Cetaphil

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum.

Acne

About this product

A gentle acne serum with 0.5% salicylic acid, designed to treat acne and sensitive skin with a hydrating formula.

Full ingredients

Salicylic Acid (0.5%), Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Succinic Acid, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Pantolactone, Citric Acid, Silica

Guru Score

84%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What they liked

Hydrating formula, not drying
Polyhydroxy acid exfoliates without stinging

What they flagged

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

What the gurus are saying

This serum earns praise for its low 0.5% salicylic acid concentration paired with a hydrating base that does not dry the skin, making it notably gentler than typical acne treatments. Dermatologists particularly recommend it for sensitive people or anyone prone to stinging, since the formula also contains gluconolactone (a milder exfoliant), prebiotics, and succinic acid for extra soothing. The combination of actives and hydrating vehicle makes it a rare choice that tackles both acne and irritation at once.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take January 2024

Best for

Sensitive skin Acne-prone skin

Type

AcneLiquid

Key actives

Niacinamide Salicylic acid (BHA)

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

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

Dr. Jenny Liu

323k subs

✓Yay

"I love Cetaphil's Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum. It contains 0.5% salicylic acid, so it's a lower concentration, more gentle, and more suitable for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin. It also contains salicylic acid which may offer some anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial benefits, and then polyhydroxy acid which is a gentle exfoliant and very easily absorbed. I personally like to just target facial areas of concern."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"This is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum. The salicylic acid is 0.5 percent, which is very gentle and very easy to tolerate. It might be a little bit too irritating for the bikini area or under the arms, so I wouldn't suggest using it there. It also has polyhydroxy acids, which really help not only with softening the skin but also deeply hydrating. All those things together are definitely going to help with reducing ingrowns."

All 2 takes from Dr Dray

HOW TO GET RID OF RAZOR BUMPS | Dermatologist @DrDrayzday

HOW TO CLEAR KERATOSIS PILARIS ON THE FACE| DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

"It's in a vehicle that's actually pretty hydrating and moisturizing, it's not drying, so I think it's a great choice for KP. [...] If you tend to be more sensitive I'd suggest going with this over an alpha hydroxy acid product because it's less likely to sting, and if you also have acne I'd suggest [...] this one. It also has prebiotics, which may help feed the healthy bacteria on your skin, and succinic acid, which may be anti-inflammatory."

What the evidence says.

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

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

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 Triple Action Acne Serum?

A gentle acne serum with 0.5% salicylic acid, designed to treat acne and sensitive skin with a hydrating formula.

Is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum worth it?

Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

What is Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum's Guru Score?

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.