Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser — Efficacy 4.1/5.0, Safety 4.5/5.0 | DemythSkin
++++
[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser
Cetaphil

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

CleanserAcne / Oil Control
Efficacy
Strong
4.1 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.5 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a competent acne cleanser, not a miracle, but the 2% salicylic acid makes the core job real. The efficacy score is driven by a proven leave-on-irrelevant-in-contact-only acne active that still works in a rinse-off format, plus a relatively gentle surfactant system and some cushioning emollients; it loses points because salicylic acid cleanser contact time is short, the formula does not show any pH targeting on the label, and the supporting ingredients are mostly base/texture helpers rather than strong treatment actives.
Active Ingredients Detected
S Tier: Gold StandardsHigh Clinical Proof | Skin-Transformative
Salicylic Acid
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) ButterGlycerinGlycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Guar Hydroxypropyl-Trimonium ChlorideHydrogenated Soybean OilHydroxypropyl Starch PhosphateLauric AcidSodium ChlorideSodium Lauroyl GlycinateSodium Lauroyl Isethionate
What Each Ingredient Does
Salicylic Acid
BHA acne treatment
Benzyl Alcohol
Preservative and solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Emollient and texture aid
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Mild foam booster
Glycerin
Humectant and hydration support
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
Emollient and moisture support
Guar Hydroxypropyl-Trimonium Chloride
Conditioning polymer
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient and structuring agent
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Thickener and texture modifier
Lactic Acid
pH adjuster and mild acid
Lauric Acid
Fatty acid and cleanser aid
Palmitic Acid
Fatty acid and emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
Viscosity modifier
Sodium Hydroxide
pH adjuster
Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate
Mild surfactant
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
Mild surfactant
Stearic Acid
Fatty acid thickener
Tetrasodium EDTA
Chelator and stabilizer
Water
Solvent and base
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Salicylic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyl-Trimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Water

Frequently Asked

Is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser worth it?

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser scores 4.1 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Strong) and 4.5 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a competent acne cleanser, not a miracle, but the 2% salicylic acid makes the core job real. The efficacy score is driven by a proven leave-on-irrelevant-in-contact-only acne active that still works in a rinse-of

What are the key active ingredients in Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser?

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Salicylic Acid.

Does Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser. It scores 4.5 out of 5.0 for safety.

How is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

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Analysis last updated: 2026-09-23. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score. DemythSkin earns commission from affiliate links (Amazon Associates and others). Scores are computed before any commercial relationship — the link follows the verdict, never the other way around.