CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser for sensitive skin
Ceramides
Squalane
Glycerin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Superior
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for sensitive skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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
- Excellent compatibility with your normal skin and sensitive skin due to the presence of glycerin and ceramides, which hydrate and support your skin barrier, while coco-betaine and disodium cocoyl glutamate effectively cleanse pores without causing irritation.
- Squalane and hyaluronic acid further enhance hydration and emollient actions, complementing the product's ability to address your redness and irritation by reinforcing skin barrier function.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviewsMost users report a gentle, hydrating feel post-wash, with a light foam rather than a heavy lather. A significant number of reviews note that it does not perform like a traditional oil cleanser and may struggle with heavy makeup removal.
Highlights
Non-stripping & gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't leave me dry and tight.”
- “Leaves my skin feeling super soft and clean.”
- “Very barrier respective cleanser.”
Effective for dry skin Often Mentioned
- “Saved my skin in winter.”
- “Holy grail for dry and flaky skin.”
- “Perfect for compromised skin barriers.”
Not a true oil Often Mentioned
- “This is water-based, not a real oil cleanser.”
- “Misleading name; it's just a gel wash.”
- “Does not remove waterproof mascara well.”
- “Struggles to take off heavy sunscreen on its own.”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Feels like a dream to apply.”
- “Lathers into a soft, milky foam.”
- “Glides over the skin easily.”
- “Oil-to-foam formula feels luxurious.”
Versatile usage Sometimes Noted
- “Great for both face and body.”
- “I use it to shave my legs too.”
- “Good for double cleansing as a second step.”
- “Safe for my baby's skin.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne after a week.”
- “Gave me whiteheads on my chin.”
- “My pores felt clogged after using this.”
- “Not safe for fungal acne.”
Paradoxically drying Rarely Noted
- “Actually dried my skin out more than the cream cleanser.”
- “Left my face feeling tight and red.”
- “Stung my sensitive skin.”
- “Felt like hand soap on my face.”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Has a weird plastic smell.”
- “Smells like cooking oil.”
- “Fragrance-free but smells chemical.”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, target.com, ulta.com, superdrug.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser one of the best fits for sensitive skin?
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is one of the best fits for sensitive skin because it uses glycerin and ceramides to hydrate and support your skin barrier, while gentle cleansers clear pores without causing irritation. Squalane and sodium hyaluronate further boost hydration, and the formula avoids harsh ingredients to help keep redness and irritation at bay.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin, ceramides, squalane, and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a great fit for sensitive skin by keeping it hydrated and supporting the skin barrier. Gentle cleansers like this use mild ingredients that wash away dirt while keeping your skin calm and comfortable without causing irritation.
What do Ceramides do for sensitive skin?
Ceramides help calm and strengthen sensitive skin by improving moisture barriers and reducing discomfort. Topical use is well tolerated and may significantly increase skin hydration while easing stinging or sensitive sensations.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026
What does Squalane do for sensitive skin?
Squalane helps calm sensitive skin by defending against everyday irritation and keeping it smooth and soft. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier so it stays comfortable and hydrated.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is used in both your morning and evening routines as the first or second step to gently clean your skin. It helps keep your skin calm and hydrated without causing irritation thanks to its soothing ingredients and gentle cleansers.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser alongside retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. Using a gentle, barrier-supporting cleanser helps keep sensitive skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with stronger active products.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a mild cleanser daily helps improve overall skin condition and maintains hydration without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it contains gentle cleansers that wash away dirt without irritation while supporting the skin barrier.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formulation cleans pores without causing irritation, making it very safe and well-tolerated for delicate areas.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Polysorbate 20, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Squalane, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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