Formula · 8.9

Brand · 7.9

CeraVe · cream cleanser, three ceramides · US

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
8.9

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.9Actives with strong evidence: 1 of 2
  • Active concentration1.0Actives sit above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 93 % likely
  • Completeness for the purpose0.7For “hydration” — 72 %; below threshold: dryness and a damaged barrier; a formula with one main purpose
  • Tolerance1.0No ingredients from irritant or allergen lists
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • sensitive skin
  • atopic skin
  • dry skin
  • children
  • oily skin
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • fragrance · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “fragrance and its allergens” group — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • silicones · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “silicones” group — form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Hydrating products draw water into the upper skin layer (glycerin, hyaluronate, panthenol, ectoin) — one humectant is enough. Without barrier ingredients (niacinamide, ceramides, oils) the effect does not last.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
  • morning
  • evening
on skin — morning and evening after cleansing; in shampoo and conditioner — at every wash
When to expect an effect: barrier, dryness — 2–4 weeks; hydration — immediately; lasting effect — 2–4 weeks

Ingredients — 21 component · 2 work

What works: 2 of 21 ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid. Hydrating products draw water into the upper skin layer (glycerin, hyaluronate, panthenol, ectoin) — one humectant is enough. Without barrier ingredients (niacinamide, ceramides, oils) the effect does not last.

Strengths: actives and evidence, active concentration, tolerance

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “hydration” — 72 %

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Ceramides + Hyaluronic acid — reinforce each otherhyaluronate draws moisture in, ceramides keep it
  • Ceramides + skin-identical components — reinforce each otherceramides with cholesterol and fatty acids restore the barrier better than alone
  • Aqua/Water/Eau base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Cetearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty-alcohol blend (C16–C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; paired with ceteareth-20 — 4 of 5; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • PEG-40 Stearate base: coating, fillers · coating glazing agent
  • Stearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol (C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Potassium Phosphate base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Ceramide NP works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: ceramides NP, AP, EOP
  • Ceramide AP works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: ceramides NP, AP, EOP
  • Ceramide EOP works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: ceramides NP, AP, EOP
  • Carbomer base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Glyceryl Stearate base: coating, fillers · the basic cream emulsifier (neutral NSE form); the self-emulsifying SE form with added potassium stearate is a separate entry, 3 of 5; does not clog pores
  • Behentrimonium Methosulfate base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate base: coating, fillers · a mild surfactant and emulsifier from lactic acid and a fatty acid: it binds water with oils and cleanses lightly.
  • Sodium Hyaluronate works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: sodium hyaluronate
  • Cholesterol base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Phenoxyethanol base: coating, fillers · the most widespread cosmetic preservative: it keeps the product sterile. Permitted in the EU up to 1 %, recognised as safe at that level.
  • Disodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • Dipotassium Phosphate base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Tocopherol base: coating, fillers · vitamin E at hundredths of a percent: keeps the oils of the formula (a cream or a capsule fill) from going rancid; at that share it protects the product, it is not vitamin E as an active
  • Phytosphingosine base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Xanthan Gum base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Cetyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol, emulsifier and thickener; does not dry the skin — not “alcohol” in the everyday sense; rarely clogs pores
  • Polysorbate 20 base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • Ethylhexylglycerin base: coating, fillers · a preservative booster and skin-conditioning ingredient: it barely preserves on its own but helps phenoxyethanol work and lowers the amount needed.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a product whose active ingredient is ceramides + hyaluronic acid. The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. The effect is supported by studies: ceramides. The effect is moderately supported: hyaluronic acid. The formula has 21 ingredients, 2 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Well-matched pairs in the formula: ceramides + hyaluronic acid; ceramides + skin-identical components. Hydrating products draw water into the upper skin layer (glycerin, hyaluronate, panthenol, ectoin) — one humectant is enough. Without barrier ingredients (niacinamide, ceramides, oils) the effect does not last. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), fragrance, parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, sensitive skin, atopic skin, dry skin, children, oily skin. Use: on skin — morning and evening after cleansing; in shampoo and conditioner — at every wash. When to expect an effect: barrier, dryness — 2–4 weeks. Label score — 8.9 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 1 of 2; actives sit above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 93 % likely; for “hydration” — 72 %; below threshold: dryness and a damaged barrier; a formula with one main purpose).

Who it does not suit

When to stop: tightness in dry air — apply under a cream

Is this product right for your skin?

The score describes the formula, not your skin: the same product dries one person and saves another. Describe your skin type, reactions and goals, attach a photo of the ingredient list or the product — we will go through every ingredient and say whether it suits you, what to pair it with and what to avoid.

Cosmetic ingredient checkDecode my tests

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