Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream
Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream is a thick, restorative moisturizer designed to replenish the skin's moisture barrier while you sleep. Formulated by the dermatologist-recommended brand Cetaphil, this cream focuses on intense hydration using key humectants and emollients. The inclusion of Glycerin helps attract moisture into the skin, while Dimethicone creates a protective seal to prevent trans-epidermal water loss. The product also features Hydrogenated Polydecene, which provides a smooth, luxurious feel upon application. While it contains nourishing components like Tocopherol (Vitamin E), the texture is decidedly rich, catering to those who experience significant dryness or dehydration. This night cream aims to leave skin feeling soft and supple by morning. However, for those with congestion-prone skin, the formulation requires a closer look at its lipid profile. Despite its soothing marketing, several ingredients may pose a challenge for users struggling with persistent breakouts or oily skin types. Understanding how these ingredients interact with your pores is essential before adding this to a strict acne-safe regimen.
Our Analysis
Our analysis flags Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream as high-risk for acne-prone skin due to its ingredient profile. The most concerning inclusion is Oleic Acid, which carries a high comedogenic rating of 4/5 and is known to disrupt skin barrier function in acne-prone individuals. Additionally, the formula contains Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Tocopherol, both of which can contribute to pore blockage in a rich, occlusive base. The presence of Cetearyl Alcohol also adds to the risk, as it can become more comedogenic when combined with certain emulsifiers, potentially leading to increased congestion and breakouts.
Skin Type Recommendations
This product is best suited for very dry or mature skin that is not prone to acne. Its rich emollients provide essential lipid replenishment. However, we do not recommend it for oily, combination, or acne-prone skin types, as the high-risk ingredients are likely to cause blackheads and breakouts.
Flagged Ingredients
Disrupts skin barrier function and induces pore blockage.
Fractionated coconut oil; removed most clogging long-chain acids but can still affect some.
Pure Vitamin E is thick and sticky; safe in small amounts as an antioxidant, but potentially clogging in pure oil form.
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).
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.
