CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
Step 1 · morning and nightThe same idea as the hydrating one, but it actually foams. For skin that looks shiny by midday.
approx. $17View details
Photo: Open Beauty Facts, CC BY-SA 3.0
Our pickCeraVe
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
The default first product. Cleans without stripping, and leaves ceramides behind instead of taking them away.
approx. $16
Available at 3 shops. Compare them and choose whichever works best for you.
Prices are a guide only, last checked August 2026, and they change often. Amazon prices are never shown here. Always check the price at the shop before buying.Affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy, generally at no additional cost to you.Best for
Anyone coming from bar soap or shower gel, and skin that feels tight and squeaky after washing.
Skip if
Your face is visibly shiny by midday. The foaming version of the same cleanser handles that better.
Why it made the list
It is the cheapest change with the largest effect for most men, and it is stocked almost everywhere, which matters more than it sounds when you need a refill.
What it does
If you are starting from bar soap, this is the change worth making first. Bar soap is a harsher cleanser than a face wash, and stripping the skin can leave it tight and irritated, which some people then read as oily skin. This one cleans without foaming much, which feels wrong the first week and right after that. It is fragrance free, and fragrance is a well known irritant in skincare that adds nothing to how well a cleanser works.
What it will not do
It will not clear acne on its own and it will not fade marks. It is the base of a routine, not a treatment. If your skin is genuinely oily, the foaming version of this cleanser suits you better.
How to use it
Lukewarm water, not hot. A coin sized amount, about twenty seconds, rinse. Twice a day is enough. If your face feels tight and squeaky afterwards, that is not clean, that is stripped, and you are using the wrong product.
Key ingredients
Mild non-foaming surfactants plus ceramides, the fats that hold the skin barrier together. Hyaluronic acid holds water in.
Alternatives
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, same idea for oily skin.
Researched, not personally testedSelected from published information and product data, not from personal use.Last reviewed August 2026
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