They changed it. The new CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser formula is already on shelves.
The real issue? They swapped the texture-giver—removing the fatty alcohols that made it feel like a creamy lotion.
A $16 drugstore staple. The claim is still “non-foaming” and “maintains the skin’s natural barrier.” But the feel is different.
New Texture
It’s thinner—more gel-cream than rich cream.
New Feel
Leaves a slightly slicker film if you don’t rinse thoroughly.
New Scent
Still fragrance-free, but has a faintly more… chemical smell? Hard to place.
Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are still there. But the base formula got a shake-up—it’s simpler, maybe cheaper to produce.
- Ceramides 1, 3, 6-II: Still the barrier-repair stars
- Hyaluronic Acid: For a hydration hit
- Glycerin: The classic humectant, now higher on the list
- Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate: The new primary cleanser — it’s gentler but less emollient
Photo: Tariq Iqbal / Unsplash
It slips on. Doesn’t have that comforting, milky weight anymore. Rinses almost *too* clean—that tight, just-washed feeling is gone, replaced by a vague slickness.
After two weeks, my skin felt… fine. Not better, not worse. Just fine. The surprise? It removed my mineral sunscreen *less* effectively. I noticed more residue.
No new breakouts. No new dryness. But that luxurious, soothing cleanse? Gone. It’s now a basic, inoffensive wash.
It’s not a disaster. But it’s a clear cost-cutting move that sacrificed the sensory experience. For a product you use twice a day, that matters.