Yes, they actually did it. The 2026 reformulation of the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is here, and the internet is currently split down the middle.
I’ve been using the old formula for six years. The new one feels… thinner. Like someone added a shot of water to my lotion. That’s the first thing you notice.
It’s still $14 for 16oz, still fragrance-free, still claims to fix your moisture barrier. But the texture is the tell.
Milky to Liquid
It pours like a toner now, not a cream. You need half a pump more to cover your face.
Rinse-Off Speed
It washes off in 4 seconds flat. The old one left a slick film—that film was the point.
The Pump
Same pump, thankfully. But the thinner liquid means it drips down the bottle neck. Annoying.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
They swapped the heavy petrolatum base for lighter synthetic esters. It’s less greasy, but it also means less occlusive protection. If you have dry skin, you might feel the difference by lunchtime.
- Ceramides NP/AP/EOP: Barrier repair trio—still intact
- Hyaluronic Acid: Humectant that pulls water in—diluted here
- Glycerin: The real workhorse—now second on the list
- Petrolatum: Removed—this is the big change
Photo: yunona uritsky / Unsplash
First wash: it’s like wiping your face with a damp microfiber cloth. Clean, but not stripped. The slip is gone—it doesn’t glide over stubble or dry patches anymore.
By week two, my cheeks felt tighter after towel-drying. Not red, not flaky—just… less cushioned. My moisturizer had to work harder. That surprised me.
Photo: averie woodard / Unsplash
My breakouts stayed the same (zero). My makeup applied the same. But my barrier? It felt 10% less resilient. A retinoid user will notice this. A normal-skin person might not care.
Photo: Curology / Unsplash
It’s not better. It’s not worse. It’s just different—and that difference hurts if you had desert-dry skin. I’m keeping it for summer, but I’ve already bought a backup of the old formula from a drugstore shelf.