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CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser Review: Is It Worth It?
The dermatologist-developed foaming cleanser with ceramides and niacinamide that cleans oily and combination skin without stripping the barrier.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is the cleanser dermatologists have been recommending for a decade, and it earns that recommendation honestly. For oily to combination skin, it removes what needs removing without stripping the barrier, includes real ceramides and niacinamide, and costs less than $20. If you don't have a face wash you love, this is the one to try.
The short version
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is the sibling to the popular CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser — same core ceramide chemistry, but formulated with a mild foaming surfactant that removes excess oil, sunscreen and light makeup without leaving a residue. It's designed for oily and combination skin, and it's the specific cleanser dermatologists reach for when someone asks 'what should I wash my face with' and their skin isn't dry. Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, with the three essential ceramides (1, 3 and 6-II), plus hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. At around $15 for a big pump bottle, it's the smart-money face wash for anyone whose skin gets shiny by 3 pm.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Removes excess oil and sunscreen without stripping
- Contains ceramides 1, 3, 6-II — restores skin barrier
- Includes niacinamide (calms redness, controls oil)
- Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic
- Big pump bottle lasts 4-6 months of daily use
- Under $20 at most retailers
Cons
- Not for very dry skin (use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser instead)
- Not a full makeup remover on its own
- Foam is mild — some people expect more suds
Why people love it
Ceramides restore the skin barrier
Ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II — the same lipids naturally in a healthy skin barrier — are added back in during cleansing, so you don't strip more than you clean.
Niacinamide calms and controls oil
3% niacinamide reduces inflammation, minimizes visible pores, and helps regulate sebum production over 4-8 weeks of daily use.
Mild surfactant cleansing
Uses a gentle cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium laureth sulfate blend at low concentrations — cleans oil and sunscreen effectively without the tight, squeaky post-wash feel of harsher cleansers.
Who it's for
- Oily and combination skin types
- Anyone breaking out from strippier cleansers
- People who want a derm-recommended basic
- Sunscreen users who need real oil removal
Why CeraVe became the derm-favorite drugstore brand (and what makes their cleansers special)
CeraVe was founded in 2005 by dermatologists who noticed that most drugstore cleansers stripped the skin barrier — the reason people using them ended up dry, irritated, and reaching for expensive moisturizers to compensate. CeraVe's insight was to build ceramides directly into cleansers, not just moisturizers. Ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II are the specific lipids that naturally hold the skin barrier together; when you wash with harsh surfactants, you strip them out. CeraVe's cleansers use gentler surfactants AND add ceramides back during cleansing, so you leave the sink with an intact barrier instead of a compromised one.
This is why dermatologists overwhelmingly recommend CeraVe over classic drugstore cleansers (Cetaphil, which is fine but doesn't include ceramides; St. Ives, which uses harsh scrubs; Neutrogena, which historically over-emphasized 'squeaky clean'). The Foaming version specifically is for skin that produces enough oil to need real cleansing action, and it's now the specific cleanser most acne-focused dermatologists recommend as the daily baseline for oily/combination skin. It's not a hyped luxury product; it's the drugstore basic that actually got the chemistry right.
The right cleansing routine (and the common mistakes that make cleanser feel like it's not working)
Cleanser is the foundational step of any skincare routine, but the routine matters more than the specific cleanser. The right approach: cleanse twice daily (morning and night) with lukewarm water. Massage gently for 30-60 seconds — not 5 seconds, not 3 minutes. Rinse fully (residual cleanser is a common cause of breakouts and dullness). Pat dry with a soft towel (not the towel you dry your body with — that's covered in body-soap residue). Immediately apply moisturizer and, in the morning, sunscreen — barrier repair keeps working best when you don't leave skin naked between steps.
Common mistakes that undermine even a great cleanser: (1) Using hot water, which strips ceramides regardless of what's in your cleanser. Lukewarm only. (2) Not double-cleansing when wearing makeup or heavy sunscreen — a single foaming cleanse can't dissolve occlusive makeup and daily sebum together, and the residue clogs pores. (3) Using an actives-heavy routine (retinol, glycolic, benzoyl peroxide) without a barrier-friendly cleanser like CeraVe underneath — you end up with irritated, sensitized skin. (4) Skipping cleansing in the morning 'because I only slept.' Overnight, your skin still shed cells, produced sebum, and your pillowcase transferred oils and product residue. A morning cleanse (even just water for very dry skin) matters.
Where CeraVe Foaming Cleanser fits in an anti-acne, anti-aging, or basic-maintenance routine
For an anti-acne routine, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is the daily-baseline underneath your actives. Structure: AM — CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, treatment serum (if using, like azelaic acid or 2% BHA), moisturizer, SPF 30+. PM — CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, active treatment (benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid on breakouts; retinol on other nights), moisturizer. Skip the actives on days you cleanse aggressively; layer the ceramide moisturizer if you feel any dryness. This routine costs under $60 for six months of product and is what most dermatologists recommend for stubborn adult acne when someone can't or won't do prescription care.
For an anti-aging routine, this cleanser is one half of the CeraVe stack: Foaming AM, Hydrating PM, plus their Resurfacing Retinol Serum on alternating nights, plus their AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 or Anthelios sunscreen. Around $80 total, six-month supply, and it delivers most of what a $500 luxury routine delivers. The reason to use foaming AM and hydrating PM: mornings you need to remove overnight sebum (foaming excels), evenings you often have less oil and more sensitive skin post-retinol, and the gentler hydrating version supports barrier repair during the skin's recovery window overnight.
See CeraVe Foaming Cleanser on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
CeraVe Foaming vs Hydrating Cleanser: which one is right for me?
Simplest rule: if your skin feels dry or tight after washing with a normal cleanser, use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (lotion-textured, no foam). If your skin feels normal or shiny by afternoon, use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser (light foam, better oil removal). Both have the same ceramide-and-niacinamide backbone; only the surfactant type differs. Many people use Foaming in the morning and Hydrating at night (when you've less oil to remove) or vice versa. Combination skin often benefits from Foaming year-round; very dry skin should stick to Hydrating.
Is CeraVe Foaming Cleanser good for acne?
Yes, as the gentle-baseline cleanser in an acne routine. It won't clear active breakouts on its own (that's what benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a prescription is for), but it's exactly what dermatologists recommend as the daily cleanser underneath other acne actives. The niacinamide helps calm redness from breakouts, the ceramides prevent the over-drying that makes acne treatments create flaky, irritated skin, and the mild foaming action removes excess oil that would otherwise contribute to clogged pores. For active acne, pair with CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser (contains 4% benzoyl peroxide) once a day and this gentler version the other cleanse.
Does it remove makeup?
It removes lightweight base makeup (tinted moisturizers, sheer foundation), sunscreen, and daily sebum well — but it's not a full makeup remover for heavy long-wear foundation, waterproof mascara, or bold lipstick. For makeup wearers, use a double-cleanse routine: first cleanse with an oil-based makeup remover (Neutrogena makeup remover wipes, DHC cleansing oil, or micellar water) to dissolve the makeup, then follow with CeraVe Foaming to actually clean the skin. This is the standard derm-approved routine for makeup users.
Will it dry out my skin?
For most people, no — that's the specific design goal of the ceramide formulation. It should leave skin feeling clean but not tight or squeaky. If you're experiencing tightness after washing, either (a) you have dry rather than oily skin and should switch to the Hydrating version, or (b) you're washing with too-hot water. Use lukewarm water only, gently massage for 30-60 seconds, and pat dry (don't rub with a towel). If skin still feels tight, immediately apply moisturizer to lock in hydration — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion pairs perfectly.
Can I use it in the shower?
Yes, and this is a common convenience — massage onto damp face at the end of your shower, rinse, and continue. Just avoid getting hot direct shower stream on your face for extended time; the heat strips skin barrier faster than cold weather. Water temperature should be lukewarm on your face specifically. Otherwise, using in the shower is fine and often more consistent than remembering a separate face-wash step.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser vs La Roche-Posay Toleriane vs Vanicream Gentle Cleanser: what's the difference?
All three are derm-approved gentle cleansers, and they overlap significantly. CeraVe Foaming: ceramides + niacinamide, mild foam, best for oily/combo, cheapest. La Roche-Posay Toleriane: hydrating gel-cream, no foam, best for sensitive/dry, mid-priced (this brand is loved for reactive skin). Vanicream Gentle Cleanser: near-zero irritants, extremely mild, best for eczema and very reactive skin, pharmacy-priced. Pick CeraVe Foaming if you're oily-to-combo; Toleriane if you're sensitive-dry; Vanicream if you have eczema or history of reacting to almost everything. Any of the three is a rational baseline daily cleanser.
As an Amazon Associate, TopCrate earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. CeraVe is a cosmetic cleanser, not a medical treatment. Patch-test if you have very sensitive skin, and see a dermatologist for persistent issues. The image above is illustrative; price, availability and current ratings are shown on Amazon and are subject to change.
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