Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser versus Proactiv Renewing Cleanser .

Last updated on September 19, 2023. Published on September 03, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both face cleansers. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens or oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Face Cleanser Canadian Brand Canada
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

Starts at $12.44
Shop

Buy Renewing Cleanser

Starts at $22.89

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Niacinamide
Benzoyl Peroxide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)

Benefits

Hydrating

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema (4)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.

3
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 20.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

5
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

43% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
43% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet
16% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
56% are disliked or very disliked
24% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser 28 ingredients

4.2 /5
from 10 ratings
AbigailSteuer_348's avatar

AbigailSteuer_348

9 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Benzoyl Peroxide for my acne

margaretjk's avatar

margaretjk

6 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Doesn’t irritate and actually helps my acne without drying me out.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser 25 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 26 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser.

See 26 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Proactiv Renewing Cleanser.

See 1 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...