This post will be reviewing the Cerave Hydrating Cream To Foam cleanser.
The first time I bought a sample size of this cleanser was last year during one of my England Travel trips. I was looking for an all in one cleanser that would remove sunscreen in one cleanse because I didn’t want to carry an extra oil cleanser. Also, when Cerave launched this cleanser, it was marketed as one for removing makeup. Naturally, I had high hopes for it.
So far I’ve used the following Cerave Cleansers:
I’m ready to share my thoughts on the Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser.
First Impressions of the Cerave Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser
According to Cerave:
Your all-in-one cleanser for daily facial cleansing, whilst effectively removing makeup, dirt, and excess oils. Starting as a rich cream, this product transforms into a light foam as you lather into your skin with water. Developed with dermatologists, this gentle fragrance-free formula featuring three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids helps maintain the skin barrier and lock in moisture for long-lasting hydration.
Suitable for normal to dry skin
Gently removes oil, dirt, and makeup
Amino Acids help attract and retain moisture
Hyaluronic Acid helps retain the skin’s natural moisture
3 Essential Ceramides to help protect the skin’s natural barrier
Ingredient List & Fragrance
As always, this cleanser also has the same formula as most Cerave products, which comprises Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Cholesterol and the three essential Ceramides. But I’m curious about the extra ingredients that differentiate this cleanser which are;
- Amino Acids
- Salicylic Acid
I’m a bit surprised by the presence of Salicylic Acid in this formula. From the position on the ingredient list, the percentage is probably around 0.5 – 1% which is relatively mild. So yes, this cleanser also offers some gentle exfoliating benefits.
Asides from that, it is also alcohol, essential oil and fragrance-free.
Packaging, Texture & Consistency
This cleanser is packaged in Cerave’s signature pump bottle, which initially dispenses a creamy product that turns foamy when emulsified and comes in contact with water. Personally, I would have loved it if this was a gel to foam formula because I’ve found that the gel cleansers are more hydrating than cream cleansers. Nevertheless, this is not too shabby either, especially if you have normal to dry skin.
The formula is exactly what you’ll expect from a rich, creamy product. It is lightweight and easily dispenses the exact amount you need from the pump bottle. You typically just need one or two pumps for your entire face. I have gathered that Cerave products are fool-proof as they work across most skin types.
Price & Availability
Possibly the most popular brand in the world right now is Cerave. This means that you’ll find most of their products across the globe. But it still depends on the market as US & EU markets have different products. Still, check your local drugstore for availability. Otherwise, you can always buy it online. I’m not sure I’ve seen a bigger size, but this one comes in the usual 236ml, which retails for around $/£10-15 depending on where you buy it.
Review of the Cerave Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser
When it comes to removing makeup, I’ll honestly not put my hopes on one product to remove everything, especially if you’re wearing full coverage. It just doesn’t sit right with me. Sunscreen alone? Yes! But makeup and sunscreen? Not really!
Always use an oil or balm cleanser to remove all that waterproof makeup before using a water-based cleanser. It just saves you so much time and product. If you had to use this cleanser to remove full to medium coverage makeup, you’d need several pumps. Depending on how resistant your makeup is, you might also need to wash your face several times, which just causes unnecessary friction. So, use an oil cleanser beforehand and limit your cleansing to two steps.
Performance
While I was travelling and couldn’t bother to wear makeup, I used this cleanser to remove oil, dirt and sunscreen at the end of the day. I also use it to refresh my skin in the morning because I don’t carry a face mist when travelling. It works very well. Although I double cleanse with it at night to ensure I cover all bases. I’ve found that the lather isn’t as strong, so I prefer to go in again just to be safe.
It cleanses and hydrates my skin without stripping it, so I will always believe in the superiority of Cerave cleansers. One thing is that these cleansers will never dry out your skin. Their base formula of Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides works every single time.
Finally
While the Cerave Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser is formulated to remove makeup, I would not encourage it. Always remove your makeup with an oil cleanser before using this cleanser to remove any leftover oil and dirt. Asides from that, it is equally as good as the rest of the Cerave cleansers and works across normal to dry skin types.
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