CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser vs Foaming Facial Cleanser

So, you've decided you want to try one of CeraVe's cult-favorite, best-selling cleansers, but you can't quite figure out what the differences are? We've all been there, don't worry!

Come with us as we compare the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser vs CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser side-by-side to help you decide which is right for you. Enjoy!

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CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser vs CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

With both cleansers appearing practically identical on the shelf with their signature blue/green CeraVe branding, we're going to have to dive straight into their formulas to find any differences of note.

First and foremost, it's worth highlighting the fact that the Hydrating Facial Cleanser and the Foaming Facial Cleanser are formulated for completely different skin types.

Though both cleansers boast the same nourishing base of essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, the Foaming Facial Cleanser also contains:

• Niacinamide: a water-soluble vitamin that works with the natural substances in your skin to help visibly minimise enlarged pores, tighten lax pores, improve uneven skin tone, soften fine lines and wrinkles, diminish dullness, and strengthen a weakened surface.

Whereas the Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains:

• Vitamin E: a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant, helping protect cells from damage as well as stopping skin from losing moisture.

Immediately we can begin to see the contrast, with the Hydrating Facial Cleanser clearly being more suited to drier skin types and the Foaming Facial Cleanser more suited to oilier skin types.

This fact is further reinforced when we compare their textures: the Foaming Facial Cleanser is a gel that lathers into a foam, making it ideal for the deep cleansing of pores (making it great for oily skin types). The Hydrating Facial Cleanser on the other hand is a non-foaming cream, thus making it less likely to strip the moisture barrier (making it great for normal-to-dry/sensitive skin types).

Other points of note include: price, in which they are practically the same per fluid ounce, and both are indeed free from fragrance and nasties.

This article was originally published on April 22nd 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 5th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.