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Product receipts · Cetaphil

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ingredients, decoded

This is a water-based cleanser with glycerin, cetearyl alcohol and a mild cleansing agent. Panthenol and niacinamide are also included; the ingredient list does not show fragrance or essential oils.

Product photo of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, showing the packaging
Image: Cetaphil

Full ingredient list · 10 items

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Glycerin
  3. 03Cetearyl Alcohol
  4. 04Panthenol
  5. 05Niacinamide
  6. 06Pantolactone
  7. 07Xanthan Gum
  8. 08Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
  9. 09Sodium Benzoate
  10. 10Citric Acid

As published on the brand's own site, checked October 14, 2026. Formulas change by batch and region, so check your pack.

01 · Key ingredients

02 · Who it may suit

  • People looking for a water-based cleanser with humectants and skin-conditioning ingredients.
  • Those who prefer a formula without listed fragrance or essential oils.
  • People who want a cleanser containing a fatty alcohol rather than a drying alcohol.

03 · What to watch for

  • Even mild cleansing agents can feel drying or irritating for some people.
  • The list does not state the concentrations of panthenol or niacinamide.
  • Citric acid is included, but its presence alone does not establish the product's pH.

Questions people ask

Does Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser contain niacinamide?
Yes. Niacinamide is listed near the top, but its concentration is not provided.
Does this cleanser contain drying alcohol?
It contains cetearyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol used to soften skin and give the formula body. It is not the same as drying alcohols such as ethanol.
What does sodium cocoyl isethionate do in this cleanser?
It is a surfactant that helps lift away oil and residue during cleansing.

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Sources (1) · Confirmed
  1. Ingredient list, cetaphil.com (Confirmed: the brand's own published list)

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