Written By: Joseph Winn

As a young male, I was vividly aware of my acne problems, but I was even more aware of my embarrassment when browsing the acne treatment aisle of the local drugstore. When I went to see a dermatologist, she offered me some advice that didn’t involve looking through the various zit cream options. She said to change my soap to something less irritative to my skin and this is where the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar comes in. This bar of soap that is described by Cetaphil as a non-soap is free of many of the chemicals, perfumes and detergents of the soaps I had been using. After my first night of using the soap, my skin noticeably different afterwards compared to what I had become used to.

Cetaphil’s Gentle Cleansing Bar comes in a 4.5 oz sized bar. There are also liquid options available, and an anti-bacterial version, but for this review I will focus on the basic soap bar option. Cetaphil describes the Gentle Cleansing Bar as non-alkaline and non-soap. What does this really mean? Purchasers of the Cetaphil bar are often those with sensitive skin due to skin problems or senstivity to dryness. What is important to someone like myself is that the soap I use won’t agitate my skin, clog my pores and foster an environment for new acne. If there is a word I would use  to describe the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing bar, it would be “safest”, as in the soap bar that I worry the least about when I use. There is no alkali metal to worry about and the non-soap has a neutral pH balance. There is no oily after-feel, and no dry crater feel when my face dries.

Pros

• Gentle on the skin
• Hypoallergenic
• Fragrance Free
• Non-irritating
• Non-Drying
• Available at most drugstores
• Overall great for dealing with acne

Cons

• Lack of scent
• Price relative to common soap bars

On the other hand, Cetaphil’s Cleansing Bar isn’t for extra cosmetic needs. While you may be used to sniffing your soap to determine if you want it on your body, the Gentle Cleansing Bar lacks any recognizable fragrance. This is not the sort of soap you rub all over your body as a date night precaution. Cetaphil brand cleaning products lay on the opposite end from an Axe cleansing product, and make no effort to be so noticeable upon the body as most body lotions do. The Cetaphil line is also a more expensive soap option, even with most drugstores offering their own generic version of the cleansing bar. It is important to consider that you may end up saving money by needing less anti-acne treatment once you try using the Cetaphil bar.

I have been using the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar for nearly two decades. When a friend or realtive discusses their difficulty with acne, I ask them what sort of soap they use and recommend they give Cetaphil a try. Being a product of Galderma Laboratories, a benefactor of the Dermatology Foundation, I feel like I’m giving friends and family some professional advice. Try it out for yourselves and see if your face feels any different.