FAQ
CETAPHIL
Cetaphil is a line of skincare products specifically designed and clinically proven to help you take care of your sensitive skin. We believe healthy-looking skin translates to beautiful, glowing skin, so we develop all of our products with this in mind, first and foremost.
The Cetaphil team is dedicated to healthy-looking skin, not superficial fixes. Our work is based in science and research. To make sure that our products truly take care of your skin, we work closely with dermatologists to develop our cleansers, moisturizers, and baby products. Cetaphil products are suited to even the most sensitive skin, which is why dermatologists have recommended and trusted us for over 70 years.
Cetaphil products are designed to be gentle and effective on even the most sensitive skin. This means that whether you have generally normal skin, or have a skin condition such as eczema, Cetaphil can provide the cleansing, moisturizing, and protection against dryness that your skin needs.
We have a wide range of items available, including products made specifically for babies’ skin and hair, as well as products designed with dermatologists to help take care of oily and dryness-prone skin.
Across our different products, Cetaphil uses formulas that reinforce the skin’s natural protective barrier. We also design our products to have a pH level that respects the skin’s acid-alkaline balance. We make sure to only use high-quality ingredients, and many of our formulations are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, making Cetaphil ideal for daily use, even on sensitive skin.
Yes! Here is the list of Cetaphil products that do not contain parabens:
Moisturizing Cream
Moisturizing Lotion
DailyAdvance® Ultra Hydrating Lotion
Gentle Skin Cleanser
Oily Skin Cleanser
Gentle Cleansing Bar
Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
RESTORADERM® Nourishing Body Wash
RESTORADERM® Eczema Soothing Moisturizer
DERMACONTROL® Purifying Clay Mask
DERMACONTROL® Oil Control Foam Wash
DERMACONTROL® Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30
Gentle Makeup Remover
Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes
Hydrating Night Cream
Daily Hydrating Lotion
ALL Cetaphil Baby Products
Alcohols can be skin irritants, but only the “drying” alcohols (ethyl alcohol and isopropyl or rubbing alcohol are the most common). Cetaphil products do not contain these irritating or drying alcohols. The alcohols in our products, such as cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, are much larger molecules than the typical drying alcohols. Thus, the ingredients we use tend to trap water and are moisturizing – not drying. These ingredients are part of the reason why Cetaphil cleansers are so gentle.
Ingredients in Cetaphil products are not recognized gluten sources; however, Galderma does not test for trace amounts of gluten that may be present in the ingredients or as a result of the manufacturing process. Additionally, ingredient suppliers may change. If you are a celiac disease patient, you may want to consult your healthcare provider before using Cetaphil.
Cetaphil products are developed with healthy-looking skin in mind, first and foremost. As a responsible corporate citizen, animal welfare is also a key priority for the company. For this reason, Galderma does not test Cetaphil products or ingredients used in Cetaphil on animals at any stage of our product innovation, development, or manufacturing process. Galderma has been utilizing industry-recognized, non-animal testing methodologies on its Cetaphil brand even before regulations prohibiting animal testing on cosmetics came into force in various countries.
These efforts are part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our products, the wellbeing of our consumers, and our contribution to society at large.
Nevertheless, some health authorities may conduct animal testing for certain cosmetic products prior to approval for sale on the market, as is still the case in China.
Galderma is deeply committed to promoting alternatives to animal testing on cosmetics and has partnered with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a non-profit research and testing laboratory, to help drive alternatives to animal testing for cosmetic products globally.
The IIVS has an active program in China, the goal of which is to promote the use and regulatory acceptance of non-animal testing methods for assessing the safety of cosmetics. Through this collaborative approach with Chinese regulators and industry bodies, we hope to contribute to the elimination of animal testing in the cosmetics industry worldwide.
The majority of ingredients used in Cetaphil products are from non-animal sources, with the exception of a few (example: sodium tallowate).
If you have further questions regarding the origin of any Cetaphil ingredients, please contact us to learn more.
As Cetaphil® products have not been clinically tested specifically on pregnant and breastfeeding women, please speak to your healthcare professional about whether or not you should use any Cetaphil product during pregnancy.
Our Moisturizing Cream contains almond oil, and our Moisturizing Lotion and DailyAdvance® Hydrating Lotion contain macadamia nut oil. We use these oils because they closely mimic some of the oils found in your skin. Please note that our oils are heat-shocked to remove proteins, which are the oil fractions responsible for allergy. That being said, we realize the severity of nut allergies, and leave the decision to you and your physician as to whether these products are suitable for you.
Soaps can be irritating to sensitive skin since they are alkaline (basic or have a high pH) and can leave a film on the skin. Non-soap bars are pH-balanced (neutral pH) and do not form films, even in hard water. So, essentially, a non-soap bar is milder.
Non-comedogenic means the product does not clog pores.
It is a powerful moisturizing agent and an essential component of skin, known for its ability to retain up to 1000x its weight in water. It offers a powerful moisturizing compound ideal for normal to dry skin.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is so gentle that if you choose, you can apply it to your skin and then simply wipe it off with a cotton pad. However, many of our users prefer rinsing off Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser with water like more traditional cleansers. That’s perfectly fine, too.
No, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is not a liquid soap, and it doesn’t foam like bar soaps or liquid soaps. However, even without the soap suds, it does a great job cleansing your skin of excess oil, dirt, and makeup, with a clinically-proven formula that is both gentle and effective.
Yes, you definitely can! A daily skincare routine is important for maintaining healthy-looking skin, particularly for those with sensitive skin. Our formula is gentle enough for daily cleansing, morning and night.
Yes, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is suited to all skin types, and effectively removes excess oil, dirt, and makeup. If you have especially oily skin, you can also try Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser—it does a great job of mattifying skin without irritation.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is designed to be gentle enough for daily facial cleansing, but can also be used in the shower as a gentle and effective body cleanser.
Yes, while Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser has a clinically-proven gentle formula, it is effective at removing excess oil, dirt, and makeup. For removal of waterproof makeup or long-wear makeup, try Cetaphil Gentle Makeup Remover or Cetaphil Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes.
Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL®
Apart from having a higher SPF, Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL® offers advanced technology specific for the needs of oily, combination, and blemish-prone skin.
While Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 remains an ideal daily moisturizer for people with normal skin, oily skin types will receive additional benefits from the use of Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL® Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30.
Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL® Oil Control Foam Wash has a masking fragrance listed in the ingredients. A masking fragrance is one that does not stay on the skin. Once water is used to remove the product from the skin, the fragrance also leaves the skin. It is utilized to cover up the natural smell of the ingredients in many products.
While both function excellently as “stand alone” products, use of the combination will help ensure consistent outcomes. The combination of products is easy to include into a daily routine, making an ideal skincare regimen that can help relieve skin dryness. Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL® Wash is designed to be well-tolerated for acne-prone skin. Both products are designed to control oil and replenish the skin’s moisture barrier. So, by using both products, you will ensure that benefits achieved with one are maintained by use of the other.
This product is a lightweight lotion that absorbs easily into the skin, leaving no residue on the skin’s surface. Mattifying ingredients, such as polymethyl methacrylate and aluminium starch octenylsuccinate, create a no-shine, matte appearance of the skin.
Yes, Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL® Oil Control Foam Wash and Moisturizer SPF 30 are both water-based products, formulated with purified water.
No. These ingredients are used worldwide in skincare products for males as well as females. In clinical tests carried out by Cetaphil, both subjects found the product cosmetically acceptable. The majority (>90%) liked the texture, feel, and colour of the product and nearly 80% commented that use of the moisturizer helped their face look and feel less greasy. Plus, year-round protection from UV rays is recommended for everyone, making the SPF formulation ideal for women and men alike.
While both products have good cleansing properties, Cetaphil PRO DERMACONTROL® offers a novel, oil-absorbing zinc complex for:
Deep-pore cleansing
Significantly reduced surface oil levels
Hydrating cleanse
Soft matte finish
Cetaphil PRO RESTORADERM®
Yes, Cetaphil PRO RESTORADERM® is clinically proven to be safe for use on infant and toddler skin from 6 months of age.
Emollient-rich formulations and innovative technologies attract water to the skin, while nourishing and protecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
• Miracare® technology produces a soap-free liquid cleanser that encapsulates high levels of moisturizing oils to cleanse and hydrate dry skin.
• Patented ceramide technology helps replenish the skin’s natural oils to improve its ability to retain moisture.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths provide the same gentle cleansing as our liquid skin cleanser, but in a convenient cloth format. They’re great for travel or when you’re on the go!
They are similar formulations, however, due to the format differences—liquid vs. cloth—additional ingredients have been added to maintain the moisture content of the cloth.
Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
No. Our bar was formulated to be mild, but is not as mild as the liquid cleanser.
Buying Cetaphil
You can find Cetaphil products in the skincare aisle of your favorite retailers, such as Loblaws, Walmart, and Shoppers Drug Mart. You can also find us online on Amazon. For a more complete list of places where you can find Cetaphil, click on our Where to Buy page.