Community favorite
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser
8.4Great
A fragrance-free, sulfate-free cream cleanser with ceramide-3 and niacinamide that dermatologists keep recommending for dry, sensitive skin.
Cleanser4$19.99
Gentle Skin Cleanser
The classic milky, fragrance-free cleanser, now sulfate-free with niacinamide and panthenol — basic, gentle and easy to find anywhere.
7.8
Good
Beauty score
#6 of 8 cleansers
Community
—/10
- Format
- Cleanser
- Size
- 8 fl oz
- Price per oz
- $1.62 / oz
- Price tier
- Drugstore
Made for: Normal skin · Dry skin · Sensitive skin
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
The classic milky, fragrance-free cleanser, now sulfate-free with niacinamide and panthenol — basic, gentle and easy to find anywhere.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a milky, non-foaming face and body wash for normal to dry, sensitive skin that can be rinsed off or wiped away without water. The current formula is a short list built on glycerin, panthenol and niacinamide with sodium cocoyl isethionate as the cleanser, and the brand lists it as fragrance-, paraben- and oil-free. Reviewed's tester found it left skin clean, soft and free of tightness. The texture does not lather, which some users find odd.
Best for
- Dry, sensitive or easily irritated skin
- People who want one simple wash for face and body
- A no-water cleanse with a soft cloth
What we love
- Very short, fragrance-free ingredient list suited to sensitive skin
- Can be used with or without water, on face and body
- Leaves skin soft without tightness in Reviewed's testing
- Widely stocked in many sizes
Worth knowing
- No lather, which can feel like it is not cleaning
- Some long-time users remain wary after the older formula that contained sodium lauryl sulfate
- Cetaphil's site lists no price, and the 8 fl oz size costs more per ounce than CeraVe's 12 fl oz hydrating cleanser
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.8Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%7.7
Reviewed's tester found no makeup left and no tightness afterward, though as a mild, non-foaming wash it is aimed at normal to dry skin rather than oily skin.
- Formula & ingredients20%8.0
The ten-ingredient list with glycerin, panthenol, niacinamide and a mild isethionate cleanser is simple and sensitive-skin friendly, though it offers little beyond basic cleansing.
- Texture & experience15%7.4
The milky, bubble-free texture spreads easily and rinses cleanly, but bloggers note it feels unusual if you are used to foaming cleansers.
- Value20%8.2
Cetaphil lists no price itself; Ulta lists the 8 fl oz bottle at $12.99, slightly more per ounce than CeraVe's hydrating cleanser, though larger sizes up to 20 oz are sold.
- Community love15%7.8
Dermatologist channels and Reddit users still recommend it as a back-to-basics wash for dry, sensitive or compromised skin, while some long-time users remain wary after its older sodium lauryl sulfate formula.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Milky, non-foaming cream-lotion that can be rinsed or wiped off
Format
Cleanser
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Size
8 fl oz / 237 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- NiNiacinamideBrighteners — ingredient guide
- PaPanthenolHydrators — ingredient guide
- GlGlycerinHydrators — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5) and niacinamide (vitamin B3) with sodium cocoyl isethionate as the cleansing agent; no percentages published.
How to use
Without water, apply a liberal amount, rub gently and remove the excess with a soft cloth; with water, apply, rub gently and rinse.
Free from (brand-stated)
- fragrance
- parabens
- oil
Claims & certifications
- Fragrance-free
- Paraben-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist-tested
Full ingredient list (INCI)10 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Water,
- Glycerin,
- Cetearyl Alcohol,
- Panthenol,
- Niacinamide,
- Pantolactone,
- Xanthan Gum,
- Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate,
- Sodium Benzoate,
- Citric Acid
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
2 verbatim quotes · 2 positive
ReviewedPositive
After washing my face, my skin looked clean—there was no trace of makeup left—and felt super soft and hydrated. Even after drying my skin, I didn’t experience any uncomfortable tightness.
r/SkincareAddictionPositive
If I were you, I would only wash my face with Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser for two weeks to build your skin barrier back.
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$12.99
for 8 fl oz / 237 ml
Per ounce
$1.62
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
About 29% less per ounce than the typical cleansers we review. Our value score: 8.2/10 for a drugstore pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
No discussions yet.
Tried Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Can I use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser without water?
Yes. Cetaphil's directions say to apply a liberal amount, rub gently and remove the excess with a soft cloth, leaving a thin film on the skin. It can also be rinsed off with water.
Does the current formula still contain sodium lauryl sulfate?
No. The ingredient list on Cetaphil's site uses sodium cocoyl isethionate as the cleanser alongside glycerin, panthenol and niacinamide, and no sodium lauryl sulfate.
Is it good for oily skin?
Cetaphil designs it for normal to dry, sensitive skin. Very oily skin may find it too light a cleanse, and Cetaphil sells a Daily Facial Cleanser for normal to oily skin.
Is it fragrance-free?
Yes. Cetaphil lists it as fragrance-free, paraben-free, oil-free and hypoallergenic, and says it won't clog pores.
Sources we checked (8)
- cetaphil.com/us/products/product-categories/all-cleansers/cetaphil-gentle-skin-cleanser/302990110227.html
- ulta.com/p/gentle-skin-cleanser-face-wash-sensitive-skin-pimprod2028662
- reviewed.com/beauty/best-right-now/best-face-washes
- beautifulwithbrains.com/cetaphil-gentle-skin-cleanser/
- target.com/p/cetaphil-gentle-skin-cleanser-16-fl-oz/-/A-83019455
- amazon.com/dp/B099N3NM61
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetaphil
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galderma
Alternatives
If you’re weighing it up, also consider.
Best overall
CeraVe
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
8.6Excellent
A fragrance-free, non-foaming ceramide cleanser that cleans without tightness — the default pick for normal to dry and sensitive skin.
Cleanser4$15.99
Best value Trending
COSRX
Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
7.7Good
An inexpensive low-pH gel wash with a light lather and a tea-tree scent — a solid morning or second cleanse, not a makeup remover.
Cleanser4$14.00
Derm favorite
CeraVe
Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
8.2Great
A 4% benzoyl peroxide wash cushioned with ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid — an easier-to-tolerate BPO cleanser for breakouts.
Cleanser4$17.99