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Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment
Acne

About this product

A lightweight, fragrance-free mattifying moisturizer formulated with 0.5% salicylic acid, designed to hydrate and control oil in acne-prone skin.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

80%

Yay

6 experts · Moderate agreement
6Gurus
6Yay
0Mixed
0Nay
#6 in AcneSee the ranking →

What they liked

  • Matte finish without stickiness or greasiness
  • Lightweight enough to layer under sunscreen
  • Salicylic acid low enough to avoid irritation

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    What the gurus are saying

    The low concentration of salicylic acid means gentler exfoliation that won't cause dryness or irritation, yet still helps with pores and blackheads when used regularly. Dermatologists praise it as a genuinely moisturizing base that manages shine and layers beautifully under sunscreen or makeup, making it a standout choice for oily, acne-prone skin; those with drier skin may find it less supportive depending on how dry they are. It's one of Cetaphil's most loved but underrated products.
    Synthesized from 6 expert reviews · most recent take June 2026

    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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Yay
    "My next recommendation is the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer. This is a super lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, especially if you're oily. It helps control 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 under sunscreen. It's best for oily, acne-prone skin looking for shine control and hydration at the same time. But it's really also good for anyone using active treatments like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide who needs lightweight barrier support. The key ingredients are salicylic acid 0.5%, prebiotic aloe, panthenol or vitamin B5, and niacinamide."
    Yay
    "The Cetaphil acne mattifying moisturizer, underrated as a matter of fact. Cetaphil's acne line in general very good. This has 0.5% salicylic acid. You could use this as a spot treatment but I encourage you to use it to the entire face of course sparing the eyelids because too drying in that area. 5% is effective but works very slowly, so this is something that you want to be patient with. But as a leave-on treatment it's a great option at this percentage, less likely to be drying and irritating. The other reason I like this product so much is not only the vehicle because it's pretty moisturizing without being greasy or oily, but it also sneaks in there something called kic acid which is excellent for those of you whose acne heals with a dark mark. Kic acid chelates copper which is necessary for the enzyme tyrosinase, so in other words it puts the brakes on hyperpigmentation. Excellent ingredient to include in an acne targeted product."
    All 15 takes from Dr Dray
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    "I really like the Cetaphil mattifying acne moisturizer. It has 0.5% salicylic acid."
    *BEST* Lightweight Moisturizer For Summer
    "This is not just a moisturizer but a product that treats multiple skin issues, so this may not be right for everyone, especially if you don't have these issues. It's 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 Cetaphil Mattifying Acne Moisturizer. Now hold that thought, it doesn't mean that it is only for people with acne and I'll explain in a moment. This is 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. So very functional ingredient. This moisturizer is such a nice formula. It is mattifying, it's not greasy, it's hydrating, moisturizing, free of fragrance. I mean, they really balance out the formula to be suitable for quite a broad spectrum of skin types. So really consider this one if you have any..."
    10 Skincare Products You Need To Try From Target 🎯🛍
    "This is one of my favorites from Cetaphil. Their Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer likewise 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 0.5 percent salicylic acid which when used consistently is still going to be helpful for pores, for comedones, for similar issues but what's nice about this is this is a very moisturizing formula."
    Shop With Me For Skincare At TJMaxx
    "Their acne mattifying moisturizer is really a great leave-on salicylic acid. I found this in Marshalls and I really like it."
    Acne-Prone Skin: The Ultimate Guide To Products
    "The Cetaphil acne mattifying moisturizer, underrated as a matter of fact. Cetaphil's acne line in general very good. This has 0.5% salicylic acid. You could use this as a spot treatment but I encourage you to use it to the entire face of course sparing the eyelids because too drying in that area. 5% is effective but works very slowly, so this is something that you want to be patient with. But as a leave-on treatment it's a great option at this percentage, less likely to be drying and irritating. The other reason I like this product so much is not only the vehicle because it's pretty moisturizing without being greasy or oily, but it also sneaks in there something called kic acid which is excellent for those of you whose acne heals with a dark mark. Kic acid chelates copper which is necessary for the enzyme tyrosinase, so in other words it puts the brakes on hyperpigmentation. Excellent ingredient to include in an acne targeted product."
    DRUGSTORE SKINCARE FOR MATURE SKIN 2023 | Dermatologist
    "This Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid is helpful for acne control. It's super moisturizing, it doesn't lead to dryness and irritation and peeling and flaking."
    Shop with me for SKIN CARE FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION 🛍 Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
    "This product by Cetaphil is a salicylic acid moisturizer. It's really good if you've got oily, acne prone skin. Just the formulation overall, it's moisturizing, it's not greasy, and it has 0.5% salicylic acid, so that'll help with fading hyperpigmentation."
    BUDGET FRIENDLY ANTI-AGING SKIN CARE: DERMATOLOGIST TOP PICKS @DrDrayzday
    "This is a really good everyday moisturizer with a low amount of salicylic acid at 0.5 percent. It also has licorice root which has a skin brightening effect. You can wear it during the day underneath sunscreen and at night as your nighttime moisturizer. It's especially good if you have an oilier skin type."
    BEST ACNE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS OF 2021 @DrDrayzday
    "Cetaphil came out with something I love—their Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer. This product is amazing. It has a very thick consistency, so it's a nice moisturizer for dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin. If you have oily acne-prone skin, this will work as well. It has 0.5% salicylic acid, which is much lower but can still be helpful for reducing stickiness between skin cells. Salicylic acid is also anti-inflammatory and can help reduce hyperpigmentation. In addition to that, this has kojic acid and licorice root, both helpful for hyperpigmentation, so if you have a deeper skin tone I would seriously suggest considering this if you've got acne. As a moisturizer, it keeps the skin hydrated, which is important with acne-prone skin because you don't want it to dry out. It has the salicylic acid which is anti-inflammatory and can impart ongoing acne control throughout the day, and dissolves the glue between sticky skin cells. It also has zinc gluconate, a polyhydroxy acid that is anti-inflammatory and very gently exfoliates as well. This is a type of moisturizer that when used consistently will help even out skin texture and improve skin tone through the anti-inflammatory effects and gentle exfoliation. It's also super moisturizing."
    Is ZINC OXIDE SUNSCREEN TOXIC AFTER 2 HOURS? | Answering your skin care questions | Dr Dray
    "I'm rather fond of the Cetaphil acne mattifying moisturizer. It has 0.5% salicylic acid in it and it's very lightweight and not greasy."
    How to STOP GETTING SHINY SKIN | Dr Dray
    "I highly suggest this product from Cetaphil. It is their gentle clear mattifying acne moisturizer with 0.5 percent salicylic acid, so much lower but still an effective percentage strength. It's really a very thick moisturizing formula with silicones in it, which are really good ingredients that allow for better evaporation of sweat and have shine reducing properties. This is good especially for those with more of a tendency towards dry skin who find that two percent salicylic acid in a leave-on product is maybe just too much."
    Vlog: WHAT'S IN MY BATHROOM| Skin care products I am using | Dr Dray
    "This Cetaphil Mattifying Acne Moisturizer has become a 2021 skincare favorite, and you will see it in my 2021 skincare favorites video that I do at the end of the year. I really, really like this one. The formula is really nice and thick, but at the same time it's not heavy or greasy. It's a great way if you have very dry, sensitive skin to introduce salicylic acid into your routine."
    NEW DRUGSTORE SKIN CARE (Pacifica, Cetaphil, Neutrogena) | Dr Dray
    "Cetaphil came out with a product that I am loving. It's their mattifying acne moisturizer salicylic acid treatment. Very very moisturizing, really really thick. This is a great product to incorporate into your routine not only for acne control but also for closed comedones. What I love about it is that it stays in place and doesn't transfer around to other areas of the face. It's got kojic acid and licorice root, both great for dealing with hyperpigmentation. It's super moisturizing but it's not greasy. This is really well formulated."
    Vlog: Using VITAMIN C AND HYALURONIC ACID | Dr Dray
    "This one has centella in it which is great for the moisture barrier and has compounds in it that are helpful for skin elasticity and promote healing. It's been shown to be helpful in improving the appearance of scars. This product is a lot thicker and a lot more moisturizing. So if you have tried salicylic acid in the past and maybe it was a little too drying, try this product out."
    Yay
    "I really love this one because it is hydrating lightweight really ideal for oily and acne prone skin but also offers some mattifying properties and contains ingredients that are gentle but at the same time helps to target acne concerns and post acne marks. It is a lightweight gel cream that absorbs quickly and offers some mattifying sebum control properties. Great to layer under sunscreen. Ingredient wise it contains 0.5% salicylic acid that helps to target pores and congestion, gently exfoliates, and also contains prebiotic complex that helps to support your skin barrier along with cica acid and licorice which helps to soothe and calm the skin but also at the same time along with cica acid helps to brighten the skin and improve uneven skin tone from acne. So great one if you struggle with acne, oiliness, and post-acne marks."
    All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
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    "I really love this one because it is hydrating lightweight really ideal for oily and acne prone skin but also offers some mattifying properties and contains ingredients that are gentle but at the same time helps to target acne concerns and post acne marks. It is a lightweight gel cream that absorbs quickly and offers some mattifying sebum control properties. Great to layer under sunscreen. Ingredient wise it contains 0.5% salicylic acid that helps to target pores and congestion, gently exfoliates, and also contains prebiotic complex that helps to support your skin barrier along with cica acid and licorice which helps to soothe and calm the skin but also at the same time along with cica acid helps to brighten the skin and improve uneven skin tone from acne. So great one if you struggle with acne, oiliness, and post-acne marks."
    Dermatologist Ranks Favorite Cetaphil Products | Dr. Jenny Liu
    "This has 0.5% salicylic acid, which is a lower concentration, so it's less irritating. Along with licorice root, which is anti-inflammatory and offers some brightening benefits, and cic acid, which is a brightening ingredient. It's a lightweight gel cream that's very fast absorbing but hydrating and doesn't feel sticky. I personally love this in the morning under sunscreen. I wouldn't say it's super mattifying, but it definitely is not sticky at all. It can be used by everyone. If you're acne-prone but have oily skin, I think this is a good moisturizer. For those with more dry skin, it's definitely hydrating, but depending on how dry and sensitive your skin is, you may find it's not supportive enough. Overall, for most individuals looking for a lightweight, elegant moisturizer that offers some acne benefits, some brightening benefits, and helps target post-acne marks that feels nice, not heavy, and layers nicely under sunscreen, I recommend checking this one out. You can use this twice a day as tolerated."
    Yay
    "The Cetaphil Mattifying Acne Moisturizer has a 0.5% salicylic acid, so it helps leave a matte finish on the skin, and it has ingredients to help remove excess oil and directly treat acne. It's okay to use in this routine and should play well with your retinol. It's designed to be a lightweight moisturizer that doesn't sit too heavy on the skin."
    Yay
    "I think this is a wonderful product for those who have oily skin, are starting to see a little bit of increased skin texture or increased blackheads, but also have sensitive skin because it's formulated with all of those skin concerns in mind. Unlike any of the other moisturizers that I've discussed today, this one has salicylic acid and salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that works within the pore to break up debris so it can really help with early acne and skin texture. It can also help minimize the appearance of pores. The problem with salicylic acid usually is that it can be a little bit irritating for people so when you formulate it within a moisturizer like in this product you're sort of preventing the irritation from the salicylic acid before it even happens because you have all these other nourishing, moisturizing ingredients going alongside it."
    Yay
    "For someone with acne, Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer, even though they never promote the product, I actually said to the Cetaphil team like this is my favorite product on camera and they're like can you pick another one and I was like no, this is my favorite. I love that moisturizer."
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    All 7 takes from Doctorly
    Skincare QnA and Chill
    "I'll give the moisturizer to Cetaphil. I love their mattifying acne moisturizer. No one talks about it, I feel like I'm the only person who's ever talked about it. It's just not a product from talking with the brand they don't really try to push it, people aren't really talking about the product much, but it's really good. One of the best mattifying moisturizers, especially for those with acne-prone skin, that I feel exists. It's like four or five years old now, so definitely worth trying."
    Weekend SkinCare Live!
    "For someone with acne, Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer, even though they never promote the product, I actually said to the Cetaphil team like this is my favorite product on camera and they're like can you pick another one and I was like no, this is my favorite. I love that moisturizer."
    Dermatologists' Most Underrated Skincare Brands of 2026
    "Cetaphil has a mattifying acne moisturizer with kojic acid and licorice to help with dark spots. It's excellent for acne skin."
    CeraVe Acne Control Gel vs. Cetaphil Acne Moisturizer
    "This is one of my favorite acne moisturizers ever of all time. It has an excellent vehicle that is extremely lightweight and fragrance free. It has treatments for acne, but then it also helps with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This product fits perfectly into the space of treating people with dry skin that still struggle with acne because it moisturizes, it's non-comedogenic so it's not going to clog your pores, it works on acne, it was formulated for sensitive skin, and it's not going to dry out the skin. It's really just a really well-formulated product that you actually don't need to moisturize over the top of it because it serves as a moisturizer in and of itself. It's the perfect combination of hiding an acne active in an incredible moisturizer. It has salicylic acid for mild exfoliation, licorice root and kojic acid for hyperpigmentation, and then excellent moisturizers like squalane, niacinamide, allantoin, dimethicone, safflower oil, and glycerin. It's widely available, affordable, and effective. It's a little mattifying so it's not going to give you that dewy look, but not everybody wants that."
    The ULTIMATE Oily Skin Routine | Doctorly Routines
    "The Cetaphil Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment is more dedicated toward acne-prone skin. It is amazingly hydrating for a lightweight moisturizer. Not only does it have salicylic acid, but it also has a couple of other ingredients that help target dark spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It's a great product and definitely gives you that matte finish."
    SIMPLE ACNE ROUTINE FROM A DERMATOLOGIST | Doctorly Routines
    "The Cetaphil Gentle Mattifying Acne Moisturizer is an option for acne-prone skin if you want a mattifying moisturizer."
    BEST MOISTURIZERS OF THE YEAR | DOCTORLY REVIEWS
    "The Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer is the standout. So much so that we dedicated half a video to it. The salicylic acid is really doing that heavy lifting for the acne, and that mattifying component makes it really good for oily skin. For people with oily skin, that's actually pretty important to them. They spend a lot of time battling their oil control and the glossiness of their skin. Dewy skin is something they want less of. But this lotion also has ingredients that are going to help with the hyperpigmentation that comes on after the inflammation of acne calms down. It has kojic acid and licorice. So really unlike a lot of salicylic acid products, this gave a little bit more boost. The texture is something that won me over. For someone with oily acne skin, this is really going to be a very comfortable lotion with great ingredients. I don't think a lot of people are doing the mattifying thing, so I think it's great that Cetaphil has that line for people that don't like to have that dewy experience. A lot of people with acne don't want to moisturize because they think it's going to make it worse, and having a moisturizer that's also an acne treatment is really going to encourage people to moisturize."

    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Salicylic acid

    Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

    Source: DermNet

    Humectants and emollients

    Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

    Source: DermNet

    Frequently asked.

    What is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment?

    A lightweight, fragrance-free mattifying moisturizer formulated with 0.5% salicylic acid, designed to hydrate and control oil in acne-prone skin.

    Is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment worth it?

    Yes. All 6 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 80%.

    What is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment's Guru Score?

    Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment holds a Guru Score of 80%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment best for?

    Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acid Treatment is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

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