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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser versus Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on March 26, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens

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
Conditioner 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).

Conditioner

Moisturizing agents for hair.

Price

Shop

Buy Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Starts at $11.31
Shop

Buy Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner

Starts at $8.97

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

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (4)
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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.

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.

Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

Learn more about Stearyl Alcohol

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner contains this as ingredient number 3.

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.

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner contains this as ingredient number 9.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.

Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner contains this as ingredient number 4.

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
0% have mixed ratings
80% 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

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 55 reviews
BubbIes'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

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner 15 ingredients

Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner hasn't been rated yet.
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Alternatives

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

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Hair & Scalp Conditioner.

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