So I tried CeraVe’s new Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser because my skin has been acting like a dried-up riverbed lately. And honestly? I was ready to hate it. Foaming cleansers and I have history — they usually leave me tight and angry.
But this one’s different. It lathers just enough to feel like you’re actually washing your face, then stops before your skin starts screaming. The first time I used it, I didn’t even reach for my moisturizer for a full 90 seconds. That’s unheard of for me.
💧 **What It Actually Is**
It’s $14.99 at Target. A hybrid that’s supposed to foam *without* stripping your barrier. The claim that made me try it: “cleanses without disrupting the skin barrier.” I rolled my eyes, but here we are.
1. **Non-stripping lather** — The foam is thin, not fluffy. Think bubble bath that forgot to bubble.
2. **Oil-to-foam texture** — Starts clear and oily, turns milky, then foams. Weird in a good way.
3. **No tightness** — I forgot my toner after using this. Didn’t need it.
Photo: ajie wp / Unsplash
🔬 **Ingredients That Actually Do Stuff**
The hero is **ceramides** (three of them) plus **hyaluronic acid** — the usual CeraVe suspects. But the real MVP? **Squalane.** It’s the first ingredient that actually makes this feel hydrating, not just “non-drying.”
– Ceramides NP, AP, EOP: Repair barrier, stop flakes from returning
– Squalane: Mimics your skin’s natural oils, absorbs in 20 seconds
– Hyaluronic acid: Draws water in, makes skin look plump after rinse
– Glycerin: Keeps moisture locked while you wash
Photo: Masum Rahimi / Unsplash
📊 **Texture & Surprise**
It pours like thin honey — almost disappointing. But rub it in dry skin and it turns into this soft, cushiony foam that feels like washing with a cloud. Rinses clean in 5 seconds. No residue.
Two weeks in, I noticed my forehead flakes just… stopped. Not dramatically. They ghosted me. Also weird: my nose pores look smaller. Didn’t expect that from a hydrating cleanser.
💡 **One Thing**
Use it on completely dry skin first — massage for 30 seconds before adding water. The foam comes alive.
Photo: Look Studio / Unsplash
🗣️ **Should You Buy It?**
My dehydrated patches are gone. My redness is still there (this isn’t a magic eraser). But my face doesn’t feel like parchment paper after washing.
✅ **Buy if** your skin is dry, flaky, or sensitive and you hate the “squeaky clean” feeling
⏭️ **Skip if** you’re oily and need deep pore-clearing — this is gentle, not gritty
💰 **Worth it?** Yes. $15, lasts 2 months, does what it says.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
💸 **Final Word**
This is the cleanser I’ll repurchase until they stop making it. It’s not flashy. It just works — and for dry skin, that’s everything.
**8.5/10** — Actually hydrates while foaming
🛍️ **Where to Buy**
Target or Ulta — grab the travel size first if you’re skeptical. $5.99.