pH formula E.X.F.O Cleanse Versus CeraVe Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser - USA
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens or silicones
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
pH formula E.X.F.O Cleanse 30 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser 60 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
pH formula E.X.F.O Cleanse 30 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser 60 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Cocamide
EmulsifyingPapain
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUrea
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientMagnesium Lactate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Steareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Steareth-2, Sorbitol, Cocamide, Papain, Calcium Pantothenate, Xanthan Gum, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Lactate, Serine, Alanine, Proline, Magnesium Chloride, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobionic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Pvp, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
PCA
HumectantPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAspartic Acid
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Threonine
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingArginine
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSerine
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Valine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alanine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHistidine
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-53
Polyquaternium-39
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, PCA, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, CI 77891, Aspartic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Glycine, Trideceth-6, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Threonine, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Serine, Sodium Benzoate, Valine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Proline, Isoleucine, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Alanine, Phenylalanine, Coconut Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Histidine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-53, Polyquaternium-39, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid
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 WaterXanthan 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 GumCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Serine is an amino acid naturally found in our body. Our bodies use amino acids to create protein.
Amino-acids help give keep our skin hydrated. They play an important role in the skin barrier, which keeps the skin plump and firm.
Serine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning we don't need to obtain it from eating foods.
Learn more about SerineAlanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
Proline is an amino-acid. It helps moisturize the skin and plays an important role in creating proteins.
Our skin uses proline as one of the building blocks for producing collagen.
In medicine, proline is used as an osmoprotectant. This means it helps prevent oxidative degradation in other drugs.
Our bodies are able to produce proline naturally, but certain conditions may inhibit this production. In that case, proline can be obtained from eating egg whites, soy protein, dairy products, asparagus, mushrooms, and seaweed.
Learn more about ProlineGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 EDTAIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
pH formula E.X.F.O Cleanse 30 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser 60 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
pH formula E.X.F.O Cleanse 30 ingredients
CeraVe Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser 60 ingredients
(Used 2020-2023) This is one of my most reliable products since the start of my skincare journey and I've not switched to any other cleansers because of it. I've never experience issues with irritation or breaking out when using this product as there is no harsh fragrance and it's non-comedogenic. Aside from being a solid budget buy, it's very hydrating as a cleanser as my skin does not feel Show more
My skin can be sensitive to cleansers. This one is the only cleanser that I’ve never had an issue with. I also love how well it lathers!
