CETAPHIL DAILY FACIAL CLEANSER! WE LOVE YOU!
Gigi here! Okay, let’s be candid and have a “Dr. Phil moment" now. I’ve cheated several times throughout the years. It wasn’t always pretty and there were repercussions and damage control to do afterward. I didn’t discuss my episodes with others but wondered how many others did what I did. Some were brief dalliances, and then I had full-throttle love affairs whose pleasures nearly justified my deceit. Before I go further, I’m talking about using different facial soaps and skin cleansers throughout my life, never staying loyal to just one—what were you thinking? For shame!
In high school, Cuticura’s deep blue and Neutrogena’s golden bar soaps kept my skin clear. Another wonder? Ivory soap, pure and simple. Before I am run out of this site by a group of wilding Megheads, please listen. I’ve had more women with flawless complexions tell me that they have used only Ivory and that less is more. My only question with the brand is why a bar that is 99 and 44/100% pure stings my eyes so viciously. It must be something in the missing .56%.
A wise reader of this site, hao9703, e-mailed me and mentioned that she has run the gamut when it comes to cleansing, from Kinerase (can you say “mucho dinero down the draino?”) to Cetaphil® and asked if there is much difference between drugstore and department store formulas. She is a wise steward of her resources. Her message told me that she fully comprehended why I try to point out that women often—not always—pay mainly for name recognition and packaging and I did a dance of joy. Without a dissection of formulas, more products than you know have the same key ingredients and only the names and places where they are purchased differentiate them. Thank you for writing and allowing me to come clean, literally and figuratively. My favorite all-time cleansers have included Cetaphil® for years now and I was ecstatic that you mentioned it. I had meant to critique it a long time ago. Their slogan is “Every Age. Every Stage. Every Day.” Gee, I wish I had thought of that because it’s absolutely true.
Cetaphil® Daily Facial Cleanser is a product to which I continually return, and both Cetaphil® formulas have a solid fan base with the respected beauty-savvy of the world, with good reason—they deliver on their promises. This one is a clear liquid with a subtly and sweetly clean scent. It is intended for normal-to-dry skin and works well at removing oil and grime as it washes away the remains of the day (about $6.99). The pump dispenser is quite handy. Stylemama, Carole, and the growing tea tree oil cult can add a drop or two of your addiction with no adverse effects (The "Got Tea Tree Oil?" T-shirts and hoodies will be coming out in time for Christmas, so relax. You’ll make it until then). It lathers minimally and rinses clean, clearing away residue which may clog pores and produce breakouts. It is irritant-free.
What truly fascinates me is the Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleanser for All Types, oily included. The large pump bottle sells for $10.99. With cold weather fast approaching, this unique unscented luxurious gel will offer comfort from unforgiving wind, snow, and skin-destroying dry indoor heat. When the company says it’s for everyone, they do mean everyone. The mamas of the gorgeous bambinas and bambinos at which I stare continually on my computer will enjoy this—it is gentle enough to be used on your little ones. Just how gentle? You and baby can clean yourselves together and enhance your bathing experiences. No water available? The product will purify skin when you rub it in tenderly and dab away any excess with a cloth. Yes, it can be left on delicate tissue! It, too, works to remove oil and debris which can cause breakouts and is non-comedogenic.
My favorite is to use it liberally and indulge myself in the silky feeling—it is like liquid satin when applied to skin. Your hands and throat will benefit immediately as well. Rinse away and blot—it’s an instantly new and improved you! I find this excellent all year round, but especially now. Actually, for deep-down grime removal, use the Gentle Skin Cleanser first, remove, and finish with the Daily Facial Cleanser. Lipids bond with lipids to eliminate them fully. In modeling school we had a routine for makeup removal and it always began with Pond's Cold Cream and ended with another product. The difference in your skin is noticeable whether you wear makeup or not.
This wise woman pointed out that she enjoys bar soaps and I see her reasoning—they are much easier to handle for travel or to tuck in a desk drawer, as there are no messy drips or unexpected leaks. Cetaphil® offers the bar version as well. Visit the company site itself at www.cetaphil.com and learn more about the evolution of this mighty product, initially created only for dermatologists. While you’re there, print out retail coupons and save yourself some green under "Retail Promotions." Thank you, Hao9703, for taking a proactive stand at Meg’s and prompting and interesting me in discussing the full beauty of Cetaphil® for us all. I applaud and thank you!
Who else uses Cetaphil as a staple?
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Reviews
Dear Meg: I have been using Cetaphil for 25 years, and I was so excited to hear your review of this fabulous product. I was on the stage for many years and this is the only thing that removed my make-up without irritating my skin. It is a fantastic eye makeup remover as well. I've tried everything and always come back to Cetaphil. Another trick that I use is to take about a tablespoon of Cetaphil and add some baking soda, mixing thoroughly. You will not find a better, cheaper, exfoliater. After using this your skin will feel like a baby's bottom. I do this about 3 times a week. The price is excellent. I usually get mine at Bed Bath and Beyond which now sells cosmetics and I use my 20% discount. THE BEST CLEANSER AND MAKE-UP REMOVER I've ever used!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've never tried Cetaphil, but I've heard such good things about it everywhere that I might have to. I have an aunt who swears by it.
My mom always told me to use this, but I feel like it's so gentle that it doesnt actually clean properly. Even though I LOVE Cetaphil, its just a mental thing where I feel like I need another cleanser to FEEL cleaner.
I totally agree with PR3TTYnihkee, I really do like Cetaphil, but for some reason I can't get past the feeling that your skin doesn't feel like you just washed it, if that makes sense. I love it whenever I wash my skin and it feels tingly and clean. Cetaphil gets the job done, but it's definitely a "meh" product for me.
My oldest daughter uses Cetaphil because the dermatologist suggested it. I figure it must be good. So what do I do? I keep buying Philosophy because I am a freakin snob (who can not only say mucho dinero down the draino, but am an active pariticpant). So I am almost out of face wash in the shower. And we are moving next week so I will replace after we move because the thought of packing makes me wish I had never bought anything ever let alone those freakin gorgeous new boots that arrived yesterday. And then I am going to Tarjay and buying Cetaphil. The end.
If you like Cetaphil but find that it's a little drying, try Cerave cleanser - it's a similar product also found at drugstores & for about the same price, but I find it a little more moisturizing. Cetaphil is great in the summer but in the winter I switch over to Cerave.I like Cetaphil's moisturizers too, though they're not my #1 fave -- Neutrogena oil-free for sensitive skin gets that spot.
i used this for some time before i switched to more natural products. it was nice., my derma. recommended it.
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I used Cetaphil when I was a teenager, desperate for anything that would help my acne. A doctor recommended this to my mom and of course I was all over it! I was really disappointed though because I felt like PR3TTYnihkee, too gentle to actually do the cleasning that I needed. I also don't suffer from sensitive skin. I have heard from friends that this worked great for them and their skin tends to be fairer and more sensitive. I love your review Gigi and am not knocking Cetaphil. Unfortunately, only sandblasters and straight acid can clean this girl's pores.
Style may be on the surface, but you can be deep and still have some - Clarissa Gough
I second viridian on using Cerave. I have found it to be the best for my son's severe eczema. Also rinses cleaner than Cetaphil IMO. I also use it for my face if I hit a dry spell.
iv very sensitive skin so i find this brillant :)
When I was on Accutane, my derm recommended that I use Cetaphil cleanser as a moisturizer. It really did a great job from keeping my skin from drying out.
Gigi - you hit another home run with this one! (Sorry, I'm still smarting over my Phillies loss in the World Series). I haven't used Cetaphil in ages, but I loved it when I did use it. Somehow, I've gotten into using all kinds of other higher priced things in the meantime. Yes, I'm a cosmetics and skincare snob. And don't even get me started on wine - I'm REALLY snobby about that! Anyway, I digress. Right now I'm using Juara Rice Cleanser which I adore. But it's possible that I'll give Cetaphil another whirl when I've used up my Juara. Depends on my whim and bank account. And thanks for the tip about putting in a little tea tree oil. That's my real miracle worker!
Carole
Great review, Gigi! I was contemplating forking over the money for the Philosophy set after I finished with the deluxe sample from Sephora. It worked great and was very pleasant to use, but that is an awful lot of money to spend on products that need to be replaced so often. I haven't tried Cetaphil in many years and I'm going to give it another try. Thanks dachsieangelgirl, for the suggestion with the baking soda. Sounds great!
Indi
Amen, Gigi and Hao! I had tried Cetaphil when I was a teen and it just didn't cleanse as well as I needed, and my skin just didn't feel clean enough. While I was on Accutane, and for awhile after, my skin was incredibly sensitive. But I needed a product that would really remove my makeup too! I finally found a good combination: Clinique Foaming Cleanser for makeup removal, and Cetaphil for getting the leftover makeup off my face without stripping it bare. Cetaphil doesn't do both for me--but it does balance out the effects of a makeup removing cleanser without breaking me out. It's not the right product for everyone, but it is a great product.
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i haven't tried cetaphil but i've been hearing some great stuff about it! atm i'm using "dermeaz" (sp?) but it's not really treating for my spontaneous break outs. I wonder if they sell them at priceline, i better check it out next time i'm there :)
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I've been using the cetaphil moisturizer ever since i was a teenager and only found out about the cleanser this year. I tried it out and it was pretty good. It didn't quite give me that squeaky clean feeling that I've experienced with other cleansers but it's very suitable for sensitive skin. I'm going to be a Cetaphil user for life!
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Brilliant review Gigi! I love Cetaphil, but had noticed lately that it didn't always leave my skin feeling clean. The moisturiser on the other hand, is a must have for me. I love it!
I used Cetaphil when my derm recommended it. I just couldn't get over the "lack" of lather. I just didn't feel like I had cleaned my face. I have oily, acne-prone skin. I'm currently using the Clinique acne set. I love it!
I'm with everyone else here. I tried cetaphil a few years back and just didn't get the "clean" feeling I associate with a fresh face. I now use more natural handmade products sold on etsy and love them so I don't think I will be on the cetaphil bandwagon anytime soon. Great review Gigi.
Gigi, I love this review but....i have not fallen in love with cetaphil (i really wish i could but it's like going on dates with mr right but parking in a car with mr wrong....LOL ). Many dermatologist really recommend this product but for some reason my face just doesn't feel cleansed when i'm done and i always end up going back and rewashing :*(Cac--I'm with you--I am so disappointed in "our" phillies. They had a good run but i was really hoping to bring it home again this year! Maybe next one!!!
i have used so many things to clean my skin, as a teen i tried anything from Lava(yes Lava) i figured it would do a heck of a job as an exfoliator, so sue me,and Ivory, (should your skin really be squeeky clean??) to cuticura(i fairly took my face off with this one), to neutrogena (too bland) then phisohex(weird smell) and now i move beween Borba, Philisophy and Bare Minerals Scrub. I like Borba the best, a lovely lilac cream which cleans and gently exfoliates. Yet, i have always wondered about this litle cleanser, can we call it C for short? It seems to be on the short list of every cosmetics guru as the must have. I bought it, but haven't used it. Funny, i bought my grand nephew, the goth a vat of it as well. He uses as much makeup as Joan Rivers, which is fine by me , but i am worried he won't get it off with less than sandpaper. I figure he will use this non-girly cleanser to take off all that black eyeliner and mascara... I don't want him to have bad skin at 18, right now its babyclear and clean, in spite. So we shall see. I will get back to you all and let you know. It is so reasonable, it makes one suspicious. Sad, but true. If it works , we think it must be expensive.
dotti, old but not dead yet, polymath still in training, makeup junkie and general overspender.
Love Cetaphil. They sell the club size version at Costco, it's pretty amazing.
I'm in love with Cetaphil too!
this is def. a staple. i tried it out a few years ago but it was too gentle for me/i didnt give it much of a chance. since going to the dermatologist recently and getting a med regimen, this had been perfect. the meds make my skin super sensitive so this is all it can take. i switch it up sometimes and use something stronger at night to take off makeup but in the morning, this is all i need. love it! and their moisturizing lotion is great too
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Cetaphil cleanser is great. I love how gentle it is and how you can use it all over.
Gigi-- Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. I am currently using two cleansers to get my skin super clean. One of them is cetaphil. My hope is that by double cleansing the other products will be able to sink in better.I have not tried tea tree oil or baking sods with cetaphil but, I will.
I;ve never used cetaphil before but it sounds like it would work for me
I've never used cetaphil, simply because the packaging just looks boring to me. Dumb reason, I know.
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I've used their lotions and adore the products! I had no idea they also make a face wash. It must be good because the lotion is simply amazing. I do agree...the packaging is super boring. But the price is right and most importantly...it works!
I've used Cetaphil on and off for years now, it's one of those products that I always go back to.
http://www.beautifullyglossy.blogspot.com
I'd used Cetaphil many years ago but didn't finish the bottle. I didn't like that "don't think my face is clean" feel. It was prescribed by my doctor as I had pretty sensitive skin at that time. It's something that I can get for "free" but I'm not tempted to get it. I think it's a wonderful cleanser for sensitive skins and those who don't use too much make up. In fact, a number of my colleagues swear by it.
I used to use cetaphil because my dermatologist recomended it. It is gently which is nice and it's suppose to be good for your skin but I didn't like the feel of it. It reminded me of all the other gel gentle cleansers I tried when I was a teenager and trying to help my breakouts. I always felt gross putting it on my skin.I switched to Dr. Dima's So Clean You Can Eat Off My Face. I really love it because it is so creamy and luxurious feeling especially because I had been using cetaphil before it. I just couldn't get over how much I liked to creamy sensation on my skin. It's still really gentle and has aloe and vitamin e which are some of the things I had put directly on my skin again to help with my acne. So it was nice to have them all in one place. I even let my roomate use it when she irritated her skin by putting benzoyl peroxide on her skin because she was breaking out. It totally calmed her skin and helped her breakouts. So in this case I don't feel like I'm paying for the name but a really great formulation that I can see actually working!!
Letitahttp://letitaslogic.blogspot.com/
"women often—not always—pay mainly for name recognition and packaging and I did a dance of joy. Without a dissection of formulas, more products than you know have the same key ingredients and only the names and places where they are purchased differentiate them"
soo true.
As for the "my face doesn't feel clean" feeling some of the ladies on here are having--if you already have oily skin to begin with, I can see how you'd feel that way, but whenever I wash my face with any other product aside from Alba Coconut or Cetaphil (or something very gentle and moisturizing) my face feels tight. Cetaphil doesn't strip away the natural oils from skin (which is what giving the squeaky-clean feeling), which many of us need because we don't produce enough sebum.
http://ediblelove.wordpress.com/
i've heard many things about this product..good things..but still have not tried it..i promise you that i will be trying it as soon as my clearasil runs out! thanks
Darling Gigi. What is on my bathroom counter right now? Two of my favorites, Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleanser and Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. In the drawer? Everything else. And it stays there. When I use either (or, now that I have your example to follow, both) and follow with my finish touch of baby shampoo or EyeScrub to clean off that last speck of eye makeup, I feel positively renewed. And glowing. I could spend more, and knowing me, I probably will, but I cannot spend better.
I have never tried Cetaphil Cleanser, however my mom's derm reccomends the use of the Cetaphil bar every day. I haven't tried either but I may have to pick up the daily cleanser just to see how it works for my skin. I like how it sounds like its good to help keep skin in good condition especially in frigid weather, I need that for sure!
Yeah for Cetaphil! I have used Dior's 'creamy cleansers' for years. My son's dermatologist told him to use Cetaphil to help his teenage skin. Amazingly, I don't see much difference between the super expensive brand and this drugstore brand. Infact the Dior creamy cleansers need to be used two times, sometimes three, to get all the make-up off at night. Cetaphil seems to be (a bit) more effective. I am almost done with my Dior bottle and won't repurchase ($30. eeks), I will be stealing my son's bottle of Cetaphil! Sshhhh!
hear so much about this! but i heard it was quite the oily product... which i definatly do NOT need, aha.
I have read so many reviews of people saying it's great for sensitive skin but for everyone else it doesn't give that clean feeling. I have acne prone skin and I sped a lot of time on my face products especially. I have been too afraid to try this given the so/so reviews. At least it's pretty cheap so I know I can buy it and toss it if it's no good.
I have actually just started using Cetaphil, about a month ago. I can't even begin to think why I hadn't started using it earlier!! It is SUCH a fantastic product, I can safely say that I am probably going to use it for the rest of my life. I usually wash twice with it at night, once to get off makeup, and once to wash my actual face and I don't have a problem doing that because I know how gentle Cetaphil is! The best thing about it for me is that I have mild rosacea. I was starting to get bumps on my cheeks, so I turned to a soap free cleanser to see if it was the answer. Well it WAS! Bump free face and it is less red too. All hail the mighty cetaphil!
This is one of those products that I really, really want to love, and never have. It just doesn't seem to get my face clean. Every time I go to the Dermatologist her gives me a whole bag of sample tubres, and even for free I can't make myself want to use it. I know everyone loves it, and I wish I did, but I just don't.
I LOVE Cetaphil! I too have had numerous torrid affairs in the past that had horrible repercussions. I have learned my lesson and only use Cetaphil (although I have to admit I still have feelings for Jo Malone's Eucalyptus/Mint Frothing Cream) this stuff is a classic. It never fails.
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I have used this stuff for the past couple of years... but I have been unfaithful too. It works great and keeps my skin clear, but I'm a sucker for lathering soaps. I know that the suds don't necessarily improve the cleansing power, but I still love it. So to get my sudsy fix, I alternate between this and my Clinique acne soap bar and my skin looks pretty good so far.And in case anyone goes to Sam's club, you can get a twin-pack of ginormous bottles there, it ends up being a really good deal!
really??? ive been searching for a simple gentle cleanser. I can only use acne clenser like once a day or I get too dried out. This may be the cleanser i have been waiting for!
Tan is Love
i tried cetaphil before i got hooked to my spectro gel, i dont know...i found cetaphil didn't do much for me
I've also used this product for over 20 years!!! The only thing (including men) I've been so faithful to,LOL! I use it alone in the am,with a swish of warm water it's all I need for the day and at night,use it to remove makeup,including 99% of mascaras out there! Then I was with Juara Rice Cleanser to "be sure" I've got it all off and voila!Thanks GG for reminding me and that some things are GREAT just the way they are!!! No "improving" needed!
I read about so many of you that use cetaphil, i have never seen it in the uk though :( i wonder if its the same as clearasil (i guess i only think that because the names are kiiiinnnnda similar!) does any one know if these are the same?!
No they definately are not the same! Cetaphil is gorgeous, and soap free, and calming, and soothing and can be used anywhere on the body. In my experience Clearasil is intended for younger teen skin, and has lots of harsh surfactants which overly cleanse the face and definately has soap in its ingredient list. Try googling Cetahpil + UK and see if you can find a list of stockists!
I want to try it! i always need good skin stuff
Julie Dee <3
Great review Gigi!! As usual! I have always wanted to try Cetaphil. Now I certainly will. But I am torn. I have oily and sensitive skin. Which one should I use???