Facial cleansers wash away dirt, excess oil, dead skin cells, and other impurities from your skin’s surface. Without an effective cleansing routine, these impurities can build up on your skin and clog your pores, potentially leading to skin concerns like visible pores, rough texture, blackheads, and other types of acne breakouts. Face cleansers are usually the first step in a basic skincare routine. They allow you to start your routine with a blank canvas and set the stage for the rest of the products to follow. 

CeraVe’s facial cleansers are available in a variety of different textures, including foams, gels, creams, and no-rinse formulas (like micellar water). Many of our cleansers—such as CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser and CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser—offer targeted benefits that can help improve the appearance of specific skin complaints, like blackheads or rough, bumpy skin texture. Other CeraVe face cleansers, like CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm, are designed to thoroughly break down and remove longwear makeup products.

Facial cleansers and face washes both serve the same primary purpose: They help remove dirt, excess oil, and other impurities from your skin’s surface. Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference between them. The term “facial cleanser” is usually used more broadly to describe all products that fall under the facial cleansing umbrella—including face washes. So, technically speaking, all face washes are facial cleansers but not all facial cleansers are face washes.

Products that are labeled “face wash” typically feature water-based, foaming formulas (like foaming gel cleansers) that produce a lather when applied. These cleansers are often designed to give your skin a refreshed, deep clean feel, which is why they’re often preferred by those with combination, oily, and acne-prone skin. On the other hand, those with dry skin and sensitive skin may prefer other types of facial cleansers, such as cleansing balms, micellar water, and non-foaming gels or creams.

It may be tempting to skip this step if your skin feels dry, flaky, or tight, but cleansing is an essential part of any skincare routine—it helps keep your pores clear of dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and other impurities. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that all skin types, including dry skin, use a gentle cleanser twice per day and after sweating.¹ However, in order to keep your dry skin feeling comfortable and hydrated post-cleanse, it’s important to select the right formula. The ideal product should cleanse your skin without leaving it feeling tight, dry, or stripped.

CeraVe recommends choosing a daily face cleanser that’s fragrance-free, allergy-tested, developed with dermatologists, and formulated to help maintain the skin’s protective barrier. One option to consider is CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, our lightweight cleansing oil for dry to very dry skin. This gentle face cleanser features beneficial ingredients for dry skin—such as squalane oil, triglyceride, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid—and is suitable for use on sensitive skin, eczema-prone skin, and baby skin (3+ months).

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using gentle, non-abrasive facial cleansers that don’t contain astringent or harsh ingredients (like alcohol).¹ The AAD also advises using fragrance-free cleansers, especially if you have dry skin or sensitive skin.² When choosing a facial cleanser, the AAD says to look for cleanser formulas that are formulated for your skin type, whether that’s oily, normal, dry, combination, or sensitive.³ This can help you select a product that’s designed to meet your skin’s unique needs. To ensure your chosen cleanser meets these criteria, it can be helpful to look for formulas that are specifically developed with dermatologists, such as CeraVe’s range of cleansers with three essential ceramides.

Finding the right CeraVe cleanser for your daily routine begins with understanding your skin type. Some types of cleansers may be better suited for your skin type than others. Water-based, foaming face washes—like CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser—tend to be popular options among those with oily skin and acne-prone skin. Foaming formulas usually offer a deep cleanse feel and can be especially effective at removing excess sebum (oil) from the skin’s surface.

Meanwhile, people with dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin often prefer non-foaming or lightly-foaming cleansers with a creamier texture, as these may feel more nourishing and gentle on the skin. For dry skin, we recommend trying CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, which gently cleanses and refreshes the skin without disrupting the skin barrier. When in doubt, a board-certified dermatologist can help recommend the best facial cleanser for your skin’s needs.

Micellar water is a type of ultra-gentle cleanser that helps remove excess oil, makeup, and dirt without having to rinse. These liquid formulas contain tiny micelles (oil molecules) that work like a magnet to lift impurities off the skin’s surface. They are typically applied to the skin with a cotton pad.

Micellar waters can make a great option for cleansing on the go, like after a sweaty workout. They can also be used as part of a gentle double cleansing routine—simply apply a micellar water (like CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water) before washing with your regular cleanser. Our Hydrating Micellar Water effectively cleanses, hydrates, and removes makeup while helping to restore and maintain your skin’s protective barrier. It’s also ophthalmologist-tested and gentle enough to use around sensitive eyes.

CeraVe offers a range of options for oily, acne-prone skin. For active acne breakouts on your face, try one of our benzoyl peroxide facial washes: CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% benzoyl peroxide and CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Wash with 10% benzoyl peroxide (the highest strength available without a prescription). These cleansers feature a lightly foaming, creamy texture and are formulated to treat acne without dryness or flaking.

For oily, acne-prone skin with visible pores and blackheads, try CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser—our 2% salicylic acid cleanser that gently exfoliates dead skin cells that can clog your pores. And if your skin is prone to excess shine, we suggest trying one of our foaming cleansers: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and CeraVe Foaming Cleanser Bar. These formulas help remove excess oil and leave your skin feeling fresh and clean, rather than dry or stripped.

For rough, uneven skin texture, try CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser. This salicylic acid face cleanser gently exfoliates and smooths your skin’s surface without disrupting the skin’s protective barrier. Or, if you prefer a convenient bar soap formula, you can also try CeraVe SA Cleanser Bar. The soap-free formula provides both chemical exfoliation (with salicylic acid) and physical exfoliation (with spherical jojoba beads) to smooth and soften rough, bumpy skin. It gently sweeps away dead skin cells while thoroughly removing dirt and oil from your skin’s surface.

CeraVe’s makeup-removing cleansers offer a gentle yet effective way to break down and remove all traces of makeup—which can clog your pores and potentially lead to acne breakouts. We recommend exploring our range of options to see which makeup remover formula works best for your preferences and needs. If you prefer a rich, velvety texture that works great for double cleansing, try CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm. This residue-free formula with jojoba oil is suitable for use by all skin types and leaves your skin feeling moisturized, soft, and comforted after use.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser is another excellent option for removing makeup. This unique formula offers the best of both worlds: a cream cleanser that hydrates and a foaming formula that provides a refreshing skin feel. For eye makeup removal, we recommend trying CeraVe Comforting Eye Makeup Remover, which is formulated to gently remove even the most stubborn eye makeup. Or, for convenient, no-rinse options, there’s our Hydrating Makeup Removing Plant-Based Wipes and Hydrating Micellar Water.

1. “Face Washing 101.” American Academy of Dermatology Association, 2024.
2. “Dermatologists’ Top Tips for Relieving Dry Skin.” American Academy of Dermatology Association, 16 May 2024.
3. “Skin Care Tips Dermatologists Use.” American Academy of Dermatology Association, 2024.