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cerave Acne Foaming… vs cerave Hydrating Cle… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs cerave Hydrating Cleanser

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 and cerave Hydrating Cleanser scores 7.8/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

cerave

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

cleanser

8.1

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Niacinamide
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Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

cerave

Hydrating Cleanser

cleanser

7.8

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.3 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

cerave wins 1

8.1cerave

7.8cerave

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

TIE

6.2

cerave

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

7.8

5.6

cerave

Ingredient Transparency

cerave WINS

8.5

8.8

cerave

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Ingredient face-off

41% overlap

27cerave

11Shared

25cerave

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

16 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Propylene Glycol Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Potassium Hydroxide Niacinamide Glycolic Acid Sodium Chloride Sodium Citrate Sodium Hydroxide+6 more

Shared ingredients

11 in common

Glycerin Xanthan Gum Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Cholesterol Phenoxyethanol+1 more

Only in cerave Hydrating Cleanser

14 unique

Aqua Water Cetearyl Alcohol Peg-40 Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Potassium Phosphate Ceteareth-20 Behentrimonium Methosulfate Disodium Edta Dipotassium Phosphate+4 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two cleansers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. cerave Hydrating Cleanser scores 8.8 here versus 8.5 for cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser brings Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while cerave Hydrating Cleanser relies on Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

cerave Hydrating Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

8.1cerave

7.8cerave

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or cerave Hydrating Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and cerave Hydrating Cleanser share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and cerave Hydrating Cleanser?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser→Full analysis: cerave Hydrating Cleanser→

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