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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser versus CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser .

Last updated on August 02, 2023. Published on May 08, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both face cleansers. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, 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 French Brand France
Face Cleanser Canadian Brand Canada

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

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
ph level
5.5

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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

Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

3
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

Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

4
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.

Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.

Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.

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

17% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
78% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet
42% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
58% 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

Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser 18 ingredients

Pure Active Gel Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 24 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 52 ratings
Great Value (5) Works Well (4) No Scent (3) Hydrating (2) Light (2) Light Scent (2)
Mirq's avatar

Mirq

1 year ago · Combination Skin
Review

Love hate relationship
I’ve been using it almost for year. It clears my skin and it doesn’t break me out but I think it’s too drying for me. I...

Love hate relationship
I’ve been using it almost for year. It clears my skin and it doesn’t break me out but I think it’s too drying for me. I have sensitive combo skin and every time I use my skin feels slightly tight. The reason I was using it for soo long is because I didn’t realised that tight feeling wasn’t normal. So maybe it’s better for more oily skin.

dhochuli's avatar

dhochuli

2 years ago · Combination Skin
Review

Every teen struggling with acne needs this!
This is the product that helped me get through my horrible acne breakouts. It’s the one cleanser I...

Every teen struggling with acne needs this!
This is the product that helped me get through my horrible acne breakouts. It’s the one cleanser I recommend to my younger clients.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Garnier Pure Active Gel Cleanser.

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

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