Hydrating Facial Cleanser — Reddit Reviews
by CeraVe
Updated November 10, 2026
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid cushion dry, tight skin; residue frustrates acne-prone users.
What the community says
A non-foaming cream cleanser with ceramides, glycerin, and sodium hyaluronate, built for dry or tret-irritated skin. It is a sensible barrier-reset wash, though oily or clog-prone users may hate the lotion feel, lingering film, and weak makeup removal.
What this means for you
Backed by 29 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/AsianBeauty and 4 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
- Non-foaming cream texture for dry skin
- Ceramides and hyaluronic acid support barrier comfort
- Fragrance-free, basic formula
Watch out for
- Leaves a film and may not feel fully clean
- Triggers clogged pores or breakouts for some acne-prone users
- Can sting, burn, or worsen redness
Product details
Concerns
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
What TikTok says
From 9 TikTok videos6 sponsored, marked with outlined numbers
Per sponsored creators, the Hydrating Cleanser suits dry or sensitive skin and helps hydrate 123, and one unsponsored creator agrees 4. Sponsored creators say it removes SPF in a UV test 5 and a dermatologist says it cleanses without stripping the barrier 6. One unsponsored creator notes that foaming cleansers can dry out skin, so very dry skin may prefer this version 4. Another unsponsored creator says they like it alongside a foaming oil cleanser 7.
Sponsored means the creator disclosed a brand partnership or the video ran as a paid ad.
Videos open on TikTok in a new tab.
How to use it
From Reddit routinesWhat the science says
Ceramides have some evidence for helping the skin barrier, and both studies that tested them directly found they helped skin hold moisture by lowering water loss 1. Hyaluronic acid has some evidence for dehydrated skin, where studies found it improved how much water the skin held and, in one trial, made skin feel firmer 2. For eczema, ceramides are not proven yet, because studies were split: some found creams improved symptoms, while others found them no better than other moisturizers 3.
- Ceramides for skin barrier Some evidence · 15 studies
- Hyaluronic Acid for dehydration Some evidence · 3 studies
- Ceramides for eczema Not proven yet · 13 studies
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
How we grade researchFull ingredient list · 24
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser ingredients
Aqua / Water / Eau, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin
Listed in label order, highest concentration first. Linked ingredients have their own page.
Real Reddit threads — 1,203 mentions across 29 threads
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser on Reddit, in one place — 29 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/AsianBeauty and 4 more, summarized.
“You can start using gentle facial cleansers (cerave, cetaphil)”
Mentioned
“i used to use cerave cleanser, azealic acid, and cerave PM moisturizer.”
Mentioned
“I guess that should be hold for now?”
Mentioned
“Cerave Hydrating facial cleanser”
Positive
“But switching to Cerave hydrating wash from Cetaphil made my skin less irritated & less prone to breakouts.”
Positive
“Personally, I felt the hydrating cleanser was more hydrating. It helped ease irritation brought about by the tazorac.”
Positive
“morning * cerave hydrating facial cleanser”
Positive
“evening * cerave hydrating facial cleanser”
Positive
“my routine for dermarolling: wash my face with my normal cleanser (listed below), dermaroll”
Positive
“- Wash my face with Cerave hydrating cleanser (did you expect anything else?😋)”
Positive
“So here is my really BASIC routine:”
Positive
“✨AM✨”
Positive
“The products that I used were Cerave moisturizing cleanser”
Positive
“Cerave moisturizing cleanser, vaseline (eyes, lips and corners of the nose)”
Positive
“It was really trial and error”
Positive
“AM: Cerave hydrating cleanser, drop of Hada Labo premium”
Positive
“Routine (cleanse + toner + moisturize +/- SPF, I rarely use actives due to sensitivity)”
Positive
“AM: Cerave hydrating cleanser, drop of Hada Labo premium (it spreads really well)”
Positive
Dupes & Alternatives
Often paired with
Products Redditors use alongside this one
CeraVe
Mentioned together in 32 threads
“Am: Cerave hydrating facial cleanser Cerave Daily moisturizer lotion”
— r/acne
Vanicream
Mentioned together in 22 threads
“right now I use cerave Cream to Foam Cleanser, cerave Hydrating Cleanser, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer”
Vanicream
Mentioned together in 19 threads
“I use Cerave hydrating cleanser and vanicream moisturizing cream”
The Ordinary
Mentioned together in 15 threads
“Gentle cleanser (CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser) Niacinamide serum (The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%)”