Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Score breakdown

Our verdict

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is the cleanser dermatologists reach for when the goal is to remove the day without touching the barrier — and that restraint is exactly what makes it good. There are no sulfate surfactants and no true foaming agents here; instead it works as a soft, lotion-like cream that emulsifies dirt and light makeup while leaving the skin's lipids intact. The standout is that it carries the same barrier-repair complex as CeraVe's moisturizers: ceramides NP, AP and EOP with cholesterol and phytosphingosine, plus glycerin and sodium hyaluronate for humectancy. That means it actively deposits barrier lipids as it cleanses rather than stripping them. It is fragrance-free and paraben-free, which suits sensitive, dry and eczema-prone skin. The trade-offs are honest ones: it will not fully remove heavy makeup or sunscreen on its own (use it as the second step of a double cleanse), and oily or congestion-prone skin may find it too mild and prefer a gel or foaming formula. For dry to normal and reactive skin, it is close to a reference cleanser.

At a glance

Key ingredients

Full ingredient list (24)

Colour indicates our safety assessment for each ingredient — green is well-tolerated, amber warrants caution, red is higher-risk. Tap any ingredient to read its full profile.