My bathroom shelf is in mourning. The new CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser formula is here, and the beauty forums are a war zone.
The real crime? They swapped the iconic milky texture for something thinner — it practically slides off your face before you can massage it in.
It’s the $16 drugstore staple. The claim? A non-foaming, gentle cleanse that won’t strip your skin. The new bottle looks identical — sneaky.
Texture Shift
From a creamy lotion to a runny gel-milk.
New Pump
Slightly stiffer — requires more force for less product.
Scent
Still fragrance-free, but has a faint, new chemical note.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
The ceramide trio is still on the label. But the feel is completely different, which tells me the base formula got a major tweak.
- Ceramides: Help maintain skin’s barrier
- Hyaluronic Acid: Binds water to skin
- Glycerin: A classic humectant
- Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate: The new-ish emulsifier that might be the texture culprit
Photo: Laura Chouette / Unsplash
It feels slippery — not creamy. Like trying to wash with watered-down conditioner. Rinses too clean, leaving a hint of tightness the old one never did.
After two weeks, my dry patches were angrier. The surprise? My t-zone felt fine. It’s oddly unbalanced.
My barrier felt more compromised, not less. No new breakouts, but that post-wash comfort is gone. It’s a functional cleanse, not a treat.
This is a downgrade for its core audience. They fixed what wasn’t broken and lost the magic.