If Cetaphil Cleanser and Cleanse Me Cleanser had a baby, it would be THIS – CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. When I used this cleanser, this was actually the first thing that sprang to mind. Try it out if you don’t believe me!
So I’ve had this for about two weeks now, and if you’re curious about the cleanser and are contemplating its purchase, go ahead and read the entire review. But if you just want to know what’s ‘yum’, ‘yuck’, and ‘meh’ about it, simply scroll down to the pros-cons and FAQ area.
Table of Contents
About CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
So we know CeraVe is a French brand with an excellent reputation. It’s popular among those with dry skin, and people with eczema have said it’s helped them improve their skin. That could be because their products are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, allergen-free, and use simple and extremely effective formulations. And also, a slew of well-known dermatologists have endorsed it, and the fact that it was created in collaboration with dermatologists lends credibility to the brand.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Ingredients:
CeraVe now stands out from a plethora of other brands because all of their products contain ceramides, and they use these three distinct types of ceramides. It formulates its products using this extremely particular method, known as the MultiVesicular Emulsion Method (MVE).
CeraVe claims that the “MVE technology gradually releases the ceramide-enriched formula over an extended period. MVE is like a sphere with a series of layers that slowly dissolves, releasing the ingredients into your skin.”
This Hydrating facial cleanser is non-foaming and hydrating (it feels like a lotion). Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are its star performers. The goal of this cleanser is to avoid the dry, stretched, squeaky clean feeling that some cleansers leave behind and focus on gently cleansing skin. It removes filth and dirt while retaining the natural moisture of the skin. It also claims to increase moisture content, which we’ll discuss in a moment.
It is said to be beneficial for normal to dry skin. But I would also take into account the humidity and weather in your area to see if it would work.
Just like the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, this cleanser has a solid ingredient list – including the notable Ceramide and Hyaluronic Acid. The benefits of those two are talked about a lot.
But—disclaimer—they’re both in a cleanser, so they’ll only make so much of a difference.
Packaging and Design
This 88-ml product comes in a durable bottle. It doesn’t come in a box. This one does not have a pump opening but comes with a disk-top cap, whereas the larger bottle does have a pump.
It boasts a clean, easy-on-the-eye design, with nothing flashy or extraneous. The container has all of the necessary information. And I found this pretty cool packaging detail, which, honestly, I noticed really late. You see, at the back of the bottle, they’ve provided instructions on how to use it in English and French, leaving not much room for extra information, so these people added something cool—a flipable label. More information (actually the same information in different languages plus the ingredients list) is printed on the inside of the cover, which is quite cool, eh?
Texture and Scent
This cleanser is white, lightly translucent, and has a runny, lotiony feel to it. For a more vivid picture, think semi-frozen coconut oil texture; it’s exactly the same. And it does not foam at all. It would be ideal if you have excessively dry or irritated skin.
It does cleanse nicely. Removes all of the debris from your face without leaving it dry or parched. It will not remove sunscreen. It can remove light makeup, but if you’re wearing waterproof makeup, you’ll need to use a different cleanser. And it’ll work nicely as a second cleanser.
Despite its texture, it rinses swiftly and thoroughly without leaving a greasy or sticky residue. It also contains no artificial aroma, which is also true for all other CeraVe products—no fragrance whatsoever.
My Experience with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
So, since the beginning of December, my skin has been slightly red and inflamed. My skin transitioned from combination-normal to normal-dry. And since it’s a dry winter out here, I also started getting these dry patches on my face. So I decided it was time to take a break from active cleansers and invest in a gentle winter cleanser, and so here we are.
CeraVe felt like a solid idea based on the following assumptions: It is mild. It is non-stripping and thoroughly cleansing. And it contains ceramides, which I believe are winter essentials.
And a few days later, I realized that all of my assumptions were correct. It is really mild and an effective cleanser also. And, if you’re into whole-skin massaging with cleanser thing, this is a real breeze to use.
It doesn’t lather, so I’m massaging it between my palms, hoping to see the tiniest bit of foam, but there is none—absolutely none. And that also helps it glide like butter on the skin, creating a luxurious feeling when massaging your skin with it. I also like how quickly it rinses off. It’s gone in two splashes of water. There is no slimy residue; only soft, clean skin remains.
I don’t think the cleanser has dramatically improved my skin, but it has significantly reduced my inflammation. However, I’ve also been using the CeraVe cream, so it’s possible that this has just aided the process of calming my skin.
Though I still have some gripes,
I believe it is a great morning cleanser, but not so much for your evening regimen. I prefer cleansers that make my skin feel “clean”—not dry, stretched, squeaky clean—but post-bath “clean”- if that makes sense.
It claims to be a hydrating cleanser, but it does not feel that way on my skin. It certainly is gentle, and no stripping, but not hydrating. This may be just me, so let me know if your experiences differ from mine.
Pros:
- Extremely gentle
- Easy to work with
- Does not aggravate acne
- It cleans really well
- Non-comedogenic
Cons:
- Do not remove sunscreen.
- Isn’t Hydrating
And now a few frequently asked questions (FAQs):
Does it have any fragrance?
It has a faint, unnoticeable scent that won’t disturb you. But it has absolutely no added fragrance.
Is it suitable for people with oily skin?
Nope. If you have extremely oily skin, I would not recommend it. However, if you’re searching for a morning cleanser, this may work.
Is it safe for acne-prone skin?
It certainly is. When it comes to acne, you want to be sure you’re cleansing thoroughly without clogging your pores or aggregating your acne. This one is going to be very gentle and pretty safe to use on acne-prone skin.
Will it cause acne?
I want to say it won’t, given the safe ingredients list and various people’s experiences, but there are other factors outside of non-comedogenic ingredients and formulation that might contribute to acne. With this hydrating cleanser, acne and comedones should ideally not be occurring on someone with normal, non-sensitive skin. However, you must review the contents list and composition if you have any sensitivity issues. Also, do a patch test behind your ears to observe whether there is any reaction.
Does it get rid of sunscreen?
Nope. To remove sunscreen, you’d need something stronger, although this can be used as a second cleanser.
Do I recommend the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser?
Yes! I do! For winter, it makes an excellent cleanser. For dry skin, you can use it all year round. For normal skin types, it’ll be a wonderful morning cleanser and it works splendidly as a post-workout cleanser too.
Alright folks!
See you in the next one. Let me know if you have questions about the cleaner.
Sejal Jain is a passionate beauty content creator at TheBeautyInsideout. She believes that skincare is not just a superficial thing but more like an expression of self-love and respect for your body and yourself.
