CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
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
- Highly suitable for normal skin, this cleanser effectively addresses your goals of reducing redness and irritation with niacinamide and ceramides that soothe and support your skin barrier.
- Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide excellent humectant action, complementing the cleansing properties of cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate for a balanced feel.
- The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks any harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 27.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly recommended for normal to oily and acne-prone skin, effectively removing oil and impurities while maintaining the skin barrier. Most users find it gentle and effective for acne and moisture balance. However, a small number of users with dry or sensitive skin report it can feel stripping or cause tightness.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin clean and smooth without drying”
- “doesn't leave it feeling harsh or dry”
- “cleanses without leaving skin feeling tight”
- “face doesn't feel oily and dry”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “dialed back oiliness without problems”
- “helps rid skin of oil”
- “removes excess sebum”
- “face has stopped being so darn oily”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love that it has ceramides”
- “niacinamide to calm the skin”
- “hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture”
- “ingredients that help maintain moisture balance”
Clears acne and pores Sometimes Noted
- “keeps my skin clear of acne”
- “noticed my pores shrinking”
- “helps prevent future blemishes”
- “clears my acne and I don't get cystic acne”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “started breaking out like I never have before”
- “gave me a couple of breakouts”
- “causes horrible breakouts”
- “skin purged a little bit”
Drying or tight Rarely Noted
- “left my skin feeling a bit tight”
- “incredibly dry, almost painful”
- “feels stripped and I now need damage control”
- “skin feels kind of tight”
Irritation/reactions Rarely Noted
- “made my eyelids itch and swell”
- “terrible reaction to this product”
- “peel and bleed”
- “burning sensation”
Poor makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “not great for removing makeup”
- “doesn't always get all makeup”
- “not going to remove heavy makeup”
- “need to use a separate makeup remover”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, target.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Foaming Cleanser a great fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it soothes and calms redness and irritation with niacinamide and ceramides while supporting your skin barrier. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help keep your skin feeling balanced, and the formula is safe and unlikely to irritate because it lacks harsh ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains niacinamide and ceramides that soothe and support your skin barrier to reduce redness and irritation. Additionally, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw in moisture for a balanced, comfortable feel without harsh ingredients.
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes first in the morning routine, and as the second step after makeup remover in the evening routine. It washes your skin gently while supporting your skin barrier with soothing ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before your retinol treatment. Using a cleanser with ceramides and niacinamide helps soothe your skin and supports your skin barrier, which may lower the irritation sometimes caused by retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It is very gentle on sensitive skin and helps keep your skin barrier calm 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 on sensitive skin, as it has a very low rate of complaints for causing breakouts and lacks harsh ingredients that trigger irritation.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use around your eyes and on your body because its gentle formulation lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. It helps clean your skin while keeping it balanced and calm.
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, 2017Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 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, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propanediol, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, 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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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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.