Cleansing is such an important step in your skincare routine.
Yet as a dermal therapist, it’s something I always see dismissed in clinic.
People want the active ingredients! Give me vitamin A and the stuff that tingles!
Although realistically, if you’re not cleansing and removing your makeup properly, those other skincare products won't work as effectively.
Side note - You can learn more about how to cleanse your skin correctly in our YouTube video below.
While I do love cosmeceutical-brand cleansers, I'm also big on helping my clients figure out where to spend and save on their skincare routines if they're on a budget.
And cleansing is definitely an area you can save on.
If you are on a budget but still want an effective cleanser, you need to try a CeraVe cleanser.
Honestly, we are very lucky to now have CeraVe skin care so easily available on Adore Beauty.
Every CeraVe cleanser (yep, there are currently five different ones!) is popular. You've probably seen them everywhere, and they sell out all the time.
AB's content producer Sadaf wrote a whole CeraVe review article here if you want more details!
Here are some CeraVe cleanser benefits:
From a CeraVe cleanser for oily skin to the best CeraVe cleanser for combination skin, there are different CeraVe cleansers to suit different skin types.
CeraVe skin cleansers are very well known for their formulations - they contain ceramides, fatty acids (lipids) that help moisturise and strengthen your skin barrier and protect it from pollution, environmental aggressors etc.
Pump packaging is easy to use in the shower, and the gender neutral colours are accessible for everyone (can vouch for the fact CeraVe cleansers are husband-approved).
You can get CeraVe cleansers in 236ml and 473ml sizes, from $13.99 to $26.99.
So, which CeraVe cleanser is the best for you?
They're all great, but it depends on your skin type and skin concerns.
Let's go through the differences between the CeraVe hydrating cleanser, CeraVe foaming cleanser, CeraVe SA cleanser, CeraVe cream to foam cleanser and CeraVe oil cleanser.
You can watch this video below for the quick version, or keep scrolling for all the details on each cleanser.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser 236ml is a cream cleanser formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid that is best for normal to dry skin.
This Cerave dry skin cleanser has a creamy texture, feels nourishing and gentle, doesn’t lather at all and never strips your skin.
This is the best CeraVe cleanser for you if:
You have dry and/or dehydrated skin, or prefer gentler cleansers - this one's especially good as a morning cleanser.
It will also be a good choice for you if you have any skin sensitivities, rosacea, skin irritations, or an impaired skin barrier.
Ever Googled things like 'which CeraVe cleanser is best for acne prone skin?' or 'is CeraVe salicylic acid cleanser good?'?
Good news! CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 236ml is a gel cleanser formulated for oily, acne prone and normal skin. And yes, it's good!
The CeraVe SA cleanser (also referred to as the CeraVe SA smoothing cleanser and CeraVe salicylic acid cleanser) is designed to gently clean the skins while also providing a light chemical exfoliation with 0.5% salicylic acid or SA.
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid and is great for blackheads and clearing out the pores on the face and body. Humectant ingredient urea helps to keep moisture locked into the skin, too.
Learn more about how salicylic acid works in this YouTube video below!
This is the best CeraVe cleanser for you if:
My CeraVe SA cleanser review? It's best if you have oily or acne prone skin, or want to target congestion, blackheads and breakouts on the face.
You can also use it for pimples on the body (back, thighs, chest) and to reduce the look of keratosis pilaris or chicken skin.
The SA component is also very minimal, so on the right skin types, it could be used every day.
CeraVe Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser 236ml is my favourite cleanser from the lot.
I personally think it’s great for most skin types.
CeraVe cream to foam cleanser never strips the skin, lathers really well, feels like a gel-cream hybrid and is just heaven to use.
Again, it’s full of ceramides and hyaluronic acid, so it will never dry out the skin. And while it’s marketed as a ‘foaming cleanser’, it’s not one of those foams that strips you clean.
It’s barely a foam, more like a luscious lather.
This is the best CeraVe cleanser for you if:
You want a great, affordable cleanser that feels amazing to use!
Most skin types should be able to tolerate this cleanser, although it would be 'best' for normal to dry skin types, and can easily be used both AM and PM.
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser 236ml is CeraVe’s most gentle cleanser, but the name is a bit confusing because it isn't a true 'oil cleanser' you'd use as your first cleanse.
This feels much more like an oil version of their foaming cream cleanser, so sensitised skin types can still get that foamy feeling without experiencing dryness. It’s very gentle, and the foam is barely a foam experience.
Unlike a traditional oil cleanser you apply on dry skin to remove makeup, you apply on damp skin like a regular cleanser.
This is the best CeraVe cleanser for you if:
You have sensitive or sensitised skin or an impaired skin barrier!
It would also make a great, gentle cleansing option for a morning cleanse for anyone who doesn’t like to use gel or foams cleaners.
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser 236ml is the truest foaming cleanser from the lot.
It lathers up well and your face feels super fresh, balanced and less oily when you use it.
This is because it contains the ceramides and hyaluronic acid, but also niacinamide for regulating oil production.
I personally love the CeraVe foaming facial cleanser for removing makeup.
This is the best CeraVe cleanser for you if:
Think of this as the CeraVe oily skin cleanser.
Normal to oily skin types will benefit the most from this cleanser, but other skin types could use this as their second cleanser after an oil or balm cleanser.
CeraVe is a very trustworthy, affordable skincare brand, and I recommend the cleansers to my clients if they want a budget option.
They remove makeup really well (tick) and won't strip your skin barrier (double tick).
Based on my combination skin type, my two favourite CeraVe cleansers are the hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser for use every day, and the foaming cleanser post-workout or when my skin is feeling a little more oily.
But I really do like them all if I’m being honest.
Now all that's left to do is pick the CeraVe cleanser for you!
You can also learn more about CeraVe's hero ingredient ceramides in the YouTube video below.
Read more about our favourite CeraVe products and a guide on ceramides below:
