Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for combination skin
Glycerin
Vitamin B5 Panthenol
Niacinamide
Cetearyl Alcohol
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and niacinamide provide hydration and oil control to help manage oily shine.
- The cleanser gently removes impurities with sodium cocoyl isethionate, supporting overall skin health without exacerbating oiliness.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 45.0k+ reviewsThe summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates.”
- “Feels like a lotion, very soothing.”
- “Perfect for morning cleanse, never strips.”
Safe for sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “No breakouts since switching to this.”
- “Great for acne-prone sensitive skin.”
- “Calms my redness significantly.”
Hydrating and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight.”
- “Great for winter dryness.”
- “My skin feels moisturized after rinsing.”
- “Doesn't leave that squeaky clean feeling, which is good.”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't take off mascara at all.”
- “Need to use a balm first to get foundation off.”
- “Left residue when I wore full glam.”
- “Not strong enough for waterproof sunscreen.”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “Love that it has no scent.”
- “Great for those allergic to perfumes.”
- “Smells like nothing, which is perfect.”
- “No masking fragrance to irritate skin.”
Lack of lather Sometimes Noted
- “Miss the bubbles, feels like washing with lotion.”
- “Hard to tell if it's actually cleaning.”
- “Weird slime texture that doesn't foam.”
- “Feels like I'm just rubbing conditioner on my face.”
New formula complaints Sometimes Noted
- “New version burns my face.”
- “Caused breakouts after they changed ingredients.”
- “Consistency is thinner than the old one.”
- “Preferred the original formula much more.”
Parabens (Old Formula) Rarely Noted
- “Contains parabens which I try to avoid.”
- “Wish it had cleaner ingredients.”
- “Stopped using because of the preservatives.”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser work for combination skin?
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser works moderately well for combination skin, as glycerin and niacinamide provide hydration and oil control to help manage oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs to safely balance oil production, maintain hydration in dry areas, and thoroughly cleanse without irritation using ingredients that support both oily and dry zones.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and niacinamide make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin because they provide hydration and oil control to help manage oily shine. To work even better for this skin type, a cleanser needs ingredients that effectively balance oil production, maintain hydration, and thoroughly cleanse without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Vitamin B5 do for combination skin?
Vitamin B5 helps keep combination skin hydrated and calm while supporting the skin barrier. It helps balance moisture and is unlikely to cause irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, before your hydrating toner and moisturizer, to gently remove impurities and help manage oily shine. A cleanser for combination skin needs soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide along with mild cleansing ingredients to balance hydration without making the skin too oily.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin before using your retinol treatment. A cleanser for combination skin needs gentle ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to wash away impurities without drying out your face.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in both your morning and evening routines. Using a mild cleanser every day helps gently remove impurities and manages oily shine without drying out your skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your combination skin because it contains no harsh ingredients and is formulated to remove impurities gently. To work best for this skin type, a product needs ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to balance oil and hydration.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser both around your eyes and on your body because its gentle formula cleans without irritation and is safe for all areas. A cleanser for combination skin needs soothing ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to keep the face balanced while hydrating dry spots.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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