CeraVe
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Step 1 · morning and nightThe default first product. Cleans without stripping, and leaves ceramides behind instead of taking them away.
approx. $16View details
Photo: Open Beauty Facts, CC BY-SA 3.0
Our pickCeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
The same idea as the hydrating one, but it actually foams. For skin that looks shiny by midday.
approx. $17
Available at 3 shops. Compare them and choose whichever works best for you.
Prices are a guide only, last checked August 2026, and they change often. Amazon prices are never shown here. Always check the price at the shop before buying.Affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy, generally at no additional cost to you.Best for
Skin that is genuinely oily, and anyone who cannot get used to a cleanser that does not foam.
Skip if
Your skin already feels tight, red or flaky. Start with the hydrating version and come back in a month.
Why it made the list
Same ceramides as the hydrating version, but it foams. That is not a small thing: a cleanser that feels wrong gets abandoned within two weeks.
What it does
The version to pick if your face is genuinely oily rather than just irritated. It foams properly, which most men prefer, and still leaves the barrier alone thanks to the same ceramides. The mistake people make here is going harder: scrubbing, hot water, washing three or four times a day. All of that increases oil production rather than reducing it. Twice a day with this is the ceiling, not the starting point.
What it will not do
Too much for dry or reactive skin in winter. And it is still a cleanser, so it does not treat spots.
How to use it
Lukewarm water, coin sized amount, twenty seconds, rinse. Morning and evening. If your skin starts feeling tight, switch to the hydrating version for a week and go back.
Key ingredients
Foaming surfactants plus ceramides and niacinamide. Niacinamide is one of the few ingredients with solid evidence for oil control.
Alternatives
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser if this turns out to be too much.
Researched, not personally testedSelected from published information and product data, not from personal use.Last reviewed August 2026
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