Safer Swaps for the Cetaphil Lover

Hi my name is Nora and I used to love Cetaphil. Forget love, I needed my Cetaphil. I used that dang cleanser from middle school through adulthood and the dependency was very real.  I convinced myself that it was the gentlest, safest and best thing for my finicky, acne-prone skin. It was doctor recommended, had a self described “mild, non-irritating formula” and a short ingredient list. All good things right? Plus, I was terrified that something else would break me out or make my skin worse. When I first started swapping out my products I remember thinking to myself, I may make some changes but there is no way I will ever, ever, get rid of this Cetaphil face wash. Seriously. Ever.

Well, here we are a couple years later and you guys, I kicked my Cetaphil to the curb. It’s been almost 2 years since my last Cetaphil bottle and I can honestly say I am never going back! So what changed? Why and how did I make the switch?

Here’s the thing. Shorter ingredient lists don’t always mean better ingredients. Those 8 ingredients in Cetaphil’s Gentle Cleanser translate to water, three forms of waxy alcohols, a synthetic surfactant and three preservatives known as parabens. Are you more of a Daily Cleanser fan? I used that one too. That formula also has surfactants (SLES), parabens, multiple PEG’s and synthetic fragrance. Okay okay, but what do these things mean?

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a synthetic surfactant, or foaming agent. It can also act as an emulsifier, helping oil based ingredients and water based ingredients stay together. It’s used to remove oil, grease and residue and is found in high concentrations in industrial products (think: car engine degreasers and industrial cleaners) and in lower concentrations in household cleaners and personal care products. What’s the issue? SLS and it’s sister Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) can cause skin irritation and trigger allergies. Plus, SLES is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethoxylation, which is used to process other chemicals in order to make them less harsh. Pretty ironic for a product that’s supposed to be gentle, right?

Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as articficial preservatives in many skincare, body and makeup products to extend their shelf life and prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. They can easily be identified by looking for anything ending in -paraben. What’s the issue? The issue with parabens is that they are proven endocrine disruptors – meaning that they mimic estrogen and can both alter important hormonal mechanisms in our bodies and play a role in triggering cancer and other serious health issues. That sounds anything but mild.

PEGs (polyethylene glycols) are petroleum-based compounds that are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. They are often used in cream based cosmetic and personal care products and in pharmaceuticals as laxatives. What’s the issue? Depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of carcinogenic ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, just like SLES. And while carcinogenic contaminants are the primary concern, studies show that PEG compounds alone show evidence of genotoxicity and if used on broken skin (aka that pimple you just popped or your cracking sensitive skin) they can cause irritation and systemic toxicity. So much for non-irritating!

And don’t even get me started on fragrance. That is a dedicated post for another day. Once I did my research, once I knew better, I knew I had to do better. I wanted to do better! For myself, for my health and for my future family. I was done with my Cetaphil for good – I just had to find a replacement!

In my search, I found a few options from brands that I know and trust: Beautycounter, Follain, Indie Lee and Mother Dirt. All of them ban the red flag ingredients in my former flame: SLS/SLES, parabens, PEGs and synthetic fragrance. These brands also conduct rigorous safety testing for contaminants and impurities, so I feel confident that the products I’m using aren’t just marketed as gentle and safe, they are gentle and safe. 

If my story resonated with you and you’re thinking about making the switch, here are some ideas that will finally help you kick your Cetaphil to the curb, too! 

My Top 4 Clean + Gentle Cleansers

Mother Dirt Foaming Cleanser – This cleanser is super mild and gentle. I recommend it for pretty much all skin types, except very dry ones in the winter time. Foaming cleansers have the reputation for being drying and stripping – this one is neither. I love that it’s been tested and proven to be friendly to the skin biome and is made without harsh surfactants, yucky preservatives and toxic chemicals – as are all products by the brand! I’m also a big fan of their A+O mist (probiotics for the skin, yes please!).

Beautycounter Counterstart Cococream Cleanser – This is basically the clean Cetaphil in concept and texture! It’s a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and impurities without stripping the skin of essential moisture. The combination of coconut oil and aloe vera soothes and nourishes, while antioxidant Vitamin E protects the skin from environmental stressors and aggressors. It’s also a great price point ($20!) and the line has a similarly priced moisturizer. BONUS – this one is EWG verified which means it’s free from all of the Environmental Working Group’s chemicals of concern and meets their strict safety standards.

Follain Hydrating Cleanser – This gentle cleanser deep cleans, purifies and nourishes – also without stripping or drying! Bonus – it also gently exfoliates with pore-purifying willow bark extract and the creamy formula transforms into a nourishing lather as you cleanse. It’s great for all skin types and is sensitive safe! Follain has some of the strictest safety standards around and this is from their very own line. They also have a gentle moisturizer!

Indie Lee Rosehip Cleanser – I was fortunate enough to meet Indie in real life last year and she is one of the best humans on the face of the earth. Her story is unbelievably inspiring and worth a read if you have time. The mission of her brand is to provide healthier skincare options through rigorious testing protocols that ensure clean, high-performance products – and boy do they deliver. Indie has created a sensitive-safe, antioxidant-rich and super soft Rosehip Cleanser that is the perfect replacement for Cetaphil: vitamin-rich rosehip oil helps slow the signs of aging and preserves moisture. Indie also makes two other dynamite cleansers that are Brightening (all skin types) and Purifying (combo skin).

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