Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar for oily skin
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Glycerin
Stearic Acid
Sodium Tallowate
Petrolatum
Average
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 cleansing for your oily skin due to sodium cocoyl isethionate and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, but petrolatum and sodium cocoate may exacerbate oiliness rather than address oily shine.
- While the formula is safe for your oily skin and free of harsh ingredients, it lacks specialized components to effectively manage excess oil.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviewsWhile the majority experience softer, hydrated skin, a subset of users finds the masking fragrance overpowering or the formula slightly drying compared to the liquid version.
Highlights
Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Lifesaver for my very sensitive skin”
- “No redness or irritation after use”
- “Great for kiddo with sensitive skin”
Non-drying/Moisturizing Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft and hydrated”
- “Doesn't strip skin like other soaps”
- “Face feels clean but not tight”
- “Maintains moisture barrier perfectly”
Strong scent Often Mentioned
- “Overpowering masking fragrance”
- “Smells like old lady perfume”
- “Scent is too strong for 'unscented'”
- “Offensive perfume odor despite label”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Removes dirt and makeup easily”
- “Leaves a squeaky clean feeling”
- “Helps clear up acne and whiteheads”
- “Removes oil without over-drying”
Good value/Longevity Sometimes Noted
- “Bar lasts a long time”
- “Great value for the price”
- “Cost-effective compared to liquid cleansers”
- “Don't need to use much product”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “Left my face feeling tight”
- “Caused dryness and flaking”
- “Too drying for my winter skin”
- “Stripped my skin more than expected”
Formula changes Rarely Noted
- “New formula isn't as good”
- “Caused breakouts unlike the old version”
- “Quality has gone down recently”
- “Prefer the original ingredients”
Residue/Film Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a waxy film behind”
- “Hard to rinse off completely”
- “Left a sticky residue on skin”
- “Felt like it clogged my pores”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, walgreens.com, samsclub.com, influenster.com, acne.org, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your oily skin, though some ingredients like petrolatum may add to your shine instead of managing it. While it safely cleans without harshness, cleansers of this type need targeted ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to properly control excess oil and keep your skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium cocoyl isethionate and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate provide moderate cleansing for your oily skin, though this cleanser lacks specialized components to manage excess oil. Oily skin needs cleansers with niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to control shine and support skin health without irritation.
What does Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate do for oily skin?
Sodium cocoyl isethionate helps clean oily skin gently without harming your skin barrier. Because its particles are too large to slip into your skin's tiny pores, it washes away dirt and oil while keeping your face feeling soft and comfortable rather than dry or irritated.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes into your morning and evening routine, coming before your toner, moisturizer, and SPF in the morning and after makeup removal in the evening. While this soap-like bar is safe and gentle, oily skin needs a cleanser with ingredients that help clear away excess oil and shine.
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 following with your retinol treatment. This cleanser provides safe, moderate washing, but oily skin also needs specialized ingredients to manage excess shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It washes your skin safely, but a cleanser for oily skin works better when it includes ingredients that help control excess oil and shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause purging since it does not speed up cell turnover, but petrolatum may feel heavy and contribute to clogged pores on oily skin. Oily skin typically needs a cleanser with oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help manage excess shine and keep pores clear.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it may not be ideal for the very thin skin around your eyes. A cleanser for the eye area needs to be extremely gentle and lightweight to avoid irritation on this delicate skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Sodium 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, 2007A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment disrupts the ordered intercellular lipid lamellar structure in hairless mouse stratum corneum, and immersion in a ceramide 3, cholesterol, and stearic acid mixture successfully reorganizes this ordered lamellar structure.
Biophysical Chemistry, 2001Enzymatically interesterified fats based on mutton tallow and walnut oil produced emulsions that resulted in greater skin moisturization compared to non-interesterified fat and received positive sensory evaluations from 83 respondents.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Topical treatment with skin-identical lipids in a petrolatum-rich cream base showed no superiority over pure petrolatum in promoting normalization of barrier recovery and inflammation in detergent- and tape-stripped-perturbed human skin over 14 days.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2000Topically applied extra virgin olive oil and petrolatum both significantly improved skin barrier function and microtopographic features in 54 healthy adult volunteers, with petrolatum exerting stronger occlusive effects and extra virgin olive oil uniquely promoting epidermal renewal.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate, Water, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoate, Peg-20, Sodium Chloride, Masking, Sodium Isethionate, Petrolatum, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Sucrose Cocoate, Titanium Dioxide, Pentansodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, May Also Contain Sodium Palm Kernelate
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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