If you’re on the hunt for a gentle cleanser you’ve probably come across both Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and Vanicream cleansers. In this post I’ll compare the two to see which is the best cleanser for your skin, depending on your needs.
At the bottom of the post is a breakdown of each Cetaphil cleanser and how it compares.
I’ve used both of these face cleansers and honestly, I think they’re both decent. It’s more about your personal preference when it comes down to it, so I’ll be describing the pros and cons of each.
How to pick a great cleanser for different skin types
Let’s start with the basics. Personally I find it most helpful when you can understand what your skin needs and why, rather than just being pushed a product with no explanation.
Cleansers without actives
There is a common misconception that only sensitive skin types or dry skin require gentle cleansing with a simple cleanser. This is absolutely not true! I actually recommend all skin types use a gentle cleanser without harsh cleansing agents or actives. When you use a cleanser that contains actives, it often means that you use those actives both morning and night, if you’re using the same cleanser twice per day.
This is too much for most skin types, and is totally unnecessary when you can deliver your actives in serums. This is better because it gives you the choice of when to use actives, rather than by default every time you cleanse.
Cerave salicylic acid cleanser
If we take the example of the Cerave Salicylic Acid Smoothing cleanser, which is very popular on TikTok, this contains an exfoliating acid. There are many people using this twice a day, without realising that they’re actually exfoliating their skin twice a day. This is far too much, especially if they’re also using actives in a serum format.
Using the wrong cleanser can cause damage to your skin barrier, which can result in acne-like breakouts and make everything worse!
Cleansers for acne-prone skin
You might be wondering about acne-prone skin and whether this is also true for these skin types. There is a myth that oily skin or acneic skin should be cleansed with a very strong cleanser, in order to remove excess oil.
In reality, cosmetic science has now advanced so that we can get just as deep a clean with a gentle formula. The cetaphil cleanser and vanicream cleanser are both very gentle and therefore ideal for acne-prone skin.
Skin conditions like acne often look best when they are babied by the right products, which in the case of cleansers tend to be free of active ingredients that can weaken the skin’s natural barrier. A cleanser’s real job is simply to clean the skin thoroughly, without damaging it.
Actives likes gylcolic acid or azelaic acid can come later on in your routine.
Vanicream gentle facial cleanser Vs Cetaphil: key differences
Let’s get into the key differences between Vanicream vs Cetaphil.
Vanicream only has one cleanser in their range, whereas Cetaphil has eight. In this blog I’ll be focusing on the most popular three, which are all variations of the original Gentle Skin cleanser. So this includes the ‘Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Face & Body Wash for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin’, ‘Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser for Normal to Dry and Sensitive Skin’ and the ‘Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser, Face Wash for Combination to Oily Sensitive Skin’. Essentially the original, the oily skin version and the foaming version.
Fragrance and essential oils
All of the cleansers from both brands are fragrance and essential oil free, except for the oily skin cleanser by Cetaphil. Personally I think this is pretty rubbish of them, because it specifically says ‘oily sensitive’. Sensitive skin especially shouldn’t be exposed to essential oils, so I am unsure why they did that. I do not recommend this cleanser for that reason.
Active ingredients
All of the cleansers are free of exfoliating actives, however two of them contain niacinamide. Niacinamide is good at evening skin tone, reducing the look of pores and reducing excess skin oils. It is a common acne ingredient and can also help strengthen the skin’s barrier. However, not everybody reacts well to it, so you may wish to avoid it. Only avoid it if you believe you’re sensitive to niacinamide, though.
Itchy skin benefits
If you deal with itchy skin or uncomfortable skin, it could be a sign you skin barrier may be damaged. Alternatively, you might have some kind of seborrheic dermatitis or perioral dermatitis which can cause skin itching.
All of these cleansers (except the oily skin one I excluded earlier) might help to calm that sensation, but particularly the ones that contain panthenol. Panthenol is also known as vitamin B5, and it is soothing. Both the foaming and the original gentle skin cleanser contain this, but Vanicream doesn’t.
Vanicream gentle facial cleanser Vs Cetaphil
Now I’ll share my thoughts on the Vanicream cleanser alone. Overall, I really like it. I only stopped using it because it stopped being available to buy on Amazon. As I’m in the UK, it’s nowhere to be found in stores, and I don’t want to ship a cleanser internationally as I have others that I like.
Currently I use the Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser and have done since Vanicream was removed from Amazon. Make sure to check out my list of other water based cleansers if you want some more ideas. Now I’ll break down a list of pros and cons for the Vanicream cleanser:
Vanicream cleanser: pros
- Doesn’t contain any essential oils, which can be irritating and sensitising
- Only contains 11 ingredients, aside from water. Minimal formulas make some of the best facial cleansers
- It feels good on the skin, I would describe it as creamy, but it still lathers
- Foams up but doesn’t leave the skin feeling dry
- Suitable for daily use
- Helps to retain the skin’s moisture with glycerin
Vanicream cleanser: cons
- The biggest con with this cleanser is that I don’t feel confident it can remove makeup. I think it’s great as a second cleanse after an oil cleanse, but I wouldn’t use it to remove makeup on its own
- Difficult to get in the UK, relatively easy in the US (I believe)
All in all, I don’t feel there are tonnes of cons, it’s a very simply cleanser. However, I know there’ll be some comments about the formula contain mica and whether or not this is ‘pore clogging’. In which case, I’d invite you to read my blog on pore clogging ingredients in skincare. This is also a wash-off formula, so it’s going to be harder for it to clog your pores (though this can still happen with wash offs).
Now I’ll do a simple pros and cons list of the Cetaphil cleansers, it’s relatively brief because they are not all that different from each other, other than what I’ve called out above.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser pros and cons
Pros:
- Only 9 ingredients other than water
- Suitable for daily use
- Contains panthenol which can be very soothing
Cons:
- Unlikely to remove makeup well, unless a makeup remover or balm is used beforehand
- Doesn’t foam up, which some may not enjoy
- Unlikely to be able to remove SPF without double cleansing
Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
Pros:
- If you like a foaming formula, this foams and provides a slightly deeper cleanse
- Shouldn’t dry out your skin
- Contains niacinamide for minimising the appearance of pores and reducing excess sebum production
- Contains aloe and panthenol, which are both soothing
Cons:
- Still not convinced it will remove makeup or SPF well without double cleansing
- You may not wish for it to contain niacinamide
Best gentle cleanser for dry or combination skin
Personally, I’d choose the Vanicream gentle cleanser for skin that’s dry or combination. I like the way it subtly foams without drying, and I dislike the way the cetaphil gentle cleanser feels on the skin. It reminds me of the Cerave hydrating facial cleanser, which I don’t like. Results wise, I doubt you will see much of a difference between the two, but how you feel using it is also important!
Best gentle cleanser for oily skin
Whilst the Vanicream is certainly still a great choice, you may prefer the foaming Cetaphil cleanser (not the one for oily skin!). This cleanser has the added benefits of niacinamide, which Vanicream does not, and is a great product for a simple, affordable skincare routine. Both choices are free of common irritants which is important, and are suitable for daily facial use.
