CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Benzoyl Peroxide
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramides
Glycolic AcidAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
- The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as glycolic acid and niacinamide provide mild exfoliation and seboregulation, but it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for drier areas.
- The cleanser provides excellent cleansing for your acne-prone skin due to benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid, which are effective for reducing acne lesions and exfoliating.
- The product is generally safe for your acne-prone skin, though there are some risks of irritation due to the presence of glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 4.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this cleanser to be a gentle and effective treatment for acne-prone skin, successfully clearing breakouts without stripping moisture. While it excels at preventing new blemishes and clearing pores, some users with very sensitive skin may experience dryness or irritation if used too frequently.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “moisturizing for BP”
- “no tight feeling”
- “gentle on barrier”
Effective acne clearance Often Mentioned
- “cleared my skin”
- “stopped cystic acne”
- “reduced redness”
Bleaches fabrics Often Mentioned
- “ruined my towels”
- “bleached my shirt”
- “stained everything”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love the niacinamide”
- “helps skin heal”
- “soothing ingredients”
Texture & feel Sometimes Noted
- “feels like lotion”
- “smooth application”
- “no strong smell”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “dried me out”
- “skin felt flaky”
- “too harsh for daily use”
Lack of foam Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't foam much”
- “more like a lotion”
- “creamy not foamy”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings eyes bad”
- “avoid eye area”
- “burning sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, cerave.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is a moderate fit for acne-prone skin because benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid help reduce acne and clear pores, though it may cause irritation and lacks enough softening ingredients for drier areas. A product of this type needs powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, strong soothing and hydrating agents, and a formulation that addresses both oily and dry spots without irritation.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid make this cleanser a good fit because they effectively reduce blemishes and exfoliate the skin. However, since this product is only an average fit, acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also includes soothing agents and barrier-repairing ingredients to balance drier areas without causing irritation.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for acne-prone skin?
Benzoyl Peroxide helps clear acne by targeting breakouts and reducing pimples, while also lowering the number of acne-causing bacteria. It may sometimes cause dryness or irritation, so pairing it with a gentle cleanser or moisturizer helps keep skin comfortable.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine before your toner and moisturizer. Benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid help reduce breakouts and exfoliate the skin, though there is a small chance of irritation.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but because it contains benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid, it may cause irritation if applied at the same time. Use the cleanser and retinol on alternate days, or use this cleanser in the morning and your retinol at night to help your skin stay calm.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily, though it may cause some irritation for acne-prone skin because it contains glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide. To care for this skin properly, an acne cleanser needs soothing ingredients to calm irritation and extra moisturizing ingredients to soften drier areas.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since it helps reduce acne, though the benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid may occasionally cause some skin irritation. Acne-prone skin of this type needs products that combine effective acne-fighting ingredients with enough rich, softening ingredients to keep drier areas comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You should avoid using this cleanser around the eyes because the thin skin there makes it much more likely to experience irritation from the active ingredients. It may be used on the body for acne-prone areas, but a product of this type needs extra soothing, softening ingredients to properly care for body skin.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023Daily application of adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel reduced and prevented atrophic acne scar formation, achieving a total scar count change of -15.5% versus +14.4% for vehicle over 24 weeks in 67 subjects with moderate or severe facial acne.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018Topical 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, 2019Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017
Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A 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, 2024Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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