CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for combination skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this cleanser features niacinamide for seboregulation and sodium hyaluronate for hydration, effectively balancing both oily and dry areas.
- The formula offers excellent cleansing with cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate to purify pores, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin 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
★4.7Overall 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 combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin because it uses niacinamide to balance oil and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate dry areas. Its gentle cleansing ingredients purify your pores without irritating your skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for combination skin because it contains niacinamide to balance oil and sodium hyaluronate to bring moisture to dry areas. It also features ceramides to help support your skin barrier.
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 in your morning and evening routine, before your toner and moisturizer. Using a gentle cleanser daily is safe for your skin and helps keep it clean and balanced without irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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 purify your pores before you put on your retinol treatment. Using a gentle cleanser like this one is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with active treatments, and it helps keep your skin feeling soft and clean.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in both your morning and evening routines as part of a consistent skincare regimen that helps improve skin condition. It is very unlikely to cause irritation for your combination skin because the formula lacks harsh ingredients.
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. It has a very low risk of causing breakouts and features a safe formula that is well-suited to balance oily and dry areas.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may be more easily irritated by facial cleansers. This formula is unlikely to cause irritation on the body because it lacks harsh ingredients, but use caution near the eyes.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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?
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