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CeraVe

Foaming Facial Cleanser.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Cleansers

About this product

A foaming facial cleanser formulated with ceramides and oat extract designed to cleanse and gently remove makeup and impurities from the face.

Best for

Oily skinCombination skinAcne-prone skin
Cleansers

The Guru Index verdict

82%

Approved

Approved · 82%
17Reviewers
17Approved
0Mixed
0Skip
#7 in Best Cleansers

What the gurus are saying

Gurus widely praise this cleanser for oily and sensitive skin, noting it foams effectively without stripping. The core consensus is that it's gentle, effective, and suitable for most skin types, with particular strength for those prone to excess oil. A recurring note: get the fragrance-free version, as the scented formula draws complaint. One dissenting view holds it feels drying compared to CeraVe's hydrating cleanser and lacks sufficient ceramide concentration for meaningful hydration.
Synthesized from 17 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Hyaluronic acidCeramidesFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Purified Water, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 1, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Polyoxyl 40 Stearate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phytosphingosine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"I'm absolutely loving CeraVe and I recommend it actually in a lot of my videos for skin of color."
All 3 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan
Best & Worst Cleansers For Oily Acne Prone Skin
"I'm absolutely loving CeraVe and I recommend it actually in a lot of my videos for skin of color."
I Tested Every Cerave Cleanser For Your Skin - Dr V
"I would say that the foaming cleanser is feeling more drying than the hydrating cleanser and actually I would say for teens and pre-teens and even my daughter who's 11 years old go for the hydrating cleanser over the foaming cleanser. The ingredients here are water glycerin which is a hydrating ingredient plus surfactants interestingly enough the ninth ingredient on here actually is the first oil in this entire formula, I.E it's at about 1 to 2% of this oil cleanser. This is a reason they're able to turn an oil into foam so you're not going to find much hydration with this and actually I would even say that the foaming is drying the skin out a little bit."
Best & Worst K Beauty Barrier Repair Products
"It's got ceramides in it but I would say not enough. My skin is not enjoying it. And then it's got oats in it which is anti-inflammatory which okay fair enough. I can actually feel the cooling effect on the skin. The negatives of this are the fragrance, plus it cost £26 for 150 mls."
Approved
"This is one of my favorite facial cleansers to have in the shower as the second step in my double cleanse. Great for pretty much any skin type. Super gentle, super effective. Hyaluronic acid to hydrate, glycerin to hydrate. Get the fragrance-free formula. I don't like the scent in the ones with fragrance."
All 9 takes from Dr Dray
Skincare Travel Vlog - Come To The Airport With Me
"I took it off with this little sample of the foaming facial cleanser. This is not a favorite, it's not bad. It's like a slightly lighter version of a similar product. Between that and the actual product, we're splitting hairs to notice a difference."
Minimalist Travel Skincare Routine | Travel Vlog
"I just brought the CeraVe foaming facial cleanser which I used just now in the shower to wash my face."
MY SKINCARE JOURNEY ON YOUTUBE *VIDCON 2023* @DrDrayzday
"I was going to wash my face with the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser but I just I didn't feel like I needed to."
Shopping Skincare Minis & Holiday Bath Bombs
"They have the daily moisturizing lotion, the facial foaming facial cleanser, the hydrating facial cleanser, and of course the popular moisturizing cream."
Trying To Get Perfect Curls With A Beachwaver Curling Iron
"I'm just going to wash my face with the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser I brought with me."
Skincare Dupes At CVS Drugstore
"The CeraVe foaming facial cleanser, this product's pretty good. It kind of smells like butter in a good way, kind of like you're massaging a croissant on your face."
*Vlog* PACKING MY SKIN CARE BAG FOR A TRIP @DrDrayzday
"I'm also going to take a travel size of the CeraVe foaming facial cleanser"
Dermatologist Skincare Empties: What I’d Actually Buy Again
"This is one of my favorite facial cleansers to have in the shower as the second step in my double cleanse. Great for pretty much any skin type. Super gentle, super effective. Hyaluronic acid to hydrate, glycerin to hydrate. Get the fragrance-free formula. I don't like the scent in the ones with fragrance."
SKINCARE & TRAVEL 🛫 COME TO THE AIRPORT WITH ME @DrDrayzday
"I washed my face everything off with the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser."
Approved
"The CeraVe Foaming Cleanser contains glycerine ceramides which are calming on the skin. It also has sodium laurel lactylate which is a gentle surfactant. It has a mild foam which does not dry the skin out. This is preferred for those with normal to oily skin. This one will be more suitable for people with slightly oily skin or who get oily towards the end of the day."
All 3 takes from Dr. Aanchal MD
Speed review of products I liked | Cera Ve, Foxtale, Cosrx, Minimalist | Dermatologist reviews
"The CeraVe Foaming Cleanser will suit oily skin type and oily sensitive skin type. This is a very gentle cleanser which forms foam but does not dry your skin out. So if you are somebody who likes to use cleansers which form foam then this is a good option. What I like about this product is that it has ceramides which is very gentle on the skin and also soothing on the skin."
Simple oily skin care routine | Dermatologist Suggest
"This cleanser will be a go-to for those with oily sensitive skin. This does not contain salicylic acid but forms in a way to cleanse the skin and remove excess oil from your skin. So if you're looking for a cleanser without acids which can irritate the skin then this one is a good choice. This helps in effectively cleansing the skin without irritating or damaging the skin barrier."
Best face wash for Oily skin by dermatologist | Top 5 Oily Skin Cleanser
"The CeraVe Foaming Cleanser contains glycerine ceramides which are calming on the skin. It also has sodium laurel lactylate which is a gentle surfactant. It has a mild foam which does not dry the skin out. This is preferred for those with normal to oily skin. This one will be more suitable for people with slightly oily skin or who get oily towards the end of the day."
Approved
"I like this similar cleansers that are like in this vein where it's like a foaming cleanser. CeraVe has one."
All 2 takes from The Style and Beauty Doctor
Ask Me ANYTHING!
"I like this similar cleansers that are like in this vein where it's like a foaming cleanser. CeraVe has one."
I Let AI Do My Skincare Routine...I Think I Messed Up 🥴
"This is nice. I like the texture. My skin doesn't feel stripped. You don't want your cleanser to make your face feel squeaky clean after you use it because if it's making your skin real clean, there's a chance you might be using the wrong cleanser. You don't want your cleanser to be stripping your face of every ounce of oil, even if you have oily skin, because that can impact your barrier. When you have oily skin, you use a cleanser that's for oily skin that's going to do more to balance the oil, but you want to balance, not obliterate. This feels really, really good. It's a texture that I can get down with. It's a price point I can get down with. And it does well to cleanse."
Approved
"A good example of a foaming cleanser that would work well with niacinamide would be CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. It's a nice gentle cleanser that just a little goes a long way and that bottle will last you a long time."
All 8 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
Dermatologist Reviews: Drugstore Acne Roundup
"CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is a nice one. Foam picks up excess oil very well. I like this one a lot because it has niacinamide."
Dermatologist Recommended Summer Skincare Routine: How to Glow Up Your Skin This Summer!
"I like to use a foaming cleanser in the morning. The CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is like 15 bucks at the store, lasts forever, and you can use it as a body wash too."
The Ultimate CeraVe Anti-Aging Skincare Routine- Dermatologist Reviews
"This is so gentle that I use this for my kids as a body wash because they have dry skin. Foam is really effective at picking up excess oil, so if you have an oily skin type, consider that one in the morning or at night. You have amino acids to help with the cleansing, and for people who wear makeup, you can also use this to remove makeup as well. If you have an oily skin type, I would give my patients with oily skin this foaming facial cleanser."
The Best Skin Care Routine for the Beach | Summer Sunscreen and Products for the Month
"If you have oily to combination skin use their foaming cleanser. CeraVe makes a good foaming facial cleanser and it's great for people with oily to combination skin."
Dermatologist Reviews: Affordable Drugstore Skincare Essentials
"If you have oily skin, another cleanser to consider would be CeraVe's foaming cleanser. Foam is really nice in picking up excess oil."
The Truth About Pore Size: Can You Really Shrink Them?
"A good example of a foaming cleanser that would work well with niacinamide would be CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. It's a nice gentle cleanser that just a little goes a long way and that bottle will last you a long time."
Dermatologist Reviews: Men’s Skincare Routine- Is there a difference between Men and Women?
"CeraVe foaming cleanser is a great one for oily skin. It has amino acid technology plus hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and it has niacinamide, which is vitamin B3 because it helps regulate sebum production. So great way to start off the morning if you have really oily skin in the summertime."
Dermatologist Reviews: Target Skincare Routine for Teenagers
"CeraVe's foaming facial cleanser is great if you have combination to oily skin. If you're able to get the value size do it because it lasts forever, a little goes a long way. If you are shaving you can use this before your shave, the foam is like a nice shaving gel. It has niacinamide, glycerin, and panthenol, and it's a tried and true product."
Approved
"The Foaming Facial Cleanser, developed for normal to oily skin types, aiming to remove excess oil and sebum without disrupting the skin's natural barrier."
Approved
"The foaming cleanser is probably one of their best selling cleansers and it's really made more for oily skin so it has more of a foaming effect than the cream to foam cleanser. It is a little bit more stripping so if you have oily skin I would go with the foam cleanser."
All 2 takes from Doctorly
Products We HATE and LOVE from CeraVe | Doctorly Reviews
"The foaming cleanser is probably one of their best selling cleansers and it's really made more for oily skin so it has more of a foaming effect than the cream to foam cleanser. It is a little bit more stripping so if you have oily skin I would go with the foam cleanser."
CeraVe vs La Roche-Posay Cleansers | Doctorly Compares
"I do feel that the one from CeraVe is a little bit more drying for me as someone with combination to dry skin and so I feel a little bit more tighter when I use this product afterwards. If you have oily skin, you may prefer that more oil removing properties that the CeraVe one has, but because of the surfactant system and the way that it's formulated, I do feel like it leaves you a little bit more dry."
Approved
"I don't see CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser mentioned in this transcript window. The text discusses a body wash for sensitive skin with ingredients like glycerin, hydrogenated soybean oil, and citric acid, but does not reference the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser product."
Approved
"This one's geared for normal to oily skin but I find this one works great for my dry skin. It comes in a big bottle and it's really affordable. It's got a short ingredient list, no fragrance in it, nothing too exciting but it really worked well. Out of all the CeraVe cleansers this one's probably my favorite. It's pretty gentle, non-drying but still good enough for oily skin too and my dry skin likes it as well. This one has been a go-to for me."
All 5 takes from No BS Beauty
Top Picks And Flops: Ulta Beauty's Facial Cleansers Evaluated - Fragrance Free Cleansers I Love
"The CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is 19 bucks in a giant bottle with a pump on it. It's a wonderful cleanser, and though it's geared towards oily skin, my dry sensitive skin doesn't have any issues with this one at all. It does a nice job as a great morning cleanser or second step cleanser. It doesn't do the best job with stubborn makeup or stubborn sunscreen, but if you use it with one of those Foreo sponges it's strong enough to do the trick. Otherwise you're going to want to use a makeup remover first."
Best Gentle Calming Cleansers for Winter Weather & Dry Sensitive Skin Types
"This is geared towards normal to oily skin but I find this works very nice on my dry skin in the dry winter and it's really affordable and the bottle's huge. It's very gentle with a short ingredient list, it's very foamy it does foam up a lot, and it's very nice and very gentle. Sometimes when the weather is really dry I even use it on my body as well."
Bad Products from Good Brands - Skincare Products I Hate From Brands I Love
"It's not scented but it is drying as heck. It's one of those cleansers where you rinse it up and your skin squeaks, and that's not a good thing. Squeaky clean is not a good thing, that means you might have damaged your skin or overdried it out. Something in here just dried the heck out of my skin. I just don't like that squeaky clean feeling. Too clean is not a good thing for skin. You don't want to damage your microbiome."
Oldies but Goodies - Skincare Products That Stand the Test of Time!
"This one's geared for normal to oily skin but I find this one works great for my dry skin. It comes in a big bottle and it's really affordable. It's got a short ingredient list, no fragrance in it, nothing too exciting but it really worked well. Out of all the CeraVe cleansers this one's probably my favorite. It's pretty gentle, non-drying but still good enough for oily skin too and my dry skin likes it as well. This one has been a go-to for me."
Oldies but Goodies - Skincare Products That Stand the Test of Time!
"This one's geared for normal to oily skin but I find this one works great for my dry skin. It comes in a big bottle and it's really affordable. It's got a short ingredient list, no fragrance in it, nothing too exciting but it really worked well. Out of all the CeraVe cleansers this one's probably my favorite. It's been a go-to for me and it's really nice, pretty gentle non-drying but still good enough for oily skin too and my dry skin likes it as well."
Approved
"CeraVe is a good one because it's got the ceramides in there so you're going to cleanse the skin but the ceramides are going to feed your skin barrier so you don't over strip it. It's really really quite nice."
All 4 takes from Dr. Somji Skin
The Doctor's Guide: Perfect Cleansers for Your Skin Type
"CeraVe is a good one because it's got the ceramides in there so you're going to cleanse the skin but the ceramides are going to feed your skin barrier so you don't over strip it. It's really really quite nice."
Why you should use Toners in your Skincare Routine? | Skincare tips by Dr. Somji
"If you're using things like CeraVe or you're using Cetaphil foaming cleansers you can satisfy oily skin with a product like this and also supplement your skin barrier and then you can really put nice serums on and you'll still be able to absorb it."
Doctor's Advice: Selecting the Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type!
"You've got this nice one from CeraVe that's not going to strip your skin too much as well. I would stick to being very simple, start with foaming cleansers if that doesn't work and you still got a lot of oil."
CeraVe Skincare | Complete Skincare Product Guide and Review By Dr. Somji
"You need to use this foaming cleanser first because that melts the makeup. It's got a nice formulation with glycerin and all the nice things that restore the skin barrier but still melt if you wear makeup. It melts makeup, takes away all that debris, can take away the silicone. I would say normal to oily skin, I would say even people with dry skin should use this. Use this and then use another cleanser and I think you should be absolutely fine."
Approved
"I use honestly any any soap I don't care and people send free cleansers and I use them but I'm less good about purchasing. I did purchase at boots though because I ran out of the theater and they don't have bar soap at the theater. CeraVe has a nice foaming facial cleanser. Yeah I love it. I fell in love with the body. Just anything. I like a pharmacy shop so when I'm here I go to like Christ Street Pharmacy where it's just more, it's not just a basic CVS, just anywhere I can go."
Approved
"The foaming one is super nice if you have combination oily skin. It really cleanses well, removes impurities and makeup effectively, and also contains three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid that's going to support your skin barrier while you're cleansing. It's an effective foaming yet gentle cleanser, and it's fragrance-free so suitable even for those with more sensitive skin."
Approved
"The safest options during acne phase are Cerave."
All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur
Skincare Live! Taking your questions | Nipun Kapur
"If you have acne prone skin and it's oily, use a foaming cleanser. You can use the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. Any cleanser which is foaming would be good."
Anti aging & Melasma routine for Pregnant & Nursing mothers | Pregnancy safe skincare products
"The safest options during acne phase are Cerave."
Approved
"The CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser comes out as a gel but then as you're using it on your face and lathering it on, it becomes more of a bubbly foamy cleanser and it does a really good job of getting rid of the oils without leaving your face feeling really dry, prone to wrinkly, and like stretched really tightly. It also contains a blend of niacinamide, which is an antioxidant and good for acne-prone skin, hyaluronic acid to help hydrate, as well as its characteristic ceramide blend. Ceramides are like the glue that holds your skin cells, which are the bricks, together, and it is an important step in helping you maintain the health of your skin barrier."
Approved
"The foaming cleanser from CeraVe is great. That's like one of my top CeraVe recommendations."
Approved
"The CeraVe foaming cleanser is also a great option as well. It's unscented, you can use it up to twice a day if you really wanted to, and it has a pH of 5.5 which mimics our natural skin's pH, so this is amazing."
Approved
"The foaming facial cleanser, this is one that dermatologists recommend because it's just going to clean your skin and get the job done with ingredients that are pretty tolerable for all skin types, especially for people that have sensitive skin."
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