Opened my usual bottle and knew instantly. The texture was wrong.
CeraVe reformulated their Hydrating Cleanser and didn’t tell a soul. The skinfluencer civil war has begun.
It’s still a $16 drugstore staple. The claim? Gentle, non-foaming cleansing for dry skin. But the feel is new.
New Texture
Thinner, more slippery — less of that creamy lotion body.
Lathering Agent
Now has sodium lauroyl lactylate. It gives a *hint* of foam, which purists hate.
Preservative Swap
Out with parabens, in with phenoxyethanol. A 2023 beauty industry standard move.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
They kept the core ceramide-hyaluronic acid trio. That’s the relief. But the execution feels different on the skin.
- Ceramides 1, 3, 6-II: Still there to support skin barrier
- Hyaluronic Acid: Still for hydration
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate: The new, mild foaming agent that’s the real culprit
- Phenoxyethanol: The new preservative system
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
It spreads easier — almost too easily. Rinses clean, but that slight film I loved (the “hydrating” part) is diminished.
After two weeks, my skin wasn’t tight. But it also didn’t feel as cushioned post-cleanse. A neutral, slightly boring experience.
Photo: Felipe Vieira / Unsplash
It cleanses. No drama. But the magic “skin drink” feeling is muted. It’s a competent cleaner, not a treat.
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
They fixed something that wasn’t broken. The new version is more mainstream, less iconic. A downgrade for dry skin devotees.