They changed the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. Didn’t ask us.
The real crime? It now leaves a weird, slick film that the old formula never did. My face feels like it’s wearing a thin plastic glove.
It’s the $16 drugstore staple. The claim is a non-foaming, gentle cleanse that won’t strip skin. A basic you shouldn’t have to think about.
New Pump
Tighter, less forgiving — you have to really press down.
Texture Shift
Slightly thinner, more runny in the hand.
The Film
This is the dealbreaker. That residue doesn’t just rinse away.
Photo: rosario janza / Unsplash
They kept the big names — ceramides, hyaluronic acid. But the base formula feels different. It’s like they swapped the foundation but kept the fancy furniture.
- Ceramides: Still there to support skin barrier
- Hyaluronic Acid: For hydration
- Glycerin: A classic humectant
- The New Base: Feels more synthetic, less ‘skin-like’
It spreads easily — almost too easily. Slides around but doesn’t feel like it’s *cleansing*. Rinsing is a fight. You need a full 30 seconds of splashing to get that slippery layer off.
By week two, I noticed tiny, flesh-colored bumps along my jawline. Not a full breakout, but my skin was clearly confused and congested by the film.
My skin felt hydrated, sure. But also vaguely unclean. A basic cleanser shouldn’t make you double-cleanse out of necessity.
This is a step back. The old formula was a perfect, simple slate. The new one adds a problem where there wasn’t one. CeraVe, please reconsider.