I have had a complicated relationship with moisturizers. There has been a sense of struggle within me; a push to keep my face hydrated and a pull to save money by getting a budget moisturizer.
Here’s the issue; Entry-level good moisturizers are very expensive for the average Indian who wants good skin but is not willing to spend close to a thousand bucks to get 40 grams of moisturizer.
The budget moisturizer, with the excessive amount of scent that would qualify them as perfume, will give you more skin issues than moisturization. Is there no affordable and effective middle ground?
Enter Cetaphil Moisturizer
Cetaphil is a brand that you see more in the pharmacy than in a skincare shop. Many would say it is the poor man’s Cerave. But that is not a bad thing.
The brand has made its presence prominent with some of the most compatible and well-performing products, especially in the face wash segment.
Worried that the scent or some other chemical in your face wash might cause your skin to flare up? Get the Cetaphil face wash and you’ll be good to go. This clean (pun intended) approach is the reason I decided to give its moisturizer a try.
Note: Before trying it, I had tried Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost moisturizer and it worked perfectly fine without causing any issues. I just started noticing my pockets getting lighter. So I had to make a switch.
Shifting to excessively poor brands such as Kapiva (please don’t judge me) made me realize that a slightly lighter pocket is better than skin drier than the roads in Indian summer. Cetaphil was the only option.
Let’s take a look at the detailed review
Brand Claims and Ingredients
Starting with the reason the brand tells you to buy it; It is a simple yet effective moisturizer sans the fragrance and other possible irritants that can cause breakouts, irritation, and other negative effects.
I had the “dry to normal, sensitive skin” version and it claims to provide hydration that lasts 48 hours. Two days of hydration with just one application? That sounds too good to be true.
The product also comes with niacinamide (which is not surprising. Every skin care product these days comes with niacinamide). I would not be shocked if companies started niacinamide in the packaging box as well.
Let’s look at the ingredients:
Aqua, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pantolactone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid. FIL.1745.V00
Physical Impression
Now that we are done with the company’s claims, let’s take the matter into our own hands, literally. The packaging was decent, not great but not the worst either. Just like passing by a known acquaintance, your interaction with the box will be over in a few seconds.
- Color – Creamy white color that looks slightly yellow in certain angles but mostly white.
- Packaging – Plastic wrap around the cap of the bottle. No plastic around the bottle which is a good thing.
- Consistency – Cetaphil Moisturizer has a very creamy consistency that sits somewhere between watery and oily.
- Fragrance – The best thing about Cetaphil moisturizer is there is no added fragrance.
- Thickness/Viscosity – The moisturizer is decently thick and viscous. In the Minute-Drip™ test, it reached 1.5 inches. We have added an image for better understanding.
Application Impression
The application impressions of the moisturizer were impressive. The moisturizer starts with a creamy consistency but with each rub becomes more watery, getting a warm welcome from the skin.
The cream blends in perfectly with the skin with no after-texture. Apart from the immediate effect of moisturization, there was nothing else that I noted.
Coming to moisturization, this cream works like a charm, especially when you factor in the price. You will immediately notice a difference in the patch of the screen that has been flooded by the cream.
Skin felt more supple, bouncy, and smoother compared to the “control” skin i.e., where no moisturizer was applied. While rubbing water on the area did take away some moisturizer, it did not completely remove it thanks to Cetearyl Alcohol.
The moisturizer also did NOT cause any irritation, burning, itching, or any other form of skin issues.
Results and Review
Let’s come to the results and review the product. I have used Cetaphil Moisturizer for almost 2 months, applying it twice a day (morning and night right after washing my face with Cetaphil face wash).
The moisturizer does work as advertised. I would not say that the moisturization was tremendous and it certainly did not work for 48 hours as far as I felt. But it did work wonderfully from day to night and vice versa.
I applied the cream in the morning on one side of the face and kept the other face as it was. At the end of the evening, I could feel the difference. The moisturizer was holding the moisture barrier while the other side felt rough.
I did get one or two acne in the course of two months, but calling Cetaphil Moisturizer guilty without evidence would be an unfair trial. In the crime of acne, the culprit could be many.
But we still advise that you do a patch test first before going for the entire face. It is better to be safe than sorry for irritated skin.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the moisturizer and our verdict on whether you should buy it or not.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fewer, safer ingredients
- Niacinamide and panthenol added
- Fragrance-free
- No Paraben
- Hypoallergenic (does not cause allergies)
- Non-Comedogenic
- Keeps skin hydrated for the day
- Great consistency and absorption
- A small amount can cover a large area of skin
Cons
- Not the best moisturization
- Feels a bit heavy in higher temperatures
Our Verdict
Cetaphil Moisturizer is not perfect. But for the price it comes at, it gets the job done very well. You get a lot in less, relative to other moisturizers. Are there better options? Yes. But if this product is your choice (and need), then definitely go for it.
Apart from the face, it also works as a brilliant body moisturizer. It is non-allergic, and free of paraben and fragrance, making it one of the best moisturizers you can get in the price bracket.
Price and Availability
The price of Cetaphil Moisturizer ranges from anywhere between ₹ 425 to ₹ 440 and it is available in both online and offline stores. You can get it from pharmacies as well as skincare shops.
We found the best rates here. At the time of writing it, the price shown here is ₹ 425. This is not an affiliate link. We are just looking out for you 🙂
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