Is Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe?
High concern Standard: Fungal Acne (Malassezia)
Fails safety standards
3 of 22 flagged (1 high-risk, 2 watchlist) — Score 4.0/10
Cosmetiqly Score 4.0/10
Flagged ingredients & clinical citations (3)
The following ingredients in this formulation conflict with Fungal Acne (Malassezia) standards:
Polysorbate 20 HIGH Concern
Polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester directly hydrolyzed by Malassezia lipases into free fatty acids that support yeast proliferation.
Citation: Mayser P, Grimmig D, Krämer HJ. Different utilization of neutral lipids by Malassezia furfur and Malassezia sympodialis. Med Mycol. 1998;36(6):395-402.
Cetyl Alcohol MODERATE Concern
C16 fatty alcohol; generally tolerated in mild cases, flagged as a moderate watchlist item in active folliculitis flares.
Citation: Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA. Malassezia (pityrosporum) folliculitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):37-41.
Stearyl Alcohol MODERATE Concern
C18 fatty alcohol; watchlist flag for patients with persistent refractory pityrosporum folliculitis.
Citation: Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA. Malassezia (pityrosporum) folliculitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):37-41.
Complete INCI formulation (22 ingredients)
Deduplicated| # | Ingredient | Status for Fungal Acne (Malassezia) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purified Water | Pass |
| 2 | Glycerin | Pass |
| 3 | Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol | Pass |
| 4 | Ceramide 3 | Pass |
| 5 | Ceramide 6-II | Pass |
| 6 | Ceramide 1 | Pass |
| 7 | Hyaluronic Acid | Pass |
| 8 | Cholesterol | Pass |
| 9 | Polyoxyl 40 Stearate | Pass |
| 10 | Glyceryl Monostearate | Pass |
| 11 | Stearyl Alcohol | Flagged (MODERATE) |
| 12 | Polysorbate 20 | Flagged (HIGH) |
| 13 | Potassium Phosphate | Pass |
| 14 | Dipotassium Phosphate | Pass |
| 15 | Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate | Pass |
| 16 | Cetyl Alcohol | Flagged (MODERATE) |
| 17 | Disodium EDTA | Pass |
| 18 | Phytosphingosine | Pass |
| 19 | Methylparaben | Pass |
| 20 | Propylparaben | Pass |
| 21 | Carbomer | Pass |
| 22 | Xanthan Gum | Pass |
Evaluated alternative Cleanser options (10/10 Score)
The following formulations in this category have been individually evaluated and contain zero Fungal Acne (Malassezia) flags:
Other safety checks for Foaming Facial Cleanser
Data Provenance & Reviewer Information
- Data Source: Open Beauty Facts · Barcode:
0787734793087(Verify on Source) - Last Data Verification: 2026-11-13
- Editorial Supervisor: Cosmetiqly Research Team, Editorial Team
- Report an Error: If an ingredient list is inaccurate, submit a correction with product packaging proof (72-hour SLA).
Important Disclaimer: This review is an automated toxicological and dermatological screening for educational purposes. It is not medical or dermatological advice. Chemical safety depends on user skin condition and exact concentration. Always patch-test new products.