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CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 and hydration for your oily skin, with sodium methyl cocoyl taurate and coco-betaine effectively removing impurities while glycerin provides humectant action.
  • Salicylic acid is present to offer supportive benefits for acne and breakouts, though its concentration may limit comprehensive oil control.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes ceramides and hyaluronic acid to soothe and maintain the skin barrier.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with normal to dry skin frequently praise this cleanser for its effective makeup and sunscreen removal while maintaining skin hydration. A small number of users with sensitive or acne-prone skin reported experiencing burning sensations or breakouts.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “Melts makeup off”
    • “Removes long-wear foundation”
    • “No residue left”
    • “Takes off sunscreen”
  • Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “Skin feels soft”
    • “Not tight after washing”
    • “Doesn't strip moisture”
    • “Good for dry skin”
  • Pleasant texture Often Mentioned
    • “Nice rich lather”
    • “Creamy to foam”
    • “Best of both worlds”
    • “Luxurious feel”
  • Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
    • “Fragrance-free”
    • “Gentle daily wash”
    • “Doesn't sting eyes”
    • “Great for sensitive skin”
  • Burning sensation Rarely Noted
    • “Eyes were swollen/burning”
    • “Burning lips”
    • “Stings sensitive areas”
    • “Face felt on fire”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Caused cystic acne”
    • “Whiteheads appeared”
    • “Broke me out”
    • “Clogged my pores”
  • Drying for some Rarely Noted
    • “Felt tight after use”
    • “Dried out my skin”
    • “Not hydrating enough”
    • “Flaky patches appeared”
  • Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
    • “Plastic smell”
    • “Chemical scent”
    • “Smells like glue”
    • “Odd odor”

Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, target.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works reasonably well for oily acne-prone skin, gently washing away impurities while keeping the skin comfortable. However, a product of this type needs stronger oil control and active blemish-fighting ingredients to truly maximize benefits and keep breakouts fully under control for this skin type.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help keep your oily skin feeling soft and balanced by drawing in moisture, while salicylic acid offers supportive benefits for breakouts. A cleanser for this skin type needs strong oil control and deeper exfoliation to best manage shine and prevent blemishes.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?

For oily acne-prone skin, ceramides help repair the skin barrier and improve moisture to reduce redness and acne-related irritation. Because acne-prone skin often lacks these essential lipids, adding them back supports a stronger barrier and helps keep the skin calm and smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first step after removing makeup. For this skin type, a cleanser also needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to fully manage shine and breakouts.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing thoroughly, and then following with your retinol once your face is completely dry. This gentle approach helps wash away impurities without stripping your skin, while ceramides and hyaluronic acid keep your skin barrier calm and comfortable.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. To effectively care for oily acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs stronger oil-control ingredients and targeted blemish treatments.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it has a very low risk of causing breakouts and includes salicylic acid to help with blemishes. Oily acne-prone skin often needs a cleanser that provides stronger oil control and targeted acne-fighting ingredients like higher levels of salicylic acid to fully manage breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body, but it may not be ideal for the thin skin around your eyes. A cleanser for this area needs gentleness and lightweight hydration to clean without dryness or irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • 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
  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
  • Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.

    Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
  • 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
  • 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

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

  • Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.

    Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007
  • 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
  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023

Ingredients

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

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 10 Oct – 3 Nov 2026

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

How does it fit your skin?

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