6 minute read
CeraVe's appeal is that it is dermatologist-developed, ceramide-based and inexpensive. Its problem, at the shelf, is that it now makes nine different facial cleansers in almost identical white-and-blue packaging, and the difference between them is easy to miss.
They are not interchangeable. Using the wrong one is the single most common reason people say CeraVe “didn't work” for them — usually because they bought a foaming cleanser for skin that needed a cream one, then blamed the brand for the tightness afterwards.
Here is how to pick correctly.
What do all CeraVe cleansers have in common?
Every CeraVe cleanser contains three essential ceramides plus hyaluronic acid, and all are formulated to be non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. Ceramides are the lipids that hold your skin barrier together, and washing is the point in the day when you are most likely to strip them out.
That shared base is why even the stronger CeraVe cleansers tend to be gentler than equivalents from other brands. It is not why they are interchangeable — the cleansing systems on top of that base differ considerably.
Which CeraVe cleanser is best for dry skin?
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser 236ml.
This is the non-foaming, lotion-textured cleanser and it is the correct default for dry, tight or mature skin. It does not lather, which throws some people, but that is the point — lather comes from surfactants, and surfactants are what strip a dry barrier.
If your skin feels tight after washing, this is almost certainly the one you should be using. It is also the safest choice if you are using retinoids or acids elsewhere in your routine, because your cleanser should not be adding to the load.
Which CeraVe cleanser is best for oily skin?
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 236ml.
The gel-to-foam original, built for normal to oily skin that genuinely needs the oil removing. It contains niacinamide alongside the ceramides, which helps with the mild redness that often comes with oily, congested skin.
If your face is shiny by mid-afternoon and your makeup slides off, this is your cleanser rather than the Hydrating.
Which CeraVe cleanser is best for combination skin?
Two good options, depending on which way your skin leans.
CeraVe Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser 236ml starts as a cream and turns to a light foam. It is the compromise product — enough cleansing for an oily T-zone, gentle enough for drier cheeks. If you cannot decide between Hydrating and Foaming, this is usually the answer.
CeraVe Balancing Air Foam Facial Cleanser 148ml dispenses as a pre-whipped foam and is lighter still. It suits combination skin that finds even the Cream To Foam a bit much.
Which CeraVe cleanser is best for rough or bumpy skin texture?
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 236ml.
This contains salicylic acid, and it is the one to reach for if you have rough texture, small bumps on the forehead or cheeks, or the tiny hard spots on the upper arms known as keratosis pilaris. The SA works on the keratin plugs causing the texture rather than just moisturising over them.
It is a treatment cleanser rather than an everyday one for most people. If your skin is at all sensitive, start at three or four times a week rather than twice daily.
Which CeraVe cleanser is best for spots and breakouts?
Again, two, and the difference is real.
CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser 236ml is the salicylic-acid gel cleanser for active breakouts — the everyday choice when you are getting spots regularly.
CeraVe Blemish Clay-To-Foam Cleanser 118ml adds kaolin clay, which absorbs oil more aggressively. This is for very oily, congested, blackhead-prone skin where the Blemish Control alone is not shifting things.
Pair either with CeraVe Blemish Control Gel 40ml as a targeted treatment. And resist the urge to over-cleanse — stripping the barrier is a reliable way to make breakouts worse over a few weeks, not better.
Which CeraVe cleanser removes makeup?
Two, and they work differently.
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser 236ml is an oil that emulsifies into a foam with water. Oil dissolves oil, so this shifts sunscreen, foundation and long-wear makeup far more effectively than a water-based cleanser — and without the scrubbing.
CeraVe Micellar Cleansing Water 295ml is the no-rinse option, useful for a quick first cleanse or for days when a full wash is not happening.
If you wear sunscreen daily — and you should — an oil or micellar first cleanse followed by your usual cleanser is a meaningful upgrade. Our guide to chemical versus mineral sunscreen covers why some formulas need more effort to remove than others.
What if my skin barrier is already damaged?
Stop using anything with acids in it and switch to the Hydrating Cleanser until things settle — usually two to four weeks. Pair it with CeraVe Moisturising Cream 340g, which is one of the best barrier-repair moisturisers at any price.
Signs your barrier is compromised include stinging when you apply products that never used to sting, sudden sensitivity, flaking alongside oiliness, and redness that will not settle. Our guide on how to fix a damaged skin barrier goes through the full recovery routine.
It is also worth checking whether your skin is actually dry or simply dehydrated — they need different fixes, and our piece on the difference is a five-minute read that saves a lot of wasted money.
What should I use after cleansing?
Keep it simple. Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum 30ml in the morning, Resurfacing Retinol Serum 30ml a few nights a week, Skin Renewing Peptide Cream 48g to finish, and Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 52ml every morning without exception.
If you are unsure whether to prioritise retinol or vitamin C, our comparison of the two explains which does what.
Which CeraVe cleanser should I buy — the short version
- Dry, tight or sensitive skin → Hydrating Cleanser
- Oily, shiny skin → Foaming Facial Cleanser
- Combination skin → Hydrating Cream To Foam, or Balancing Air Foam
- Rough texture or bumps → SA Smoothing Cleanser
- Regular breakouts → Blemish Control Cleanser
- Very congested, blackhead-prone → Blemish Clay-To-Foam
- Removing makeup and sunscreen → Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser
- Quick or no-rinse cleanse → Micellar Cleansing Water
- Damaged barrier → Hydrating Cleanser, nothing else, for a month
If you are torn between two — and Foaming versus Hydrating is the one people get wrong most often — the safer bet is always the gentler one. You can always add strength later. Undoing a stripped barrier takes considerably longer.