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Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser.

Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser
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Cleansers
About this product

A fragrance-free facial cleanser containing salicylic acid, designed to gently exfoliate the skin and help keep pores clear.

Full ingredients

Aqua, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

More from Cetaphil 40 products · Guru Score 94% →

Guru Score

81%

Yay

5 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

This creamy, fragrance-free salicylic acid wash gets into pores without leaving skin tight or dry, even for those with very sensitive skin. It is said to keep breakouts and blackheads at bay, though one take notes that congestion crept back once the bottle ran out. Keeping a bottle handy in the shower may help those with acne-prone skin keep their pores clear.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take April 2026

What they liked

  • Creamy, non-drying formula
  • Gentle triple acid blend for breakouts
  • Fragrance-free with anti-inflammatory white tea

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    Type

    CleansersLiquid

    Key actives

    Formula notes

    Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

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    Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

    What the gurus are saying.

    Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

    All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Dr. Daniel Sugai
    Dr. Daniel Sugai
    722k subs
    ✓Yay
    "Different though if you're using an exfoliating cleanser. If you're using an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, that's okay cuz that's my routine. I'll do that at nighttime."
    All 14 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
    The Most Common Retinoid Mistakes I See in Clinic (Dermatologist Guide)
    "Different though if you're using an exfoliating cleanser. If you're using an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, that's okay cuz that's my routine. I'll do that at nighttime."
    Skincare Trends That Are Wasting Your Time
    "So, instead of using pore vacuums, I recommend keeping your pores clear with a nice exfoliating cleanser without beads, something with salicylic acid, whether it's Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating SA cleanser or CeraVe's acne control cleanser."
    Things I Actually Do for Anti-Aging (Dermatologist Routine)
    "You can use an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide, whether it's Caraveese salicylic acid cleanser or Cetaphil's Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Those are great."
    Best Skincare Essentials of the Year
    "I have to do a big shout out to Cetaphil's Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Very nice at exfoliating the skin, but also going into the pore and cleaning them out. So yesterday I did some weightlifting with my personal trainer. Afterwards, I'm going to wash my face with a salicylic acid cleanser to really go into the pore and clean them out to prevent whiteheads, blackheads, acne. We don't want to give any food to the bacteria that causes acne."
    Dermatologist Reviews: Drugstore Acne Roundup
    "Some nice options would be [CeraVe] renewing sa cleanser or the Cetaphil gentle clear 2% salicylic acid these are great options choose one you don't have to go with both I've been using this one more recently very nice to have in the shower"
    Sneaky Ways to Treat Clogged Pores!
    "Cetaphil's new salicylic acid cleanser is really nice. I've used this recently. This one has salicylic acid and mandelic acid and gluconolactone, which is a PHA, so there's a nice acid blend here that you can consider as well."
    Fine Lines, Clogged Pores & Dandruff: What Dermatologists Really Recommend
    "Having a good exfoliant cleanser on hand, Cetaphil's gentle SA cleanser is great."
    Morning vs Night Skincare: What Matters for Anti-Aging?
    "Cetaphil has been one of my favorite newer finds with salicylic acid."
    Five Ways You Are Destroying Your Skin Barrier!
    "To gently exfoliate, I have patients use Cetaphil's Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser."
    Secret Tips For Smoothing Textured Skin from a Dermatologist!
    "This is a Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser, brand new, started to use it, very nice. So you have a nice blend of gentle exfoliants you have mandelic acid, you have the polyhydroxy acid and the salicylic acid all working together to help retexture and smooth out the skin and clean out your pores. So this is really nice. And Cetaphil is just great, you know, for sensitive skin."
    Anti-Aging Skincare Picks I'm Obsessed With Now | Dermatologist Reviews
    "CeraVe has done a good job with their new Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser that's in a nice convenient pump that you can use on your face and your body, so very nice to use on a daily basis and it has not dried me out at all. It's very affordable as well."
    How to Upgrade your Nighttime Skincare Routine!
    "They also made a nice new gentle exfoliating SA cleanser, very nice. Another favorite of mine has been..."
    The Truth About Pore Size: Can You Really Shrink Them?
    "At bedtime, you want to focus on exfoliating gently. You don't want to overexfoliate. You don't need physical exfoliants where you need the beaded stuff that's real harsh for your skin. You want to use chemical exfoliants that are gentle. So gentle would be salicylic acid. Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Great options."
    3 BIGGEST Skincare Regrets I See in Clinic | Dermatologist Explains
    "Cetaphil has done a great job with their salicylic acid cleansers."
    Kelly Driscoll
    Kelly Driscoll
    90k subs
    ✓Yay
    "And this works pretty well to keep the skin clear. This definitely helped to keep the breakouts at bay. And when I emptied this, which was a while ago, my skin started to get a bit congested again, unfortunately. So this definitely works. And because this combination of exfoliants worked so well to keep my skin clear, I'm going to be rating this a nine out of ten."
    All 2 takes from Kelly Driscoll
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    "This is very effective for keeping those areas clean and clear for me. I think it's the triple exfoliation here. We have salicylic acid, and that's the exfoliant you want to go towards if you're experiencing pimples or breakouts because that's the exfoliation that goes deeper into the pore lining to exfoliate deep within your skin, and that's where the acne is forming. [...] I really do like the addition of the AHA with [mandelic] acid as well as PHA."
    EPIC SKINCARE EMPTIES | Start Fresh Moving Edition
    "And this works pretty well to keep the skin clear. This definitely helped to keep the breakouts at bay. And when I emptied this, which was a while ago, my skin started to get a bit congested again, unfortunately. So this definitely works. And because this combination of exfoliants worked so well to keep my skin clear, I'm going to be rating this a nine out of ten."
    Dr Dray
    Dr Dray
    2.69M subs
    ✓Yay
    "I love the Cetaphil gentle clear line is slept on. This salicylic acid cleanser is great. It also has polyhydroxy acids in it which are really hydrating."
    All 5 takes from Dr Dray
    *NEW* Skincare NOT TO MISS At Target
    "This is a really good salicylic acid cleanser from Cetaphil if you want to try salicylic acid but you've always found that it's like too drying or maybe you have really sensitive skin, because it's like a really nice creamy formula it's not drying at all. It's free of fragrance and it has compounds from white tea which are anti-inflammatory."
    Shop With Me For Skincare At TJMaxx
    "I love the Cetaphil gentle clear line is slept on. This salicylic acid cleanser is great. It also has polyhydroxy acids in it which are really hydrating."
    BEST DRUGSTORE OILY SKIN CARE ROUTINE 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday
    "If you have really sensitive skin and you want to use a salicylic acid cleanser, get this one by Cetaphil. It's a really good two percent salicylic acid, but it is the creamiest formula, very gentle."
    NEW SUMMER 2022 SKIN CARE AT TARGET 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday
    "I love this one by Cetaphil. It's a leave-on salicylic acid, great if you have acne prone skin that's very sensitive, or if you have hyperpigmentation that you're aiming to improve the appearance of. It's very good."
    BUDGET FRIENDLY ANTI-AGING SKIN CARE: DERMATOLOGIST TOP PICKS @DrDrayzday
    "I actually just finished this one myself, it's a good option. You derive some of the benefits of salicylic acid in terms of improving hyperpigmentation and it also helps with any acne you may have. By washing your face with this in the morning, it temporarily lowers the pH of your skin ever so slightly, which can enhance penetration of other anti-aging ingredients."
    208SkinDoc
    208SkinDoc
    2.10M subs
    ✓Yay
    "Cetaphil has a great salicylic acid cleanser."
    Dr. Jenny Liu
    Dr. Jenny Liu
    323k subs
    ✓Yay
    "The Cetaphil acne gel contains 2% salicylic acid. It's a higher concentration, but overall I find the product itself to be fairly gentle and less irritating, good to spot treat with."

    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Niacinamide

    Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

    Source: DermNet

    Salicylic acid

    Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

    Source: DermNet

    Alpha hydroxy acids

    Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

    Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

    Frequently asked.

    What is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser?

    A fragrance-free facial cleanser containing salicylic acid, designed to gently exfoliate the skin and help keep pores clear.

    Is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser worth it?

    Yes. All 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 81%.

    What is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser's Guru Score?

    Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 81%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser best for?

    Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

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