Formula · 7.2

Brand · 5.2

Cetaphil · panthenol and niacinamide · Switzerland

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
7.2

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.9Actives with strong evidence: 1 of 2
  • Active concentration1.0Actives sit above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 97 % likely
  • Completeness for the purpose0.3For “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 33 %; without ceramides — the bricks of the barrier; without petrolatum or mineral oil, which seal moisture; could be added without conflict: ceramides; a formula with one main purpose
  • Tolerance1.0No ingredients from irritant or allergen lists
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • children
  • babies
  • atopic skin
  • oily skin
  • acne-prone
  • sensitive skinat 10 % flushing is possible
  • rosaceaask a dermatologist
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • fragrance · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “fragrance and its allergens” group — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • silicones · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “silicones” group — form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job.
When:
  • leave-on
  • morning
  • daytime
  • evening
any time, can be applied often
When to expect an effect: soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks; tone, pores — 4–8 weeks; sebum — 2–4
What is normal: mild flushing in the first days at high concentration

Ingredients — 9 components · 2 work

What works: 2 of 9 ingredients: panthenol, niacinamide. Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job.

Strengths: actives and evidence, active concentration, tolerance

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 33 %

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Aqua base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Cetearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty-alcohol blend (C16–C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; paired with ceteareth-20 — 4 of 5; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Panthenol works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: panthenol
  • Niacinamide works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: niacinamide
  • Pantolactone base: coating, fillers · draws water in and holds it in the upper layer of the skin
  • Xanthan Gum base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate base: coating, fillers · a mild surfactant and the base of syndet bars: it cleanses at a skin-close acidity, unlike soap. The foam is dense and creamy.
  • Sodium Benzoate base: coating, fillers · a preservative both in cosmetics and in supplements: a salt of benzoic acid that works in an acidic medium. Permitted as food additive E211 and in cosmetics up to 0.5 %.
  • Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is a product whose active ingredient is panthenol (pro-vitamin b5) + niacinamide (vitamin b3). The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. The effect is moderately supported: panthenol (pro-vitamin b5). The effect is supported by studies: niacinamide (vitamin b3). The formula has 9 ingredients, 2 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), fragrance, parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, children, babies, atopic skin, oily skin, acne-prone. sensitive skin, rosacea — ask a doctor. Use: any time, can be applied often. When to expect an effect: soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks. Label score — 7.2 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 1 of 2; actives sit above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 97 % likely; for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 33 %; without ceramides — the bricks of the barrier; without petrolatum or mineral oil, which seal moisture; could be added without conflict: ceramides; a formula with one main purpose). The list is short and fragrance-free; it is not suitable with an allergy to any of the ten ingredients.

Who it does not suit

When to stop: persistent burning — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: The list is short and fragrance-free; it is not suitable with an allergy to any of the ten ingredients.

Is this product right for your skin?

The score describes the formula, not your skin: the same product dries one person and saves another. Describe your skin type, reactions and goals, attach a photo of the ingredient list or the product — we will go through every ingredient and say whether it suits you, what to pair it with and what to avoid.

Cosmetic ingredient checkDecode my tests

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