Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Name: Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Brand: Cetaphil

Face Cleanserscleansers

Safety score

Pregnancy-focused assessment

Low Risk76/100

Higher concernLower concern

One or more ingredients have a low-risk flag in MamaSkin's current assessment. Review the notes and your own circumstances.

Formula and assessment check

Ingredient safety review updated 24 November 2025. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.

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Ingredient breakdown

See how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.

No known risks

Low risk

Medium risk

High risk

Ingredients

Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.

Phenoxyethanol

Low Risk

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative permitted in EU cosmetics up to 1.0%. The SCCS concluded it is safe for cosmetic use at that level, including when considering higher cosmetic exposure scenarios in infants and young children. Main practical concern is irritation/stinging on very sensitive or compromised skin rather than a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific risk.

Sources: EU SCCS; EU Cosmetics Regulation (Annex V preservative limit), SCCS Opinion on Phenoxyethanol (SCCS/1575/16, 2016)

Water

No Known Risks

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

No Known Risks

Mild amphoteric surfactant used in cleansers and shampoos to boost foam and reduce harshness. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support present cosmetic use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified; the main practical caveat is irritation or allergy in some users, sometimes linked to sensitising impurities.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Related Amidopropyl Betaines as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Show all (12)

Coco-Glucoside

No Known Risks

This glucose-derived nonionic surfactant or emulsifier is used in cleansers and emulsions. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review concluded that alkyl glucosides are safe in current cosmetic use when formulated to be non-irritating; sensitive skin can still react to surfactants.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Decyl Glucoside and Other Alkyl Glucosides as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment/?id=9810a771-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6

Betaine

No Known Risks

Betaine is a humectant/osmolyte used to support hydration and reduce irritation potential in formulas; it is considered low concern with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding risks in topical cosmetic use.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

Glycerin

No Known Risks

Glycerin is a widely used humectant that supports hydration and the skin barrier, with a long safety record and no known pregnancy or breastfeeding concerns in topical cosmetic use.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

Panthenol

No Known Risks

Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) is used for soothing and barrier support and is generally well tolerated, with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding concerns in topical cosmetic use.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

Tocopheryl Acetate

No Known Risks

Tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E derivative) is used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient; it is considered low concern in topical use with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding risks at cosmetic concentrations.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

Sodium Benzoate

No Known Risks

Preservative widely used in foods and cosmetics. Considered safe at regulated concentrations with low systemic exposure from topical use.

Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); European cosmetics regulatory framework

Polysorbate 20

No Known Risks

Nonionic surfactant and solubiliser used to disperse oils and fragrance. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Polysorbates as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Polyquaternium-10

No Known Risks

A large cationic cellulose polymer used to condition hair and improve product texture. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that Polyquaternium-10 is safe in current cosmetic use; human testing did not indicate irritation or sensitization at reviewed concentrations. No pregnancy-specific concern is identified for normal topical exposure.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Polyquaternium-10, cited in the CIR Quick Reference Table https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/safe-092017posted122017.pdf

Citric Acid

No Known Risks

pH adjuster used in small amounts to maintain product stability. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.

Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); European cosmetics regulatory framework

Formulations can change without notice. For the most accurate result, compare this list with your packaging and scan the exact ingredient label in MamaSkin when you repurchase.

How to use this assessment

The risk band is the primary conclusion. The score adds detail within that band and should not be used to compare products as if a one-point difference were clinically meaningful.

MamaSkin provides pregnancy-focused information, not medical advice. Your midwife, GP, pharmacist or dermatologist should take priority when your circumstances differ from typical cosmetic use.

Read the full methodology