CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a gentle, moisturizing cleanser designed to restore skin barrier and hydrate dry or sensitive skin without stripping.

See Product

We may earn a small commission if you click our link. It helps support the cost of running our analysis and keeping this site independent.

Rankings by Sentiment Analysis

Reddit Rank

Total Upvotes

5611

Editorial Summary: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is kinda a mixed bag—loads love how gentle and moisturizing it is, especially for dry or sensitive skin, plus it won’t break the bank. But heads up, some folks break out or get irritated, and a few say it feels like it doesn’t clean well. If you’re dry-skinned and patient, might be worth a shot. If acne-prone or sensitive, maybe patch test or consider alternatives.

Pros

✓Gentle and hydrating formula suitable for dry and sensitive skin
✓Affordable and widely available drugstore product
✓Helps restore skin barrier and reduce breakouts for some users
✓Non-foaming texture feels moisturizing and non-stripping
✓Positive long-term results reported by some users

Cons

✗Some users experience breakouts and acne worsening
✗Can cause dryness, tightness, or peeling for certain skin types
✗Reports of stinging, burning, or irritation especially after reformulation
✗Not effective or felt insufficiently cleansing for some
✗Concerns about mold in unopened bottles and unclear expiry

Methodology: Analyzed over 100 user quotes from various skincare-focused subreddits including SkincareAddiction, AsianBeauty, Sephora, and 30PlusSkinCare between August 2017 and June 2025; synthesized pros, cons, and FAQs based on recurring themes and sentiment trends to provide an impartial consumer overview.

Asked by Redditors

Is CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser suitable for acne-prone skin?

It varies; some find it reduces breakouts while others experience worsening acne or breakouts.

Can the cleanser cause dryness or irritation?

Yes, some users report dryness, tightness, or irritation, especially if used incorrectly or after reformulation.

How should I apply the cleanser for best results?

Applying it on a wet or dripping wet face and massaging gently for at least a minute helps maximize hydration and cleansing.

Is the cleanser good for sensitive skin?

Many users with sensitive skin find it gentle and hydrating, but some still experience irritation or redness.

Where can I buy the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser?

It's widely available at drugstores, grocery stores, Target, Walgreens, and online retailers.

Reddit Reviews:

Calculated by the the number of posts or comments that have an opinion on this product

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Cleansers which felt too drying. Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser fell under this category, while Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser broke me out.

u/AutoModeratorSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 2184

[ACNE] I jus went to scoop out the last of my CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser & the bottle had mould in it! I’ve never opened it before & I couldn’t see an expiry date anywhere. I’m so freaked out how long I’ve been rubbing mould into my poor acne ridden face *crying in gross*

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 914

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser

u/[original poster]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 550

Before: wash with CeraVe and done.

u/OPSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 447

I recently volunteered in Tanzania and didn’t have space to bring all my skincare with me so I just bought a tube of cerave on a whim. I’ve used this cream before and it always broke me out and made my skin itch. But I thought what the heck. The only thing I did differently this time was apply it on a dripping wet face. I know a little more about skincare now compared to back then, and as this cream has HA, I understand it should be applied to wet skin to properly reap the benefits. Long story short, while I was in Tanzania for a month, I had the clearest skin of my life. And my skin glowed!!! Now I’ve been using cerave for the past 2 weeks again and my skin looks the best it has in years.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 423

Cosrx Low PH Good Morning Cleanser: the only foaming cleanser that doesn't dry out my skin. I will say though that I prefer the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser for winter.

u/xiutuziSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 194

Below: a list of cleansers that weren’t gentle enough for me - cerave hydrating cleanser - calm and restore aveeno cleanser - cetaphil gentle cleanser

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 191

Skip the CeraVe cleanser and just use the LRP cleanser.

u/eratoastSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 97

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser * **Upvotes:**\xa063 * **Positive Reviews:**\xa061

u/N/ASentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 63

I'm a bit apprehensive to try it since I had a reaction to the Cerave Hydrating cleanser and I am sensitive to some alcohols, which I see the Isntree one has a few of.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 60

Currently Showing 10 Reviews