Cosmetiqly Ingredient Safety
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Cetaphil · Cleanser

Is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe?

Review the flags Standard: Fungal Acne (Malassezia)

Pass with caution (watchlist items present)

2 of 8 flagged (0 high-risk, 2 watchlist) — Score 7.0/10

Cosmetiqly Score 7.0/10

Flagged ingredients & clinical citations (2)

The following ingredients in this formulation conflict with Fungal Acne (Malassezia) standards:

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 (8 ingredients)

Deduplicated
# Ingredient Status for Fungal Acne (Malassezia)
1 WATER Pass
2 CETYL ALCOHOL Flagged (MODERATE)
3 PROPYLENE GLYCOL Pass
4 SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE Pass
5 STEARYL ALCOHOL Flagged (MODERATE)
6 METHYLPARABEN Pass
7 PROPYLPARABEN Pass
8 BUTYLPARABEN 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:

Cerave CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser Score: 10/10 · 0 Flags Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser Score: 10/10 · 0 Flags Neutrogena Skin Balancing Clay Cleanser Score: 10/10 · 0 Flags

Other safety checks for Gentle Skin Cleanser

Non-Comedogenic 10.0/10 Silicone-Free 10.0/10 Fragrance-Free 10.0/10 Paraben-Free 1.0/10 Sulfate-Free 7.0/10 Rosacea & Eczema-Safe 7.0/10 Malassezia Yeast Free 10.0/10

Data Provenance & Reviewer Information

  • Data Source: Open Beauty Facts · Barcode: 0302993912200 (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.