If you’re trying to decide which Cetaphil facial cleanser to choose, you may wonder about the differences between their Daily Facial Cleanser and Gentle Skin Cleanser.
Both are gentle options for cleaning your skin without drying it out or causing irritation or breakouts.
Although they look alike, they have some distinct differences, which may help you decide which is best for your skin type and needs.
In this post, we’ll compare Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser vs Gentle Skin Cleanser to help you determine which is most suitable for your skin.
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Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser vs Gentle Skin Cleanser
| SIMILARITIES | DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|
| Both are suitable for sensitive skin | Daily Facial Cleanser: Formulated for combination to oily, sensitive skin Gentle Skin Cleanser: Formulated for normal to dry, sensitive skin |
| Both defend against the 5 signs of skin sensitivity | Daily Facial Cleanser: Foaming Gel Gentle Skin Cleanser: Non-foaming Gel Cream |
| Both contain glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol | Daily Facial Cleanser: Available with masking fragrance or fragrance-free Gentle Skin Cleanser: Fragrance-free |
| Both are hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and won’t clog pores | Daily Facial Cleanser: Contains three cleansing ingredients Gentle Skin Cleanser: Contains one cleansing ingredient |
Similarities
Both Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser are suitable for sensitive skin.
Both cleansers defend against 5 signs of skin sensitivity:
- Dryness
- Irritation
- Roughness
- Tightness
- A weakened skin barrier
The cleansers are hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and won’t clog pores and cause breakouts.
They contain the same active ingredients: glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol.
Both cleansers are also priced similarly. Of course, prices will vary based on the retailer, but there isn’t a substantial difference in price between the two.
Differences
One of the main differences between the cleansers is that Daily Facial Cleanser is formulated for or combination to oily, sensitive skin, while Gentle Skin Cleanser is formulated for dry to normal, sensitive skin.
Daily Facial Cleanser has a gel texture that creates a light foam, while Gentle Skin Cleanser has a gel-cream texture that doesn’t foam.
Daily Facial Cleanser is available with a masking fragrance or fragrance-free, whereas Gentle Skin Cleanser is fragrance-free.
Daily Facial Cleanser contains three surfactants to clean skin, while Gentle Skin Cleanser contains only one.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser is a gel-to-foam cleanser that deeply cleanses combination to oily, sensitive skin.
This face wash removes makeup, dirt, and excess oil without stripping your skin of its natural moisture and leaving it feeling dry.
The cleanser also helps reduce the look of pores for a smoother, more even complexion.
The cleanser contains three surfactants to clean your skin: cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, and sodium cocoamphoacetate.
Daily Facial Cleanser is formulated with niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, to help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and reduce redness and irritation.
Glycerin moisturizes and improves skin hydration, while panthenol (vitamin B5) helps support your skin’s barrier and offers anti-inflammatory benefits that help with wound healing.
Suitable for sensitive skin, the foaming cleanser is hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and won’t clog your pores, making it ideal for acne breakouts and acne-prone skin.
Cetaphil Daily Cleanser creates a very light foam with small bubbles when mixed with water, as shown in the image above.
The light foam is ideal if you have combination skin or an oily skin type that wants a deep clean without having your skin feeling stripped.
Please note that this Cetaphil cleanser original formula contains a masking fragrance, but a new, fragrance-free version is now available!
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is formulated with Micellar Technology to remove dirt, makeup, oil, and other impurities without drying out your skin.
Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser has a gel-cream texture and is formulated for dry to normal, sensitive skin.
This Cetaphil cleanser is a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils or dry it out.
In fact, it only contains one surfactant to clean your skin, sodium cocoyl isethionate, vs Daily Facial Cleanser’s three surfactants.
Similar to Daily Facial Cleanser, this cleanser contains glycerin for non-irritating moisture, niacinamide, which improves ceramide production for improved hydration and a stronger skin barrier, and humectant panthenol for additional soothing moisture.
Gentle Skin Cleanser is hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and won’t clog your pores.
Unlike Daily Facial Cleanser, this Gentle Skin Cleanser only comes in one version: fragrance-free.
It’s perfect for sensitive and dry skin types that want a gentle, non-foaming cleanse that leaves your skin hydrated, soft, and smooth.
Using Cetaphil Cleansers In Your Skincare Routine
While these Cetaphil cleansers can be used on their own as a first cleanse in your morning skincare routine, you may consider adding in a cleansing balm or oil-based cleanser in your evening skincare routine if you wear makeup or sunscreen or are exposed to environmental pollutants throughout the day.
If you choose to double cleanse, start with a cleansing balm, cleansing oil, or micellar water to remove makeup, and then follow with Daily Facial Cleanser or Gentle Skin Cleanser to clean your skin.
Optionally, you can follow your cleansing with a toner, serum, or other skincare treatment tailored to your skin type and skin concerns.
One step you shouldn’t skip, regardless of your skin type or skin concerns, is moisturizer. A facial moisturizer will help hydrate, lock in vital moisture, and support a healthy skin barrier.
In your morning routine, be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher as the last step of your skincare routine to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Cetaphil Cleansers By Skin Type
Cetaphil offers many cleansers formulated for different skin types, from oily and acne-prone to dry, redness-prone (Cetaphil Foaming Face Wash for Redness Prone Skin) and dull skin and hyperpigmentation (Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser).
With so many choices, it can be challenging to determine which is right for you. That’s why it’s important to figure out your skin type and any areas of concern before selecting the best Cetaphil facial cleanser for your needs.
All Cetaphil products are suitable for sensitive skin, so you may want to look at secondary skin concerns to make your choice.
Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
For a cleanser that works for multiple skin types, consider Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser.
It contains glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, and prebiotic aloe to hydrate and nourish your skin.
It’s the best of both worlds: the gel cream texture turns into a foam to give you a deep clean without stripping your skin. This is my favorite Cetaphil cleanser!
Cetaphil Cleansers For Acne-Prone Skin
- Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser
- Cetaphil Gentle Clear Complexion-Clearing BPO Acne Cleanser
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
Cetaphil Cleansers For Oily Skin
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser OR Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Fragrance Free
- Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash
Cetaphil Cleansers For Dry Skin
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
- Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Cetaphil Cleansers For Combination Skin
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser OR Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Fragrance Free
- Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
Cetaphil Cleansers For Normal Skin
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
- Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Whichever cleanser you choose, at minimum, be sure to follow your facial cleanser with a moisturizer to protect your skin’s natural moisture barrier and keep it feeling hydrated and balanced throughout the day.
And don’t forget sunscreen to protect from the sun’s harmful rays!
About Cetaphil
The Cetaphil brand was first developed in 1947 by a pharmacist in Texas. The brand was initially created to provide gentle, non-irritating skincare products for individuals with sensitive skin.
Cetaphil’s first product Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion is still sold today as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, discussed above.
The name Cetaphil comes from “cet” of cetearyl alcohol, a hydrating active, and “phil,” meaning loving. So the name Cetaphil translates to “the love of moisturizing and soothing skin.”
In the decades since it was founded, Cetaphil has become a well-known and trusted drugstore skincare brand, with a range of products formulated for different skin types and concerns, including baby and suncare products.
Cetaphil products are now sold in over 70 countries worldwide and are widely used by dermatologists and other skincare professionals.
Today the brand continues its commitment to creating many high-quality, gentle skincare products suitable for sensitive skin and skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rosacea.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser vs Gentle Skin Cleanser: The Bottom Line
When choosing a Cetaphil cleanser, it’s important to first determine your skin type so you can choose the one best suited for your needs:
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser –> Combination to Oily, Sensitive Skin
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser –> Normal to Dry, Sensitive Skin
Whether you opt for the Daily Facial Cleanser or Gentle Skin Cleanser, both provide excellent cleansing without stripping your skin of its natural oils or drying it out.
More posts on Cetaphil skincare products:
Thanks for reading!
Sarah Roberts is the founder, writer, and photographer behind A Beauty Edit. With over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, Sarah is an avid skincare and beauty enthusiast who shares the best beauty finds to help you save time and money!