Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser versus Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser .

Last updated on August 02, 2023. Published on February 10, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both face cleansers. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

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

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 Foaming Facial Cleanser

Starts at $11.31
Shop

Buy Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Starts at $9.74

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
ph level
5.5
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
ph level
5.75

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
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 Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.

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

42% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
58% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
30% are loved or liked
20% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
0% 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 Foaming Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 52 ratings
Great Value (5) Works Well (4) No Scent (3) Hydrating (2) Light (2) Light Scent (2)
Mirq's avatar

Mirq

12 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Love hate relationship
I’ve been using it almost for year. It clears my skin and it doesn’t break me out but I think it’s too drying for me. I...

Love hate relationship
I’ve been using it almost for year. It clears my skin and it doesn’t break me out but I think it’s too drying for me. I have sensitive combo skin and every time I use my skin feels slightly tight. The reason I was using it for soo long is because I didn’t realised that tight feeling wasn’t normal. So maybe it’s better for more oily skin.

dhochuli's avatar

dhochuli

2 years ago · Combination Skin
Review

Every teen struggling with acne needs this!
This is the product that helped me get through my horrible acne breakouts. It’s the one cleanser I...

Every teen struggling with acne needs this!
This is the product that helped me get through my horrible acne breakouts. It’s the one cleanser I recommend to my younger clients.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 10 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
MichelleR's avatar

MichelleR

2 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Unlike the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, this cleanser does not contain alcohol. That makes it the perfect gentle cleanser.

I knew I liked it, but...

Unlike the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, this cleanser does not contain alcohol. That makes it the perfect gentle cleanser.

I knew I liked it, but didn't place the official stamp of approval on it until it passed a very significant test. I got my first Vampire Facial (with an added Clear + Brilliant laser) and at the end of the day I needed to wash off the PRP and sunscreen. This cleanser did NOT sting my face (Three stars) AND got all the debris off my skin (Two stars).

It is officially a mainstay on my shelf!

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...