CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Versus Merle Norman Anti-Redness Foaming Cleanser
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils, 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
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients
Merle Norman Anti-Redness Foaming Cleanser 53 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients
Merle Norman Anti-Redness Foaming Cleanser 53 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide
Sea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Concinna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Flower Extract
AstringentAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientCoffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingCucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
Skin ConditioningBalanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Inositol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Urea
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningDiazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide, Sea Whip Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Fructose, Glycine, Inositol, Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Menthyl Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Tropolone, Diazolidinyl Urea, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 EDTAXanthan 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 GumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients
Merle Norman Anti-Redness Foaming Cleanser 53 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients
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
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
