Gentle Clear Acne Mattifying Moisturizer

Cetaphil

Gentle Clear Acne Mattifying Moisturizer

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About this product

The Cetaphil Gentle Clear Acne Mattifying Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 39 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Moisturizers
Ingredients
39
Low-risk
33
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
SPF
30 · blocks 96.7% UVB
Data updated
May 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 17/13
Good for dry skin
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate Cetearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Squalane Stearyl Alcohol Ethylhexyl Palmitate Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Glycerin PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Hydrogenated Polydecene Dimethicone Sodium Polyacrylate PPG-5-Laureth-5
Caution for dry skin
Cetyl Alcohol Stearyl Alcohol Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Glycerin Salicylic Acid Hexylene Glycol Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Ceteareth-20 Sodium Polyacrylate Sodium Hydroxide Polysorbate 60 PPG-5-Laureth-5
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Sensitive Skin 5/11
Good for sensitive skin
Kojic Acid Glycerin Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Dimethicone Allantoin
Caution for sensitive skin
Kojic Acid Cetyl Alcohol Stearyl Alcohol Ethylhexyl Palmitate Butylene Glycol Glycerin Salicylic Acid Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Hexylene Glycol Hydrogenated Polydecene Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

39 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (7)
All39 Skin Conditioning34 Emollient12 Fragrance10 Emulsion Stabilising9 Emulsifying8 Viscosity Increasing Agent7 Surfactant6 Humectant6
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
1
A
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Polyacrylate
(Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning Agent Emollient, Viscosity Controlling Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
B
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
2
A
Hydrogenated Polydecene
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
1
A
Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Stearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foambooster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Foam Boosting, Masking, Opacifying, Refatting, Viscosity Controlling)
2
B
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient)
1
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning)
1
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
(Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
3
Zinc Gluconate
(Cosmetic Biocide, Skin Conditioning, Deodorant)
1
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
1
Morus Alba Root Extract
(Bleaching, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant)
Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
(Skin Conditioning)
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
3
B
PPG-5-Laureth-5
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
6
7
B
Kojic Acid
(Antioxidant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
(Chelating Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Skin Conditioning)
1
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing)
1
A
Polyquaternium-11
(Antistatic Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing)
1
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
(Astringent, Humectant, Soothing)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
BHA
Unclogs pores and reduces excess oil.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrates by attracting and holding water.
Kojic Acid
Brightens skin and helps fade dark spots.
Zinc
Helps control oil and supports healing.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Dark SpotsFades dark spots for even skin tone.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Kojic Acid — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion stabilising, Opacifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingOpacifyingFoam boostingViscosity increasingagent - aqueousViscosity increasing agentEmollientEmulsifyingViscosity controlling
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B AbsorbentEmulsion stabilisingFilm formingHair fixingSkin-conditioning agent -emollientViscosity controlling agentViscosity increasing agentBindingSkin conditioning
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B CleansingEmulsifyingSurfactant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Fragrance, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A FragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emulsion stabilising, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingFragranceOpacifyingEmulsifyingSurfactantFoam boostingViscosity increasing agentEmollientMaskingViscosity controlling
Stearyl Alcohol
Emulsion stabilising, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingFragranceEmulsifyingSurfactant- foamboosterViscosity increasing agentEmollientFoam boostingMaskingOpacifyingRefattingViscosity controlling
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent, Anticaking agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR B AbsorbentAnticaking agentViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningEmollient
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CleansingSkin conditioningSmoothing
Squalane
Emollient, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientHair conditioningRefattingSkin conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientHumectant
Zinc Gluconate
Cosmetic biocide, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 Cosmetic biocideSkin conditioningDeodorant
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
Emollient, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 EmollientSkin conditioning
Morus Alba Root Extract
Bleaching, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 BleachingSkin conditioning
+ 13 more — see the full ingredients list above
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B FragranceSkin conditioningEmollientPerfuming Fungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Emollient, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 EmollientEmulsifyingSkin conditioning Fungal-acne trigger
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6–7 CIR B Antioxidant Good for Dry Skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply near the end of your routine, after thinner serums.
  • 2 Evening, start slow: Best in the PM a few times a week to begin with; avoid layering with other strong actives the same night.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Salicylic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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