Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, 127 g
A mild face and body bar for sensitive skin that can still feel drying on very dry skin.
The short version
- People with sensitive or dry skin who want a gentle bar for face and body
- Anyone switching away from regular soap that leaves skin feeling stripped
- You react to any fragrance, including masking fragrance
- Your skin is very dry and even gentle bars leave it tight
What owners like
- Soft, creamy lather that rinses off easily
- Gentle enough for daily use on face and body
- Simple, low-cost routine compared with multi-step cleansers
Common complaints
- Can leave very dry skin feeling tight, especially in cold months
- Scent opinions split, with some noticing a medicinal smell
- Many still need a moisturizer afterward
Based on Cetaphil's US product page, the Care to Beauty Canada listing, user reviews on Acne.org and a hands-on review at Good Health Academy.
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
- Mar 2026
First bought.
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
A mild cleansing bar for face and body, made for normal to dry and sensitive skin, with glycerin and other moisturizing ingredients.
- Cetaphil says it is clinically proven gentle on sensitive skin and dermatologist tested
- Glycerin is the featured moisturizing ingredient
- Non-comedogenic, so the maker says it will not clog pores
- Works up into a creamy lather on wet skin
- Canadian retailer listing describes it as free of alcohol, parabens, silicones and sulfates
A reasonable everyday bar for people with sensitive or dry skin who want something gentler than regular soap and like a creamy lather. The trade-off is that results split: some users still find it drying or tight, especially in winter, and the US ingredient list includes a masking fragrance, so the most fragrance-sensitive may want a truly unscented bar.
How it compares
Specs
- Size
- 127 g (4.5 oz)
- Skin type
- Normal to dry, sensitive
- Use
- Face and body
- Moisturizing share
- Over one third moisturizing ingredients (maker claim)
- Key ingredients
- Glycerin, butyl avocadate, petrolatum, sucrose cocoate
- Claims
- Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, paraben free
Worth knowing
- The US ingredient list includes masking fragrance.
- Cetaphil labels the bar for normal to dry skin.
Questions
What is in the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar?
The US ingredient list leads with sodium cocoyl isethionate and stearic acid, and Cetaphil highlights glycerin, butyl avocadate, petrolatum and sucrose cocoate as moisturizing ingredients.
Is the Cetaphil cleansing bar fragrance free?
Not entirely. The US ingredient list includes a masking fragrance.
Can it be used on the face?
Yes. Cetaphil sells it for face and body and describes it as non-comedogenic.
Is the Cetaphil bar good for dry skin?
Cetaphil makes it for normal to dry skin, but some users with very dry skin still find it tight in winter and follow with a moisturizer.
Sources
- Cetaphil US: Gentle Cleansing Bar
- Care to Beauty Canada: Cetaphil Cleansing Bar for Sensitive Skin 127g
- Acne.org: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar reviews
- Good Health Academy: An Honest Review of Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
Researched 2026-10-01. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.