🇦🇺Australia

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar for combination skin

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate cleansing for your combination skin due to sodium cocoyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, which gently remove impurities without stripping moisture, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
  • Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide general hydration benefits, but these are mostly supportive and not directly targeted at your main goal of reducing oily shine.
  • The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
  • Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
  • For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviews

Some users have noted moderate price increases and a few low-frequency complaints about an unpleasant scent or insufficient lather.

Highlights

  • Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip skin”
    • “leaves face soft”
    • “no tight feeling”
    • “moisturizing after rinse”
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
    • “no irritation”
    • “gentle on sensitive skin”
    • “fragrance-free”
  • Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
    • “lasts for months”
    • “doesn't melt away”
    • “good value”
    • “hard bar”
  • Versatile convenience Sometimes Noted
    • “great for travel”
    • “use on face and body”
    • “reduces plastic waste”
    • “convenient bar form”
  • Price increases Sometimes Noted
    • “price went up”
    • “expensive for soap”
    • “used to be cheaper”
    • “bad price”
  • Insufficient lather Rarely Noted
    • “doesn't lather much”
    • “hard to foam”
    • “very light lather”
    • “wanted more suds”
  • Rare drying effect Rarely Noted
    • “left face dry”
    • “felt tight”
    • “caused peeling”
    • “not hydrating enough”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like plastic”
    • “chemical scent”
    • “weird smell”
    • “not completely odorless”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cerave.com, target.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar work for combination skin?

This cleanser works reasonably well for your combination skin by gently removing impurities without stripping moisture, though it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients for your oily areas. To work better for this skin, a cleanser needs ingredients that effectively balance oil production while maintaining hydration and protecting the skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?

This cleanser works for combination skin because it contains sodium cocoyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, which gently remove impurities without stripping moisture, alongside glycerin and sodium hyaluronate for supportive hydration. However, because it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on oily areas, a cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that effectively balance oil production, maintain hydration for oily shine, and provide barrier repair.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

What do Ceramides do for combination skin?

Ceramides help keep combination skin balanced by supporting the skin barrier to lock in moisture without feeling heavy. They are a good fit because they help protect dry areas while keeping oily zones calm and comfortable. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and skin-repairing ingredients to keep the barrier strong across both oily and dry areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This cleanser goes in your routine in the morning and evening. To better fit combination skin, this type of product needs ingredients that control oil and shine on oily areas while keeping dry areas balanced.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol treatment in your evening routine. It washes your skin gently without causing irritation, though combination skin needs extra oil-controlling ingredients for oily areas.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently washes away impurities without stripping moisture, though combination skin needs extra oil-controlling ingredients for oily areas.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and uses gentle cleansers that rinse away cleanly. To better manage oily shine and balance combination areas, this skin type needs targeted ingredients that help control excess oil.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes because it is gentle and safe for your skin. Its mild cleansers are unlikely to irritate these areas, and it helps wash away dirt without drying you out.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Ceramide and niacinamide-containing moisturizer combined with anti-acne treatment significantly improved non-inflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesions compared to hydrophilic cream in 40 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris after 8 weeks.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

Why other cleansers fit combination skin better

  • A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Ingredients

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Caprylic, Capric Triglyceride, Petrolatum, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylene Brassylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Australia.

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