
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (Old Formulation)
Welcome to our explanation of everything that you need to know about Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (Old Formulation). Let’s get started!
- face cleanser that contains 8 ingredients.
- it doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils or silicones.
- it does contain parabens and sulfates.
- it is fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe.
At a glance
Concerns

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Ingredient Info

Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉

Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉

Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉

Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:

Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:

Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉

Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉

Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉

Eu Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉

Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥

Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (Old Formulation) Ingredient List (8)
Water • Cetyl Alcohol • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate • Stearyl Alcohol • Methylparaben • Propylparaben • Butylparaben
Ingredients Explained
This product contains 8 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
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's there to help 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!

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Its main roles are:
- Emollient: helping hydrate skin by trapping moisture
- Emulsifer: preventing ingredients from separating
- Thickening: making the product texture thicker
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients, helping other ingredients work better.
It prevents a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
Propylene Glycol is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient. It is best to consult a professional for advice.




Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be bad for dry skin, be bad for oily skin, and cause irritation.

Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.


Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.


Propylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Propylparaben has antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. It is usually found in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.


Butylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben.
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