Opened my usual bottle and knew instantly. Something was off.
The texture is thinner — slips right through your fingers before you can get it to your face. Feels like they watered down a classic.
The new CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. Still around $15. Claims to be “gentle” and “non-foaming” for dry skin.
New Pump
It’s stiffer. Requires a real push.
Packaging
Same iconic blue, now with a tiny “new formula” flag on the front.
The Feel
Leaves a slightly slicker film than before. Not the same clean-rinse finish.
Photo: Valeriia Miller / Unsplash
They kept the big three ceramides and hyaluronic acid. But the base formula shifted.
The new emulsifiers are the reason it feels different on your skin — less substantial.
- Ceramides NP, AP, EOP: Still there to support skin barrier
- Hyaluronic Acid: For hydration
- Glycerin: A humectant
- Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate: The new emulsifier making it feel slick
Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash
It’s milky and cool. Spreads easily but disappears fast — like trying to lather with water.
After two weeks, my skin felt… fine. Just fine. No extra dryness, but no plump, comfortable feeling post-cleanse either. It just exists.
Photo: Egor Komarov / Unsplash
It still cleanses without stripping. But that comforting, lotion-like texture is gone. For me, that was the magic.
It’s a competent cleanser now, not a standout. A step back in sensory experience for marginal gain.