Is Cetaphil Cetaphil Cream Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe?
High concern Standard: Fungal Acne (Malassezia)
Fails safety standards
2 of 21 flagged (1 high-risk, 1 watchlist) — Score 5.5/10
Cosmetiqly Score 5.5/10
Flagged ingredients & clinical citations (2)
The following ingredients in this formulation conflict with Fungal Acne (Malassezia) standards:
GLYCERYL STEARATE HIGH Concern
Monoglyceride ester yielding free stearic acid upon lipase exposure, sustaining yeast colonies.
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.
Complete INCI formulation (21 ingredients)
Deduplicated| # | Ingredient | Status for Fungal Acne (Malassezia) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WATER | Pass |
| 2 | GLYCERIN | Pass |
| 3 | PETROLATUM | Pass |
| 4 | DICAPRYLYL ETHER | Pass |
| 5 | DIMETHICONE | Pass |
| 6 | GLYCERYL STEARATE | Flagged (HIGH) |
| 7 | CETYL ALCOHOL | Flagged (MODERATE) |
| 8 | HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL | Pass |
| 9 | PEG-30 STEARATE | Pass |
| 10 | TOCOPHERYL ACETATE | Pass |
| 11 | DIMETHICONOL | Pass |
| 12 | ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER | Pass |
| 13 | BENZYL ALCOHOL | Pass |
| 14 | PHENOXYETHANOL | Pass |
| 15 | PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL | Pass |
| 16 | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | Pass |
| 17 | CARBOMER | Pass |
| 18 | SODIUM HYDROXIDE | Pass |
| 19 | ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE POWDER | Pass |
| 20 | TOCOPHEROL | Pass |
| 21 | BHT | Pass |
Evaluated alternative Moisturizer 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 Cetaphil Cream
Data Provenance & Reviewer Information
- Data Source: Open Beauty Facts · Barcode:
0302990242447(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.