Versus

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Versus Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Face Cleanser
Makeup Remover
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on February 03, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin and scar healing

Free From

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

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.

Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

When to use

9,931 Routines
48% use in am
52% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
480 Routines
7% use in am
93% use in pm
90% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 112 ratings
Hydrating (29) No Scent (23) Great Value (19)
BubbIes's avatar

BubbIes

1 year ago
Review

This was hydrating, but that's where the positives end. For a "hydrating" cleanser this has THREE harsh irritating alcohols and two of them are in the first five ingredients (they're in higher concentrations than most of the other ingredients). I was upset to realize this was probably causing my breakouts. CeraVe's quality really tanked and most people who are using them probably don't realize Show more

#great value
#broke me out
#irritating
essmaamessaoudi's avatar

أسماء

8 months ago
Review

It doesnt do its job of cleansing at all feels more like a lotion that sits on top of your skin more than anything

I use it as a milky lotion to melt makeup at the end of the day before using another cleanser

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm 9 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 10 ratings
Works Well (3) No Scent (3) Expensive (3)
sarape's avatar

Sara

1 year ago
Review

It has given me one of my worst acne breakouts ever. DO NOT USE if you are oily/acne-prone skin. It's a very heavy formula, that's not easy to wash off your face even when rinsing it thoroughly. So it always ends up building up inside your pores creating more gunk. Plus, I don't think it's even good at removing waterproof make-up, any micellar water or cleansing oil can do a better job. I would Show more

#expensive
#broke me out
#heavy
#oily
jazzzzz1's avatar

jazzzzz1

1 year ago
Review

I wanted to love this cleansing balm as it melted away make up and left my skin feeling fresh, but sadly after using it for a few months I realised it was breaking me out due to the ethylhexyl palmitate.

#expensive
#hydrating
#broke me out
#no scent