Quiet reformulations are a special kind of betrayal. CeraVe did it with their Hydrating Cleanser.
The real issue? That milky slip is gone. It rinses differently now — and not in a good way.
Still $16. Still claims to hydrate and not strip. But the proof is in the pump.
New Texture
Feels thinner, almost watery in the hand.
Foam Factor
A tiny, sad lather appears now — it never used to.
The Finish
Leaves a vague film. Not a moisturizing one.
Photo: Renaldo Matamoro / Unsplash
They kept the ceramides and hyaluronic acid. But the formula’s backbone changed. The new cleansing agents are why it feels off.
- Ceramides: Still there to support the skin barrier
- Hyaluronic Acid: For surface hydration
- Cetearyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol, not drying
- Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate: The new surfactant — this is the culprit
It’s slick but not creamy. Spreads like a serum, not a lotion. The rinse is weird — squeaky yet somehow not clean.
By week two, my dry patches were angrier. It felt like it was just moving dirt around, not lifting it.
Zero irritation, which is a win. But also zero satisfaction. My skin felt neither clean nor hydrated — just vaguely confused.
It’s a step sideways into mediocrity. Perfectly fine, utterly forgettable. The magic is gone.