Which CeraVe Cleanser Is Best For Your Skin Type?
SKINCARE
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Right Cleanser From CeraVe
Finding the right cleanser is often the first and most important step in building an effective skincare routine. CeraVe offers a wide range of cleansers crafted with dermatologist-developed formulas that focus on maintaining the skin’s protective barrier. But with so many choices, it can be tricky to know which one fits your skin type best. Let’s break down CeraVe’s most popular cleansers and who they’re made for.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Best for: Normal to dry skin.
This non-foaming, cream-based formula is designed specifically for normal to dry skin. It uses three essential ceramides to restore and maintain the skin’s protective barrier, while hyaluronic acid pulls in hydration and supports plumpness. The inclusion of CeraVe’s MVE technology allows moisture to be delivered gradually throughout the day, preventing dryness or tightness after rinsing. The cleanser gently removes dirt, excess oil, and makeup, but leaves skin feeling soft and never stripped. Dermatologist-developed, it’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, making it excellent for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. If you struggle with dehydration, tightness, or flaky patches, this is a top pick for gentle daily cleansing.
CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
Best for: Normal to combination skin.
Blending the best of both worlds, this cleanser starts as a creamy lotion and lathers into a lightweight foam when massaged with water. It features amino acids that help support hydration, as well as the signature trio of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. While it’s gentle to the skin barrier, the foaming texture is adept at lifting away sunscreen, makeup, and impurities more thoroughly than a non-foaming cleanser. This makes it suitable for normal, combination, or even slightly oily skin types, especially for those who enjoy a fresh, “just-washed” feeling without dryness.
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser
Best for: Dry to very dry skin, including sensitive types.
This innovative cleanser combines hydrating oils like squalane and triglycerides with CeraVe’s usual ceramide support. Its texture is nourishing and luxurious, melting away impurities and making it ideal for dry or sensitive. Those who need moisture locked in. It foams gently upon contact with water, rinsing clean but leaving a comfortingly soft residue that doesn’t weigh skin down. Those with very dry, irritated, or mature skin often find this formula a standout, especially during harsh weather or post-retinol routines.
Best for: Normal to oily skin.
Made for normal to oily and acne-prone skin, the Foaming Cleanser is a gel-based product providing a satisfying deep clean, thanks to gentle surfactants. It contains ceramides to keep the barrier healthy and niacinamide to help reduce redness and regulate sebum production. This cleanser purifies pores and lifts excess oil without causing irritation, making it suitable for oily, combination, or blemish-prone skin. Unlike some foaming cleansers, it remains gentle and won’t leave you feeling tight or dry, supporting long-term skin comfort.
Best for: Rough, bumpy, or acne-prone skin.
This exfoliating cleanser contains salicylic acid (BHA), which helps to gently remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Additional ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide heal and calm, while hyaluronic acid maintains hydration. It’s particularly popular for treating rough, bumpy textures—like keratosis pilaris—or persistent body and facial acne. Regular use can smooth uneven skin, lighten post-acne marks, and regulate oil production without harsh microbeads or aggressive scrubs.
CeraVe Micellar Cleansing Water
Best for: All skin types, especially sensitive skin.
Using micelle technology, this versatile cleansing water gently lifts dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin’s surface—no rinsing or rubbing required. It’s enriched with ceramides and keeps hydration locked in, making it suitable for sensitive skin that doesn’t tolerate traditional cleansers well. Use it as an initial cleanse to remove makeup or as a gentle morning wipe-down on days when your skin doesn’t need a full routine. Non-comedogenic and dermatologist-developed, it leaves skin feeling refreshed and soothed.
Each CeraVe cleanser is formulated with ceramides and gentle surfactants, ensuring your skin stays balanced and healthy no matter your choice. The key is understanding what your skin needs: hydration, oil control, exfoliation, or simplicity, and matching it to the right formula.