Formula · 3.2

Brand · 5.2

Cetaphil · a zinc surfactant and licorice root · Switzerland

Cetaphil PRO Oil Removing Foam Wash

Cetaphil PRO Oil Removing Foam Wash
3.2

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4Little evidence of effect
  • Active concentration0.2After the 1 % line: licorice extract — the concentration is likely token
  • Completeness for the purpose0.1For “sensitive skin and redness” — 9 %; zinc oxide; could be added without conflict: zinc oxide; below threshold: licorice extract; a formula with one main purpose
  • Tolerance0.9Rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • rosacea
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
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
  • 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: Sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients (panthenol, allantoin, bisabolol, centella, oatmeal, ectoin) and barrier ones (zinc oxide, ceramides, niacinamide) — one from each group — and as few irritants as possible: fragrance, alcohol, acids.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
  • morning
  • evening
morning and evening
When to expect an effect: redness, itching — 1–2 weeks; spots — 8–12 weeks, if at all
What is normal: nothing special — well tolerated

Ingredients — 17 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 17 ingredients: licorice extract. Sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients (panthenol, allantoin, bisabolol, centella, oatmeal, ectoin) and barrier ones (zinc oxide, ceramides, niacinamide) — one from each group — and as few irritants as possible: fragrance, alcohol, acids.

Strengths: tolerance

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: little evidence of effect; active concentration: after the 1 % line: licorice extract — the concentration is likely token; completeness for the purpose: for “sensitive skin and redness” — 9 %

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: amyl cinnamal, benzyl benzoate, citronellol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, linalool, fragrance — 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

  • 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
  • Zinc Coceth Sulfate base: coating, fillers · washes oil and dirt off skin or hair
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • PEG-75 base: coating, fillers · coating glazing agent
  • Amyl Cinnamal questions · 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
  • Benzyl Benzoate questions · 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
  • Citronellol questions · 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
  • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: dipotassium glycyrrhizate
  • Disodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • Geraniol questions · 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
  • Hydroxycitronellal questions · 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
  • Linalool questions · 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
  • PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil base: coating, fillers · coating glazing agent
  • PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate base: coating, fillers · coating glazing agent
  • 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 %.
  • Zinc Gluconate base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Parfum questions · 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

Cetaphil PRO Oil Removing Foam Wash is a product whose active ingredient is licorice extract. The concentration is not declared; the active sits after the 1 % line, but works at small shares. There is little evidence of effect: the anti-inflammatory component of licorice; few clinical studies on its own. The formula has 17 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Parfum (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). Sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients (panthenol, allantoin, bisabolol, centella, oatmeal, ectoin) and barrier ones (zinc oxide, ceramides, niacinamide) — one from each group — and as few irritants as possible: fragrance, alcohol, acids. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, rosacea. sensitive skin, atopic skin — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening. When to expect an effect: redness, itching — 1–2 weeks; spots — 8–12 weeks, if at all. Label score — 3.2 out of 10 (little evidence of effect; after the 1 % line: licorice extract — the concentration is likely token; for “sensitive skin and redness” — 9 %; zinc oxide; could be added without conflict: zinc oxide; below threshold: licorice extract; a formula with one main purpose; rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). The fragrance contains amyl cinnamal, benzyl benzoate, citronellol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal and linalool — not suitable with a fragrance allergy.

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: itching, rash — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: The fragrance contains amyl cinnamal, benzyl benzoate, citronellol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal and linalool — not suitable with a fragrance allergy.

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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