CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
Cholesterol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it 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 moderate suitability for your combination skin as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration and support your skin barrier, though they do not directly address oily shine.
- The cleanser offers general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, which are supportive for combination skin.
- The safety profile is excellent due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and hyaluronate.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 23.2k+ reviewsMany users report it helps with flakiness and soothes irritation, even alongside acne treatments. Some users dislike the lotion-like texture, finding it leaves a film or is insufficient for removing heavy makeup.
Highlights
Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “face feels plump and hydrated”
- “doesn't leave skin squeaky or tight”
- “saved my moisture barrier”
Extremely gentle Often Mentioned
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “great while using retinol/Accutane”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “doesn't take off waterproof makeup”
- “need to double cleanse”
- “leaves residue of foundation”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love the ceramides for repair”
- “hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture”
- “fragrance-free is a huge plus”
Creamy texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels like washing with lotion”
- “smooth and silky application”
- “very comforting on dry patches”
"Unclean" feeling Sometimes Noted
- “feels like rubbing lotion on dirt”
- “skin doesn't feel clean after”
- “leaves a waxy film”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my face instantly”
- “stung my sensitive skin”
- “caused redness and heat”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me deep cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores immediately”
- “caused tiny whiteheads”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, target.com, cerave.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe Hydrating work for combination skin?
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a moderate fit for combination skin because its glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide gentle hydration and support your skin barrier, though it does not directly manage oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that balance oil production while keeping moisture locked in and avoiding irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a good fit for your combination skin by providing hydration, though a cleanser for this skin also needs ingredients that balance oil production.
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
What do Ceramides do for combination skin?
Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier in dry areas without feeling heavy on oily zones, keeping the skin smooth and comfortable. They play an essential role in maintaining the outer water barrier, and a moisturizer with ceramides and light hydrators works well for this skin type.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first or second step to wash your face. It provides hydration and helps support your skin barrier, though a cleanser for this skin also needs ingredients that directly address oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your routine. Using a cleanser with ceramides and glycerin helps support your skin barrier and is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with retinoids. To get the best fit for combination skin, this skin type also needs ingredients that control oily shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. It is very safe and gentle on your skin, helping to provide hydration while cleansing.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like glycerin and ceramides. However, combination skin dealing with breakouts or oily shine often needs products with ingredients that balance oil and target blemishes directly.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle formula is unlikely to irritate thinner skin areas like the eyelids. Combination skin types also need cleansers that control oily shine while keeping the skin balanced.
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. Cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical 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, 2019Botulinum toxin-A encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol nanoliposomes delivered transdermally achieved a diffusion depth of 380 μm and showed a nonsignificant advantage in relieving post-acne scarring compared to hyaluronic acid hydrogel treatment in 12 facial patients.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2024Topical application of cholesterol sulfate increases stratum corneum thickness and inhibits protease-induced cell dissociation by competitively inhibiting serine proteases in mice and human stratum corneum.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1998Topical lovastatin treatment impairs the recovery of cutaneous permeability barrier function and stratum corneum cholesterol levels after acetone disruption in mice, an effect normalized by simultaneous treatment with mevalonate or cholesterol.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1990
Why other cleansers fit combination 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, 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.
-
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.