CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser for combination skin
Benzoyl Peroxide
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramides
Glycolic AcidHigh
- 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
- Offers excellent cleansing for your acne-prone skin, as benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid effectively reduce acne lesions and exfoliate, while niacinamide and glycolic acid provide seboregulation and keratolytic action for your combination skin.
- The presence of ceramides and sodium hyaluronate supports skin barrier function and hydration, complementing the exfoliating and cleansing properties for your oily shine concerns.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation 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
★4.5Overall 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
What makes CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is a great fit because benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid help clear breakouts and smooth the skin, while niacinamide helps balance oily shine. Ceramides and sodium hyaluronate also keep the skin hydrated and protected, and the gentle formula is very safe for combination skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid help clear breakouts and smooth your skin, while niacinamide helps balance oily shine. Ceramides and sodium hyaluronate also keep your skin comfortable and hydrated.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for combination skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps clear acne and reduce blemishes for combination skin by targeting breakout-causing bacteria. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or tightness in sensitive areas, it is important to follow with a good moisturizer to keep the skin balanced.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
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.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine after removing makeup, as a foundational step to clear acne and balance oily shine. It is safe for combination skin without irritation risks, helping to clean deeply while supporting hydration and skin barrier function.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, as long as your skin tolerates the combined exfoliating ingredients. Use the cleanser first to wash your face, and apply your retinol afterward.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. It is a great fit for combination skin because it helps clear acne and control shine while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid effectively clear blemishes and keep oil balanced. Ceramides and sodium hyaluronate also help keep your skin barrier strong and comfortable while you cleanse.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is a great fit for combination skin, but you should avoid using it directly around the eyes since the skin there is very thin and sensitive. It is generally safe to use on the body, especially for areas prone to breakouts, though you should watch for any dryness.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2022Twice 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
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.