Cetaphil Redness Relieving Night Moisturizer
Cetaphil Redness Relieving Night Moisturizer is a fragrance-free formula designed to provide intensive overnight hydration for skin prone to redness and sensitivity. This night cream aims to soothe irritation and visible redness while reinforcing the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Key ingredients include Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, a fractionated coconut oil emollient, and Glycerin, a classic humectant that draws moisture into the skin. The inclusion of Propanediol and Pentylene Glycol ensures the texture remains spreadable and hydrating without feeling excessively greasy on contact. While the brand is frequently recommended for sensitive skin, the formulation relies heavily on a blend of fatty alcohols and emollients to create its rich, comforting feel. It is intended to calm the skin while you sleep, making it a popular choice for those with dry, reactive complexions. However, users with active acne should examine the specific ingredient interactions carefully, as the combination of certain texture enhancers and emollients may lead to unexpected congestion despite the product's soothing claims.
Our Analysis
Our analysis classifies this moisturizer as having a HIGH comedogenic risk level. The most significant concern is Ceteareth-20, which carries a 5/5 rating; it acts as a penetration enhancer that can drag other ingredients deeper into the pores, leading to congestion. Additionally, the combination of Ceteareth-20 and Cetearyl Alcohol creates a synergistic effect that elevates the pore-clogging potential to a 4/5. While Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Cetyl Alcohol are individually lower risk, their presence in this rich formula contributes to a high likelihood of breakouts for individuals prone to acne.
Skin Type Recommendations
This product is best for dry, non-acne-prone skin experiencing redness. It is poorly suited for oily, combination, or acne-prone skin due to the high-risk combination of Ceteareth-20 and fatty alcohols. Those with sensitive skin should exercise caution, as the potential for pore-clogging may outweigh the soothing benefits for some.
Flagged Ingredients
Highly comedogenic penetration enhancer. Opens the skin barrier to drag other ingredients deeper, causing congestion.
Fractionated coconut oil; removed most clogging long-chain acids but can still affect some.
Fatty alcohol emollient with low-moderate comedogenicity on its own. However, when combined with Ceteareth-20, the synergistic effect can significantly increase pore-clogging potential (combined rating of 4).
A fatty alcohol (emollient) that is generally safe, but can be problematic for very sensitive individuals.
Want Deeper Analysis?
Run our MACR (Multi-Axis Comedogenic Risk) analysis to get a comprehensive 5-axis risk assessment. This AI-powered analysis evaluates ingredients for Plugging Risk, Barrier Damage, Fungal Acne Risk, Oxidation Risk, and real-world User Reports — giving you personalized scores for your skin type.
