This is the latest cleanser from CeraVe, and when I learned about its release, I wanted to try it immediately. I like the double cleansing method, it is infallible for cleansing skin, but I also appreciate a good cleanser than can remove everything in one go like Japanese cleansing foams. Especially during cold months as I try to limit my skin’s exposure to face washes and water. As this product is intended for makeup removal, it should work similarly to foamy, Japanese cleansers. 

The formula includes a mix of emollient ingredients as well as ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. The primary surfactants are on the milder side, but there’s also one type of sulphate. Interestingly, there’s also salicylic acid, mid-way through the ingredients list, I am not sure why it was added I guess for some mild exfoliation. And good news for people who can’t use niacinamide, this cleanser doesn’t include it. The product is fragrance-free and suitable for normal to dry skin types. 

The cleanser has a light gel-cream texture. When you add water, it forms a rich lather, but not as fluffy as Japanese foam cleansers do, despite that, the foam effectively removes sunscreen and tinted moisturiser. I use about three pumps of this cleanser, massage it for about two minutes, then remove it with a damp flannel. Without any redos, I can quickly sweep everything away. As a cleanser, the product works pretty well. Though, I find it a bit drying. Immediately after removing it, my skin feels slightly tight and in an urgent need of moisturising. I don’t get this sensation with Cerave’s Foaming Cleanser, and for sure the heavy Hydrating Cleanser won’t cause dryness. So I am not sure if this cleanser would satisfy people with dry skin. But, normal to oily skin types should be okay with this product in general. 

Overall, it is a decent cleanser. My main issue with this product is that it’s a bit drying, but other than that, it works fine. I’ve read on the Internet that some people have experienced problems while removing makeup, so it may not be the most effective single-cleanse product. I will stick to Japanese foams. 

Ingredients:

AQUA/WATER, 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, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, ALANINE, PHENYLALANINE, COCONUT ACID, COCO-GLUCOSIDE, CHLORPHENESIN, DISODIUM EDTA, HYDROXYETHYL UREA, CITRIC ACID, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/ SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, HISTIDINE, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYQUATERNIUM-53, POLYQUATERNIUM-39, POLYSORBATE 60, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BENZOIC ACID (cerave.co.uk)