleansing oils, and body washes.

Price

Ingredient Info

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

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar 17 ingredients

Vanicream Cleansing Bar 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

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar 17 ingredients

Vanicream Cleansing Bar 18 ingredients

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger (2)
Rosacea
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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.

1
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from the fatty acids of coconut oil. It is a surfactant and helps with cleansing the skin.

By binding to water and oil, it helps gently clean skin. It also helps the spreadability of the product.

Sodium cocoyl isethionate is also added to help create foam without drying the skin. However, this is depending on the amount of Sodium cocoyl isethionate.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 1.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 2.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
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

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 4.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Humectant, Solvent

We don't have a description for Peg-20.

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 8.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 17.

5
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

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 9.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 13.

6
What it does: Cleansing, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Sodium Isethionate.

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 11.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 5.

7
What it does: Emollient
Community Rating: Disliked

Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.

This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.

Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.

The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.

Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.

Petrolatum may not be safe for fungal-acne. Studies show mineral oil / petroleum leads to the growth of M. Furfur, a type of yeast.

Learn more about Petrolatum

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 12.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 14.

8
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Mixed

Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.

Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.

With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.

Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.

Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.

Learn more about Titanium Dioxide

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 15.

Vanicream Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 18.

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

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar 17 ingredients

Vanicream Cleansing Bar 18 ingredients

6% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
47% have no rating yet
17% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
28% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar 17 ingredients

Vanicream Cleansing Bar 18 ingredients

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 13 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Vanicream Cleansing Bar.

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