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CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar for oily skin

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin due to sodium cocoyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, which gently remove impurities without stripping moisture. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide general hydration, but do not specifically target oily shine concerns.
  • The presence of petrolatum and dimethicone may be too heavy for oily skin types, potentially contributing to a feeling of greasiness.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing ceramides and hyaluronic acid to prevent irritation.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
  • Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
  • Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
  • You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
  • Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviews

Some users have noted moderate price increases and a few low-frequency complaints about an unpleasant scent or insufficient lather.

Highlights

  • Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip skin”
    • “leaves face soft”
    • “no tight feeling”
    • “moisturizing after rinse”
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
    • “no irritation”
    • “gentle on sensitive skin”
    • “fragrance-free”
  • Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
    • “lasts for months”
    • “doesn't melt away”
    • “good value”
    • “hard bar”
  • Versatile convenience Sometimes Noted
    • “great for travel”
    • “use on face and body”
    • “reduces plastic waste”
    • “convenient bar form”
  • Price increases Sometimes Noted
    • “price went up”
    • “expensive for soap”
    • “used to be cheaper”
    • “bad price”
  • Insufficient lather Rarely Noted
    • “doesn't lather much”
    • “hard to foam”
    • “very light lather”
    • “wanted more suds”
  • Rare drying effect Rarely Noted
    • “left face dry”
    • “felt tight”
    • “caused peeling”
    • “not hydrating enough”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like plastic”
    • “chemical scent”
    • “weird smell”
    • “not completely odorless”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cerave.com, target.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar work for oily skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, as it gently removes impurities without stripping moisture, though heavier ingredients like petrolatum and dimethicone may feel a bit greasy. It helps keep skin comfortable and safe from irritation, but cleansers rated higher for oily skin also need ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to actively manage oily shine and minimize pores.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help provide general hydration, while ceramides help keep your skin comfortable and protected. However, to truly fit oily skin, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage oily shine and balance oil.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What do Ceramides do for oily skin?

Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and retaining essential moisture without clogging pores. When paired with ingredients like niacinamide, they may also help improve skin texture and reduce blemishes. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight hydrators and pore-balancing ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017

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

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first or second step to gently remove impurities without stripping moisture. Oily skin needs a lightweight cleanser that targets excess shine and oil while keeping the skin balanced.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing it off, and then following with your retinol treatment once your face is dry. This cleanser gently washes away impurities while soothing ceramides help calm the skin, which is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with retinoids.

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

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, because its mild ingredients gently remove impurities without stripping moisture. While it cleans safely, oily skin needs a lighter formula with oil-controlling ingredients that specifically target shine rather than heavy moisturizing ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

This cleanser is unlikely to cause purging, but petrolatum and dimethicone may feel too heavy and contribute to a feeling of greasiness on oily skin. Oily skin works best with lightweight cleansers that control shine and remove excess oil without heavy ingredients.

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

You can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as its gentle ingredients are safe for delicate areas. It washes away dirt without irritation, but oily skin of this type needs a lighter cleanser that controls shine without heavy moisturizing creams.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
  • 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
  • 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
  • Ceramide and niacinamide-containing moisturizer combined with anti-acne treatment significantly improved non-inflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesions compared to hydrophilic cream in 40 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris after 8 weeks.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • 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
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

Why other cleansers fit oily skin better

  • 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
  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.

    International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021

Ingredients

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Caprylic, Capric Triglyceride, Petrolatum, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylene Brassylate, Cetyl Alcohol, 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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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

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