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CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
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About this product

A hydrating face cleanser from CeraVe that starts as a cream and turns to a light foam, designed to remove dirt, oil, makeup and sunscreen while keeping the skin's moisture barrier comfortable.

Full ingredients

Aqua/​Water/​Eau, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Pca, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/​Capric Glycerides, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ci 77891/​Titanium Dioxide, Aspartic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Glycine, Trideceth-6, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Threonine, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Serine, Sodium Benzoate, Valine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Proline, Isoleucine

More from CeraVe 53 products · Guru Score 91% →

Guru Score

77%

Yay

11 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

That foam is the point: it lathers enough to lift makeup and sunscreen, then rinses away without the squeaky, stripped feeling, which is why it suits combination and dry skin alike. Most experts call it gentle and barrier-friendly, and the oversized bottle lasts a long time. A few find it pleasant but not revolutionary, and say it adds little to CeraVe's existing cleanser line. Use it morning and night.
Synthesized from 11 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026

What they liked

  • Works for combination, dry, and sensitive skin
  • Large bottle lasts a long time

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    Type

    CleansersFoam & mousse

    Formula notes

    Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

    Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

    Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

    What the experts use it for.

    The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

    Excess oil and shine1 expert

    “It also has niacinamide, which is vitamin B3 because it helps regulate sebum production, so I like niacinamide in my skincare products.”

    Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 2:48

    Rosacea1 expert

    “The CeraVe cream to foam cleanser is one of my two favorites to recommend for rosacea.”

    208SkinDoc, watch at 9:33

    Eczema1 expert

    “It's great for eczema.”

    Dr. Aleksandra Brown, watch at 17:28

    Skin barrier support1 expert

    “If you really want a lot more hydration and you need help with your skin barrier, and your goal is targeting a damaged skin barrier, then I recommend the CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser.”

    April Basi, watch at 3:19

    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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Doctorly
    Doctorly
    3.59M subs
    ✓Yay
    "Right now I use the CeraVe cream-to-foam. [...] It's an oldie but a goodie. My wife is obsessed with it, she thinks it helps the most to take off her makeup, [...] and it works fine for me."
    Top Pick: cleanser
    All 7 takes from Doctorly
    Products We HATE and LOVE from CeraVe | Doctorly Reviews
    "I think there is no better compromise in a cleanser out there than the cream to foam cleanser. It's gentle but it's effective and it has like a very nice lather but it's not an irritating lather, it's like a hydrating lather. Huge fan of this, this is now like one of my all-time favorite cleansers I've ever tried. I use this consistently, if I see this on a shelf I'll probably go out of my way to use it even if it's like 11:00 a.m."
    Best Products of the Year (PART 2): Best Innovation, Cleanser, Sunscreen, and Splurge
    "The [CeraVe] hydrating cream to foam cleanser as well as a popular one for me."
    Skincare QnA and Chill
    "Whatever cleanser is certainly fine here. Let's say you use the CeraVe Cream-to-Foam Cleanser."
    The ULTIMATE Normal & Combination Skincare Routine | Doctorly Routines
    "The CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is a great cleanser for normal skin. It's [...] super balanced and gentle. I love a lather so it's still carries a lather, it's excellent. [...] I get the little minis and take them out for vacation. It's a consistent cleanser, decent at removing makeup and sunscreen, though it doesn't qualify as your double cleanse."
    How to Heal Your Skin Barrier in ONE WEEK | Dermatologists Explain
    "Someone might love that CeraVe creamy cream cream cleanser. Even though it's not our particular aesthetic, it really does great for very damaged skin."
    The ULTIMATE Skincare Routine For Men
    "A great option is always going to be something like CeraVe's Cream to Foam Cleanser. It leaves a little bit of hydration, it's not over stripping, and it really is going to suit most people's skin types. It's a simple, gentle cleanser, fragrance free, not minty."
    Dermatologist Reveals His ENTIRE Skincare Routine (Morning & Night)
    "Right now I use the CeraVe cream-to-foam. [...] It's an oldie but a goodie. My wife is obsessed with it, she thinks it helps the most to take off her makeup, [...] and it works fine for me."
    Dr. Daniel Sugai
    Dr. Daniel Sugai
    723k subs
    ✓Yay
    "CeraVe's Cream to Foam Cleanser is also nice at removing makeup and good for those with multiple different skin types, whether it's combination to dry. I think that's a really nice cleanser."
    All 10 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
    Dermatologist Reviews: The Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine for $100!
    "Get a cleanser that's versatile. I like CeraVe's Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, great for removing makeup and also washing your face. If you have combination skin, dry skin, just a great in-between cleanser for those who have combination skin, meaning oily T-Zone and dry cheeks. [...] I've really liked the CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser. The larger size is [...] 12 fluid ounces and will last you a long time. Use this morning and night."
    The Ultimate CeraVe Anti-Aging Skincare Routine- Dermatologist Reviews
    "I like to use the hydrating cream to foam cleanser because I have combination skin and it feels like a nice balance there. [...] You have amino acids to help with the cleansing. It's a nice go-to cleanser and for people who wear makeup can also use this to remove makeup as well."
    The Best Skin Care Routine for the Beach | Summer Sunscreen and Products for the Month
    "If you have makeup, sunscreen, and you don't really want those actives because you're sensitive or you're allergic to them, CeraVe's Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is a nice option at the end of the day."
    Dermatologist Reviews: Affordable Drugstore Skincare Essentials
    "If you have combination skin, CeraVe makes a nice cream to foam cleanser that removes makeup well. If you have that oily plus dry skin combination where you're oily in the T-Zone and dry in the cheeks, definitely consider their hydrating cream to foam cleanser."
    Morning vs Night Skincare: What Matters for Anti-Aging?
    "It could be their cream to foam cleanser, which is great at removing makeup as well."
    Top Skincare Routine Mistakes You Need To Stop Making Now!
    "Their hydrating cream to foam cleanser is really nice for combination skin like myself where you have an oily T-Zone and dry cheeks."
    How to Upgrade your Nighttime Skincare Routine!
    "The CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is known to remove oil and makeup very well. It's your water-based cleanser after your oil-based cleanser or micellar water."
    Dermatologist Reviews: Men’s Skincare Routine- Is there a difference between Men and Women?
    "CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is a good one for oily skin or combination skin. [...] It has amino acid technology plus hyaluronic acid and ceramides. It also has niacinamide, which is vitamin B3 because it helps regulate sebum production, so I like niacinamide in my skincare products. It's a great way to start off the morning if you have really oily skin in the summertime."
    Dermatologist Reviews: Holiday Skincare Picks for All Ages 2023
    "If you have combination skin where you are oily in the T-Zone chin nose forehead and drying the cheeks go with their hydrating cream to foam cleanser"
    The Best Morning & Night Skincare Routine for Mature, Dry Skin
    "CeraVe's Cream to Foam Cleanser is also nice at removing makeup and good for those with multiple different skin types, whether it's combination to dry. I think that's a really nice cleanser."
    Dr. Vanita Rattan
    Dr. Vanita Rattan
    1.23M subs
    ✓Mixed
    "The ingredients are actually really simple: it's water, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, and ceramides. A very simple, gentle hydrating formula. It's actually feeling very soothing to the skin. I'm under a lot of lights right now and I feel like it's calming my skin. I like it. I would use this. [...] I actually really love that. [...] My water content has gone up to 92%, which I'm very happy about. [...] I love this hydrating cleanser. It's actually better than the cream to foam."
    April Basi
    April Basi
    72k subs
    ✓Yay
    "If you really want a lot more hydration and you need help with your skin barrier, and your goal is targeting a damaged skin barrier, then I recommend the CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser. This one has glycerin, sodium PCA, and tons of other humectants, as well as ceramides, which are essential for the skin and for repairing the skin barrier."
    No BS Beauty
    No BS Beauty
    89k subs
    ✓Yay
    "The CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is [...] very nice. It says it's 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. Both of these from CeraVe are both winners for wintertime or for dry skin and the bottles again they're gigantic they will last you a long time."
    Kelly Driscoll
    Kelly Driscoll
    91k subs
    ✓Yay
    "I love that this is both a milky nourishing creamy kind of calming sensation but then it foams up and it actually cleans your skin effectively and rinses away without a film."
    Cassandra Bankson
    Cassandra Bankson
    2.46M subs
    ✓Mixed
    "It is gentle and it is dermatologist approved and doesn't have fragrances so a lot of people like it. But for me it is not cruelty free which matters, and I've also found that it's not bad, it's just not revolutionary. [...] If your derm recommends it and it's what you want to spend money on and you can afford two to five dollars, go for it, but there are some other options that I absolutely love."
    Dr Dray
    Dr Dray
    2.69M subs
    ✓Mixed
    "I reviewed this hydrating cream to foam cleanser a while ago. I like it, but I just didn't really see that it added much to the CeraVe cleanser portfolio. It's kind of like a hybrid between the hydrating and the foaming, like they combined properties of both into one. Was that necessary? I don't know, a lot of people adore it, so I guess it added something for some people, but to me [...] I couldn't really tell that it made much of a difference."
    Dr. Sam Ellis
    Dr. Sam Ellis
    902k subs
    ✓Yay
    "I'm bringing my CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser. [...] I like this because I can use it as a face wash, and then if I take a shower while I'm in the hospital, I can also just use it as my body wash, and I know it's going to be really gentle."
    Dr. Aleksandra Brown
    Dr. Aleksandra Brown
    153k subs
    ✓Yay
    "My second choice is probably the CeraVe hydrating cream to foam cleanser. It starts as a really nice cream, turns into soft foam with water, and gives you a nice middle ground if you want something more cleansing than a traditional non-foaming hydrating cleanser but don't want your skin feeling stripped afterwards. It can also remove makeup, dirt, oil, and sunscreen, which makes it especially convenient for nighttime cleansing."
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    "This is definitely one of my go-to cleansers if you want something that's going to do a good job at taking off your sunscreen and your makeup, but it's also going to protect your skin barrier. In your 30s and 40s, over-cleansing is one of the fastest ways to increase your dryness, irritation, and break down your skin barrier, especially if you're using retinoids. So, this cleanser is going to give you that clean feeling without the squeaky-clean stripping feeling."
    Dermatologist Approved SAFE Skincare Routine During Pregnancy!
    "CeraVe makes a really good cleanser, the hydrating cream to foam cleanser, that not only hydrates your skin but also foams up to remove all that dirt, oil, and sunscreen from your face."
    Affordable Anti-Aging Skincare Routine | Dr. Aleksandra Brown
    "If you are going to cleanse in the morning something simple like CeraVe's cream to foam cleanser is perfect. It will be hydrating but it will also be foaming to remove any oil that you may have built up over the night or any skincare you applied last night. This is perfect for all skin types because it's gentle but it will also foam up. If you're more on the oily side it will remove the oil."
    How a Dermatologist Transitions Her Skincare for Fall | Dr. Aleksandra Brown’s AM & PM Routine
    "If you want if you want like a simpler cleanser, I'll tell you the next one that's going in my shower and it's kind of been going back and forth is this cream to foam cleanser. I love this one. My daughter uses it, too. It's great for eczema. It's great for sensitive skin, any sort of dry, irritated skin, hands, face, body, all of the above."
    I Ranked 19 CeraVe Products as a Dermatologist (Best to Worst + The Lawsuit)
    "My second choice is probably the CeraVe hydrating cream to foam cleanser. It starts as a really nice cream, turns into soft foam with water, and gives you a nice middle ground if you want something more cleansing than a traditional non-foaming hydrating cleanser but don't want your skin feeling stripped afterwards. It can also remove makeup, dirt, oil, and sunscreen, which makes it especially convenient for nighttime cleansing."
    208SkinDoc
    208SkinDoc
    2.11M subs
    ✓Yay
    "One of my personal favorites is the CeraVe cream-to-foam hydrating cleanser. It's pretty gentle. It removes the day's dirt, oil, makeup, sunscreen, sweat, and it doesn't leave your skin feeling tight or reactive. [...] Your cleanser's only job really needs to be to get your face clean without irritating it."
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    "I like CeraVe cream to foam as a good, gentle cleanser. The fundamentals of a good skin longevity routine are pretty cheap and proven, and that's part of it."
    Morning Shed: Dermatologist Explains Why This Viral TikTok Skincare Trend Could Damage Your Skin
    "For a gentle cleanser, I love something that will remove dirt, oil, makeup, and sunscreen. The CeraVe hydrating cream to foam cleanser is great."
    Acne or Rosacea? Dermatologist Explains How to Tell and What to Avoid
    "The CeraVe cream to foam cleanser is one of my two favorites to recommend for rosacea."
    Girl, Wash Your Face — The Right Way to Cleanse
    "The cream to foam cleanser has kind of been my favorite recently. [...] It feels a lot like the hydrating cleanser when you start, but it lathers a little bit more, so maybe I'm falling victim to the impression that because it's lathering up, it's working."
    Perfect Skincare Routine for Beginners in 2025
    "I use the CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, it's great. It does a really good job, if I have a ton of sunscreen on it takes it off really well. [...] It foams up nicely, it's got a good feel to it."
    The Best Skincare Gifts in 2024! Derm Recommended
    "I recommend the CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser, which [...] is one of my favorites because it lathers really well."
    The Best Cerave Cleanser for Your Skin Type
    "It foams up better in my hands and then on my face, and that makes this cleanser better for removing makeup from the skin, so if you tend to have normal to dry skin and you wear makeup, this is a great option. [...] I like the experience of a good lather, so I've actually been using this one more than just about any other cleanser in the CeraVe routine recently."
    You're Making Skincare Too Complicated...
    "I like a gentle cleanser like the CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser. It works really well and it's not going to overdry the skin. At night I really like it because it's designed to also remove makeup if you wear makeup, and it's a great option at a really inexpensive price point."
    5 Acne Care Tips Everyone Should Know
    "I love to recommend mass market brands for cleansing because they work really well and they're not terribly expensive. I really like the [...] hydrating cream to foam cleanser from CeraVe."
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    "It's no surprise that I like the CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser. It does a great job of cleansing without being too aggressive on your skin."
    The ONLY 3-Step Acne Routine You Need (2026 Dermatologist Guide)
    "One of my personal favorites is the CeraVe cream-to-foam hydrating cleanser. It's pretty gentle. It removes the day's dirt, oil, makeup, sunscreen, sweat, and it doesn't leave your skin feeling tight or reactive. [...] Your cleanser's only job really needs to be to get your face clean without irritating it."

    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Salicylic acid

    Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

    Source: DermNet

    Sunscreen filters

    Sun protection is the best evidenced way to slow visible ageing, and the filters are what does the work. Mineral and chemical filters both protect when a product is applied thickly enough and often enough, which is where most people fall short rather than on the choice of filter.

    Source: DermNet

    Ceramides

    Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

    Source: DermNet

    Frequently asked.

    What is CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser?

    A hydrating face cleanser from CeraVe that starts as a cream and turns to a light foam, designed to remove dirt, oil, makeup and sunscreen while keeping the skin's moisture barrier comfortable.

    Is CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser worth it?

    Mostly yes. 8 of the 11 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.

    What is CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser's Guru Score?

    CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 11 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

    Who is CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser best for?

    CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is generally suited to oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, normal skin and sensitive skin.

    What is CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser good for, according to the experts?

    In their reviews, experts say CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is good for excess oil and shine (1 expert), rosacea (1 expert), eczema (1 expert) and skin barrier support (1 expert).

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