CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for combination skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
Superior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for combination skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin is provided by niacinamide and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, which effectively hydrate and regulate sebum production to balance oily and dry areas.
- Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and glycerin work synergistically to cleanse impurities while maintaining skin hydration, further enhancing the product's balancing properties.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
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 27.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with normal to oily skin widely praise this cleanser for effectively removing excess oil and dirt without disrupting the skin barrier, often crediting the ceramides and niacinamide for calming acne-prone areas. While most find it refreshing and gentle, a minority of users experience tightness or dryness after use, suggesting it may be too stripping for those with drier or more sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Effective oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “dialed back oiliness”
- “leaves skin oil-free”
- “great for oily t-zone”
- “removes excess sebum”
Gentle & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “clean but not dry”
- “doesn't strip face”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “refreshing feel”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “reasonably priced”
- “bottle lasts months”
- “great value for size”
- “affordable staple”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love the niacinamide”
- “contains ceramides”
- “hyaluronic acid plumps skin”
- “restores skin barrier”
Helps clear acne Sometimes Noted
- “cleared my acne”
- “minimizes pores”
- “stopped cystic acne”
- “helps prevent blemishes”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “face feels stripped”
- “incredibly dry after use”
- “left skin tight”
- “too harsh for winter”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused horrible breakouts”
- “started breaking out”
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “skin purged”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung my eyes”
- “made eyelids itch”
- “burned my eyes”
- “irritating to eye area”
Struggles with makeup Rarely Noted
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “need a separate remover”
- “leftover eyeliner”
- “not for heavy makeup”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical smell”
- “scent like old celery”
- “medicinal odor”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, target.com, cerave.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Foaming Cleanser one of the best fits for combination skin?
Niacinamide and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid help hydrate dry spots while balancing oil, giving this cleanser an excellent fit for combination skin. Glycerin and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate also cleanse away dirt without stripping moisture, keeping your skin comfortable and balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid make this cleanser an excellent fit by hydrating dry areas and regulating oil to balance your skin. Glycerin and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate help wash away dirt while keeping your skin hydrated.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
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 as the first step in your morning routine and the second step in your evening routine after makeup remover. It uses niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to help balance your oily and dry areas while keeping skin comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first, followed by your retinol treatment in your PM routine. This cleanser helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated while you use retinol, and it is very unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. Using a mild cleanser daily helps clear away impurities while keeping your skin hydrated and balanced.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a low complaint rate for this issue and is formulated to gently cleanse impurities without harsh ingredients. Its soothing components help maintain a balanced feel across oily and dry areas.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around your eyes and on your body because its gentle formula cleans without irritation while supporting skin hydration. The safety profile of its ingredients makes it well-suited for both the delicate skin near the eyes and various body areas.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026Polyelectrolyte nanocomplexes of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid improved skin texture and elasticity by increasing skin hydration in clinical evaluation.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2022A 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, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Niacinamide, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Propylene Glycol, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Disodium Edta, Propylparaben, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum
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?
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