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Product Comparison

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

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on March 27, 2023

Overview

What they are

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

Suited For

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

Free From

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

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 Japanese Brand Japan

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 Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Starts at $11.31
Shop

Buy Foaming Facial Wash

Starts at $21.20

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

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (6)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Anti-Aging (4)
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Dark Spots
Brightening

Concerns

Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Compared

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

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 Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Curel Foaming Facial Wash 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 Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Curel Foaming Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
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 Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.

Curel Foaming Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 14.

4
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 Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

Curel Foaming Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 11.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 24.

Curel Foaming Facial Wash contains this as ingredient number 10.

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

50% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
42% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet
20% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
47% are disliked or very disliked
20% 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 Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 55 reviews
jcnfia's Avatar'
Mar 13, 2024

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...

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 it's causing problems for their skin.

Great Value
Broke Me Out
Irritating
sameteamdwight's Avatar'
Mar 9, 2021

Reasonable
This is a fine cleanser but leaves me feeling a little dry. It's the HG for a lot of people but I only use it at night and I feel facial tightness immediately. It is genuinely an okay cleanser and does take off makeup/SPF...

Reasonable
This is a fine cleanser but leaves me feeling a little dry. It's the HG for a lot of people but I only use it at night and I feel facial tightness immediately. It is genuinely an okay cleanser and does take off makeup/SPF adequately but I'm still looking for something a little more... exciting and moisturizing.

AnneR's Avatar'
Nov 29, 2020

Nice but boring
Skin felt OK but not as hydrated as I was expecting

Nice but boring
Skin felt OK but not as hydrated as I was expecting

Curel Foaming Facial Wash 15 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 reviews
JadeMcleod_6's Avatar'
Nov 5, 2023

Cleans but doesn't strip my skin

Cleans but doesn't strip my skin

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