Skin Care Routine: Dermatologist Recommended

CeraVe is now a common ingredient in many skincare routines, mostly for those who suffer from dry or sensitive skin. It's no wonder that the Hydrating Cleanser by the same brand is also one of their top-sellers. This product enjoys such an amazing customer rating that it would still be rated 4.7 stars even if we spread 100 thousand reviewers across the planet, and I mean literally. So let's check out what's actually making all these people happy.

The fact is that the cleanser has received over 132,000 reviews with four points seven stars, so it's definitely interesting to find out why it's so popular and whether your skin will respond well to it.

Why a Cream Cleanser?

This product is a cream cleanser instead of a frothy foam, or a facial bar. If we look at it closely and in technical terms, it is a gel. But the reality is that it functions more like a thick-bodied lotion. Not only do these kinds of cleaners not generate any foam, in reality they don't, which is considered a positive. This characteristic is very important and it sets this product apart from CeraVe's other types of cleansers that can be foamed up.

Let me explain why they came to offer non-foaming as a choice. Basically, foamy cleansers get the job done through surfactants which get rid of the extra oil on the surface. Though, these surfactants also take away your skin's lipids that help in retention of water by the skin which if your skin is already dry, tight, or patchy, it definitely makes it worse. Cream cleanser is a non-foaming type which in fact trades some deep-cleaning sensation to deliver a gentle wash that is less likely to tighten the skin after cleansing.

It's to be exact formulated to stop the unpleasant squeezing sensation that many strong types of cleansers bring about, that means you won't think about applying some thick moisturizer soon after the cleansing.

Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, and MVE Technology

It's the same triad of ceramides (1, 3, and 6-II) that we found before, with this product as well.

Ceramides in their naturally occurring form are actually lipids and they constitute half of the lipids found in the skin's barrier layer. If the skin's barrier turns weak due to reasons such as excessive cleansing, weather extremes or conditions like eczema, then adding back of the ceramides is a well-substantiated support for skin recovery.

Hyaluronic acid is part of the formula because of the role that it plays in keeping the skin hydrated during the cleansing process. Then again, glycerin at the very beginning of the ingredient list, works as a humectant by adding more hydration to the skin. In their own product description, CeraVe mentions that they have implemented their patented MVE (MultiVesicular Emulsion) delivery system technology in this formula. Instead of the moisturizing components getting released all at once, they are first enveloped in multiple layers of MVE which progressively break down - that is the way CeraVe is explaining the "24-hour hydration" claim that their cleanser and moisturizer lines have consistently used. Although we haven't independently analyzed such a unique feature, it's actually the case that this is an on-going point across the whole range of CeraVe products.

The "Dermatologist Recommended" Claim

Still another thing I want to be upfront about has to do with a key advertising point used by the company, namely CeraVe's description as the "#1 Dermatologist Recommended Skincare Brand." The statement made by the company is purely a marketing ploy, and yet the dermatologist's opinion that ceramide-based products are effective for skin disorders is the reason dermatologists regularly cite CeraVe in eczema, rosacea, and sensitive skin patients.

This is part of why this particular cleanser has been awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association, which has separate criteria for evaluating products marketed toward eczema-prone users.

How It Fits Into a Skin Care Routine

What it is actually intended to do on a daily basis: it is marketed as a daily cleanser and makeup remover, for morning and evening use on the face, and the brand also markets it as gentle enough to double as a body wash or hand cleanser for dry skin. As the first step in the routine, a cleanser brings the foundation for your skin care.

Making sure that your skin isn't reacting strongly or stripped, it allows the serums and hydrators you put on top to work to their optimum. This benefit of versatile usability is sure a plus if you are aiming to keep your routine minimal, but the product listing doesn't imply that it has any special capacity to remove stubborn or waterproof makeup.

Application is simple; applying the cleanser to dampened skin and gently rubbing in circular motions and rinsing. Being free of active ingredients like retinoids or acids that exfoliate, there is no specific application or layering required. This is part of the reason why users like it, not complicating any regimen.

Honest Caveats

Honestly, these are a few caveats to consider. A fragrance-free, unscented, and gentle formulation doesn't provide that nice tingling and lathering clean scent that many people associate with cleansing actually working. This is a matter more of one's expectations needing to be adjusted than being a product flaw: a skin cleanser that maintains your skin barrier and doesn't produce lather is in fact accomplishing its work, even without the foam.

In the same vein, it is not a formulation to be exact for acne. It lacks ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and other active compounds for acne treatment, and CeraVe, which sells some of its other products directly as acne treatments, this one isn't even listed as an acne product. So while it is the perfect product to use every day without irritating your skin, it is not a product to look to first if treating acne is your biggest skin concern.

The list of ingredients also contains a number of synthetic emulsifiers and stabilizers - PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate being some - which are typical in oil-based cosmetic formulations. These generally go unnoticed by skin because they are well-tolerated but if you are an avid buyer of clean beauty formulas which do not include PEGs, you definitely need to know that.

Packaging, Sizes, and Value

Packaging: this size comes in a 19 fl oz bottle. It's not stated on the product page whether the bottle has a pump dispenser or a flip cap, and that is probably a determining factor in its use; with a pump you can get your dosage much quicker, so the pump is the way to go when buying. When your skin care routine depends highly on the mechanics of the bottles it's good to know, the bottle type should be checked beforehand. CeraVe has this same formula for sale in 8 fl oz, 16 fl oz, and also an 16 oz refill size, allowing you to get either a small or big quantity, given your rate of use.

Value: we could not find pricing for this product at the time of our review. For a fair comparison on an ounce-by-ounce basis, please check out current price listings against CeraVe bottle size alternatives in other CeraVe sizes and retailers, because price and availability vary over time, so it is advisable to check the online store(s) just before placing your order.

Final Verdict

Really, this product comes out as just being a simple cleanser for washing away dirt and oil that doesn't strip your skin but leaves the barrier intact. The presence of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dermatology advice, and approval from the National Eczema Association really pinpoint who this formula is for, people whose skin is dry, sensitive or the skin barrier is damaged or broken. It is these everyone who have never gotten their skin right by using cleansing products that are leaving them all naked in a way. So, if you are looking for a cleansing product that lathers, tingles, or in particular targets oily/acne-prone skin, then this will most definitely not match the requirements and CeraVe has their foaming and cream-to-foam cleansers that you ought to try.