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Cetaphil

Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer
Acne

About this product

A lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer with 0.5% salicylic acid designed to hydrate acne-prone skin while controlling oil and providing a matte finish.

Best for

Oily skinAcne-prone skin
Acne

The Guru Index verdict

80%

Approved

Approved · 80%
4Reviewers
4Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus consistently praise this as an underrated gem that delivers on multiple fronts: it hydrates without greasiness, mattifies effectively, and the low-dose salicylic acid gentles exfoliates without causing dryness or irritation. The formula balances acne-fighting benefits with barrier support through ceramides, niacinamide, and soothing ingredients like licorice root and cica. It works well for oily and acne-prone skin types and layers seamlessly under sunscreen. The main caveat is that it may not provide enough hydration or barrier support for very dry or sensitive skin.
Synthesized from 4 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Hyaluronic acidSalicylic acid (BHA)SqualaneFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Salicylic Acid (2%), Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Phenoxyethanol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Squalane, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc Gluconate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Morus Alba Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Safflower Oil/​Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, PPG-5-Laureth-5, Sodium Hydroxide, Kojic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-11, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"The Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer is a super lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, especially if you're oily. It helps control that oil and shine while providing hydration and barrier support. It's completely fragrance-free and has this matte finish, making it really good for daytime use under makeup or underneath sunscreen. It's best for oily, acne-prone skin looking for that shine control and hydration at the same time. But it's really also good for anyone who's using active treatments like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide and needs a lightweight barrier support. The key ingredients are salicylic acid 0.5%, prebiotic aloe, panthenol or vitamin B5, and niacinamide."
Approved
"The other one that I really like a lot, and it's kind of similar as far as benefits it is offering, 0.5% salicylic acid, is the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer."
All 5 takes from Dr Dray
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"The other one that I really like a lot, and it's kind of similar as far as benefits it is offering, 0.5% salicylic acid, is the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer."
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"This is from Cetaphil and honestly it is underrated. Everyone I have ever recommended this to has sung the praises of it. It's probably one of their most loved products that just kind of flies under the radar. It's a moisturizer with 0.5% salicylic acid, so for those who have acne prone skin, salicylic acid is a useful ingredient for helping to exfoliate the pore lining, cutting down on blackheads and whiteheads. It's also a useful ingredient for people with rough and bumpy skin on the face, keratosis pilaris, because it softens and gently exfoliates those rough bumps. Salicylic acid is also anti-inflammatory and it's helpful for lightening hyperpigmentation. This moisturizer is such a nice formula. It is mattifying, it's not greasy, it's hydrating and moisturizing, free of fragrance. They really balance out the formula to be suitable for quite a broad spectrum of skin types."
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"This is one of my favorites from Cetaphil. The Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer has 5% salicylic acid, but the base is really moisturizing. It has sodium hyaluronate, it has squalane, and it has licorice root, which is good for cutting down on redness as well as tackling hyperpigmentation. Salicylic acid can help in gently exfoliating the skin to lighten dark spots, but also it has some anti-inflammatory properties that may help in preventing them."
SKINCARE PRODUCTS FOR FACE BUMPS | Dermatologist
"I highly suggest this one from Cetaphil, this mattifying acne moisturizer, because it uses a 0.5 percent salicylic acid which when used consistently is still going to be helpful for pores, for comedones, for bumps. What's great about this is it's a very moisturizing formula."
DRUGSTORE SKINCARE FOR MATURE SKIN 2023 | Dermatologist
"This Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer has salicylic acid which is helpful for acne control, and it's super moisturizing. It doesn't lead to dryness and irritation and peeling and flaking."
Approved
"I love their mattifying acne moisturizer. It's really good, one of the best mattifying moisturizers, especially for those with acne-prone skin that I know of. It anchors on ceramides and the skin barrier, which are both good. It's not a product the brand really tries to push or advertise for, and people aren't really talking about it much, but it's definitely worth trying."
Approved
"It has 0.5% salicylic acid so lower concentration, which isn't as effective but will be less irritating along with licorice root that's anti-inflammatory and may offer some brightening benefits, and cica acid that is a brightening ingredient. This is a lightweight gel cream that is very fast absorbing but hydrating, doesn't feel sticky. I personally love this in the morning under sunscreen. It's not super mattifying but definitely is not sticky at all and can be used by everyone. If you are acne-prone but have oily skin I think this would be a good moisturizer. For those with more dry skin it's definitely hydrating but you may find it to be not supportive enough depending on how dry and sensitive your skin is. But overall for most individuals looking for a lightweight elegant moisturizer that offers some acne benefits, some brightening benefits, helps targeting post-acne marks, that's going to feel nice, not heavy, and layer nicely under sunscreen, I recommend checking this one out."
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