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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser versus Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash .

Last updated on December 10, 2023. Published on July 05, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and 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
Body Wash 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).

Body Wash

Products for cleansing your body. These include soaps, gels, cleansing creams, cleansing oils, and body washes.

Price

Shop

Buy Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Starts at $13.69
Shop

Buy Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash

Starts at $14.63

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

BHA
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid (2)
Niacinamide

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying (3)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (5)
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Ingredients Compared

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

Water • Glycerin • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Coco-Betaine • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate • Sodium Chloride • PCA • Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 • Peg-100 Stearate • Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate • Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides • Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate • CI 77891 • Aspartic Acid • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Sorbitan Isostearate • Carbomer • Glycol Distearate • Glyceryl Stearate • Glyceryl Oleate • Glycine • Trideceth-6 • Cetearyl Alcohol • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Threonine • Sodium Hydroxide • Salicylic Acid • Sodium PCA • Sodium Lactate • Arginine • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Serine • Sodium Benzoate • Valine • Sodium Hyaluronate • Proline • Isoleucine • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Alanine • Phenylalanine • Coconut Acid • Coco-Glucoside • Chlorphenesin • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxyethyl Urea • Citric Acid • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Caprylyl Glycol • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • Histidine • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Polyquaternium-53 • Polyquaternium-39 • Polysorbate 60 • Ethylhexylglycerin • Benzoic Acid

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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 Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Glyceryl Oleate is a fragrance and isn't fungal acne safe.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 14.

4
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 28.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 35.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 12.

6
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 47.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 17.

7
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 49.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 15.

8
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 Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 53.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 13.

9
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products.

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is also an emulsifier. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 55.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash contains this as ingredient number 18.

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

42% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
45% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet
23% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
59% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser 60 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 13 reviews
AshN.'s Avatar'
Feb 7, 2024

(Using since 2020) This is one of my most reliable products since the start of my skincare journey and I've not switched to any other cleansers because of it. I've never experience issues with irritation or breaking out when using this...

(Using since 2020) This is one of my most reliable products since the start of my skincare journey and I've not switched to any other cleansers because of it. I've never experience issues with irritation or breaking out when using this product as there is no harsh fragrance and it's non-comedogenic. Aside from being a solid budget buy, it's very hydrating as a cleanser as my skin does not feel stripped after using it, and it does a great job at removing makeup (I even use this to clean my brushes). I would personally recommend this as a well-rounded cleanser for dry skin.

Great Value
Hydrating
Light
No Scent
Works Well
CentellaAddict's Avatar'
Sep 10, 2023

Quite hydrating
Helped me maintain a healthy skin barrier and gave nive hydration, otherwise my skin was still quite oily and mad many breakouts after usign this for 1 month

Quite hydrating
Helped me maintain a healthy skin barrier and gave nive hydration, otherwise my skin was still quite oily and mad many breakouts after usign this for 1 month

Carhenia's Avatar'
Apr 30, 2023

Great for dry skin!!
I used the normal Hydrating Facial Cleanser for over 2 years, I found my skin never felt clean and it made it feel extremely dry, I decided to try this one and its so much better!!!!! My skin doesn't feel stripped or...

Great for dry skin!!
I used the normal Hydrating Facial Cleanser for over 2 years, I found my skin never felt clean and it made it feel extremely dry, I decided to try this one and its so much better!!!!! My skin doesn't feel stripped or dry after using this, I use it after an oil cleanser and my skin always feels clean, definitely recommend.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash 22 ingredients

Cleansing & Renewing Retinol Body Wash hasn't been rated yet.
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