Review: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Step 2 of my double cleansing process (step 1 = oil cleanser), CeraVe's Foaming Facial Cleanser, came recommended by bloggers for its gentle but effective performance and low pH (~5.5) suitable for maintaining the skin's natural acidity and protective barrier.  I'd heard of Cetaphil and other dermatologist recommended brands for gentle cleansing but knew they were too weak to remove make-up and never seriously considered using them.  Instead I relied on strong foaming cleansers that left me squeaky clean.  However, once I added oil cleansing to my skincare routine, the harsh cleansers were no longer appropriate and I needed something milder to accompany my oil cleanser.

CeraVe is a drugstore brand and I found it available through many online sellers, including Amazon.  The 12 oz (355 ml) volume is nothing to sniff at and after 6 months of 2x/day use I still have over half the container full.  The hygienic pump is easy to use and control, which is great because I only need half a pump for my entire face.  There is no fragrance (yes!) and the clear liquid has a thick honey-like texture that dissolves quickly into foam.  I do have to massage a bit longer to get a decent foam going but I don't work too hard because I use it as either my morning wash or after my oil cleanser has already done the heavy-duty lifting at the end of the day.

As a standalone product it's not strong enough to get rid of all my make-up but it's perfect as a part of my double cleansing routine.  I never feel dry afterwards, a benefit of the hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, etc) that are also supposed to fight breakouts, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.  I'm not too worried about anti-aging at this point but I'll take all the help I can on the acne and scarring.  There's controversy over parabens as preservatives in skincare products but this is a wash-off product that I won't be ingesting.  I'm also not convinced a single study that found paraben metabolites (broken down substrates) in cancer cells outweighs the multiple studies that found zero link between parabens and cancer.

In conclusion, I'd highly recommend this cleanser for a morning wash or the 2nd step in double cleansing!  

Summary

• Packaging:     4/5 (hygienic & easy-to-use pump, a bit bulky)
• Smell:             5/5 (no fragrance = gold!)
• Performance: 4.5/5 (hydrating & skin-boosting ingredients; not a make-up remover)
• Value/Price:   5/5 (bought for $10 on Amazon; super long-lasting)
• Recommend? Yes (as a morning wash or 2nd step in double cleansing)
• Repurchase?  Yes (there's so much product here it may be over a year before I need to!)