CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for dry sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 hydration for your dry and sensitive skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide general humectant benefits without causing irritation. The cleansing agents, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, effectively remove impurities and excess oil.
- While suitable for dry skin, the formula lacks sufficient emollient ingredients to fully address dryness and flakiness.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients, posing no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
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
How well does the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser work for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for dry sensitive skin, offering basic hydration and gentle cleansing without causing irritation. However, it lacks enough softening and smoothing ingredients to fully address dryness and flakiness. A cleanser for this skin type needs a rich blend of hydrating ingredients and barrier-restoring ceramides to maintain moisture and skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin by providing moderate hydration and moisture without causing irritation. However, because it is an average fit, a cleanser for this skin type needs rich moisturizing and barrier-repairing ingredients like extra ceramides and heavy softeners to fully address dryness and flakiness.
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning routine before a soothing toner and moisturizing spf, and as the second step in your evening routine after makeup remover. It gently washes away impurities while providing mild hydration, but for dry skin, a cleanser of this type needs richer softening ingredients to fully prevent flakiness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before your retinol treatment. This cleanser is safe for your sensitive skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, though a drier skin type needs extra soothing oils and butters to fully address dryness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. A mild daily cleanser helps remove impurities while keeping your skin comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin. Reviewers rarely complain about breakouts, and the formula is generally safe and free of harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation.
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 wash away impurities safely without irritating sensitive areas. However, because it only offers moderate hydration, dry skin on your face and body needs a richer cream with extra softening ingredients to fully soothe flakiness.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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
Why other cleansers fit dry sensitive skin better
A cream containing panthenol, prebiotics, and probiotic lysate improved facial sensitive skin symptoms and skin barrier function in 110 participants over 28 days.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024A 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, 2024Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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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