PoreWise Cetaphil · Cleansers
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Product
- Brand:
- Cetaphil
- Product type:
- Cleansers
- Source page:
- https://www.cetaphil.com/us/products/product-categories/all-cleansers/gentle-foaming-cleanser/302993889175.html
- Last checked:
- 2026-10-30
- Formula version:
- Pack label · 2026-10-30
- Fragrance & alcohol:
- Fragrance-free · Alcohol-free
12 ingredients on this list · WATER at number 1 · Cocamidopropyl Betaine at number 2 · Coco-Glucoside at number 3
Product description
A light foaming face wash that cleans with cocamidopropyl betaine and coco-glucoside.
Full ingredient list
Kept exactly as the source printed it, including spelling in the original.
- 1 WATER
- 2 COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
- 3 COCO-GLUCOSIDE
- 4 BETAINE
- 5 GLYCERIN
- 6 PANTHENOL
- 7 TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
- 8 SODIUM BENZOATE
- 9 POLYSORBATE 20
- 10 POLYQUATERNIUM-10
- 11 PHENOXYETHANOL
- 12 CITRIC ACID
Original label text
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Betaine, Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid
Ingredient analysis
Betaine · Humectants · POLYSORBATE 20 · Cleansing agents · SODIUM BENZOATE · Preservatives
Preservatives
2Inhibit microbial growth so the product stays safe to use.
Other
4Use on the ingredient list: see the product ingredient list.
Evidence
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.
Who it applies to: Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application.
Study limits: Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.
- Skin effect Review article Certainty: Moderate Primary source
Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.
Who it applies to: Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis.
Study limits: A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.
- Skin effect Official ingredient listing Certainty: High Public database
Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.
Who it applies to: Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN
Study limits: Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In 88 women with sensitive skin, a face cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP and panthenol lowered the SS-10 symptom score by 66% at week 2 and 76% at week 4, with irritation, tautness, itching and redness all significantly reduced.
Who it applies to: Chinese women with sensitive skin applying the cream to the whole face, followed up at day 2, weeks 1, 2 and 4.
Study limits: Observational and self-controlled.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In 38 children with atopic dermatitis, a cream containing linoleic acid, 5% dexpanthenol and ceramide improved SCORAD significantly more than a 5% urea cream after 4 weeks (P = 0.043); both groups improved from baseline.
Who it applies to: Children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis applying the cream twice daily for 4 weeks in a randomised, double-blind, bilateral paired design.
Study limits: Both interventions were non-prescription moisturisers: this is emollient / basic skin care. Small sample (37 completed); stratum corneum hydration and time to remission stayed close between groups.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In 110 people with facial sensitive skin, a cream containing panthenol used twice daily for 28 days significantly increased stratum corneum moisture and reduced erythema index, redness (a* value) and transepidermal water loss.
Who it applies to: People with facial sensitive skin applying the cream twice daily for 28 days.
Study limits: Panthenol was combined with prebiotics and a probiotic lysate.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source
After facial non-ablative fractional laser treatment, a panthenol mask lowered the erythema and pigmentation indices on days 3, 7 and 14 against a saline dressing, raised stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss over the same days. Sebum content was also higher in the mask group on days 7 and 14.
Who it applies to: Skin recovering from 1550 nm and 1927 nm non-ablative fractional laser on the face. Both groups received standard post-procedure care.
Study limits: The mask also contained madecassoside and bisabolol. It is one trial of 60 people, all recovering from the same procedure, and the published grant list includes L'Oreal Dermatological Beauty China (La Roche-Posay).
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source
In a randomized, investigator-blind, split-face trial of 40 Asian acne patients, a moisturizer containing 4-t-butylcyclohexanol, licochalcone A, ceramide and panthenol improved facial hydration more than a traditional moisturizer (p=0.001) and produced lower dryness scores (p=0.021) over 4 weeks.
Who it applies to: Facial hydration and investigator-rated dryness over 4 weeks.
Study limits: All participants were on prescription acne therapy (including oral isotretinoin), so the dryness is drug-induced; both sides used a moisturizer, so this is a comparison between two moisturisers; acne lesion counts decreased equally on both sides.
- Sensitization Review article Certainty: Low Primary source
Panthenol is treated as non-allergenic, this review argues that frequent exposure, especially on damaged skin, can produce hypersensitivity to it. The likely route is a delayed (type IV) contact reaction; immediate and mixed reactions remain possible. Proposes patch testing with the patient's own product and with panthenol 5% in petrolatum.
Who it applies to: People who use panthenol products repeatedly, particularly those with atopic or damaged skin - the group the author says is most exposed.
Study limits: A single-author narrative review. The mechanism it proposes is stated as likely. Read it as a reason to keep panthenol on the list of possible allergens.
- Legal limits Official legal text Certainty: High Primary source
The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded in 2016 that 2-phenoxyethanol is safe as a preservative at a maximum of 1.0%, which is the limit already set in Annex V/29 of the EU Cosmetics Regulation. It estimated a margin of safety of about 50 for children.
Who it applies to: Phenoxyethanol used as a preservative in cosmetic products, at or below 1.0%.
Study limits: The dossier behind the conclusion was submitted by Cosmetics Europe, the industry association, and the committee lowered the default toxicokinetic factor from 4.0 to 1.0 on its way to the 1.0% conclusion. The final opinion kept 1.0%.
Related skin concerns
Skin concerns with evidence for ingredients on this list.
Formula history
1 version of this formula on record.