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

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cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 vs cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser at 7.7/9.8. cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

cerave

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

cleanser

8.1

Buy at Amazon

Compare

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Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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

cerave

Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

cleanser

7.7

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 1

Tied 4

cerave wins 0

8.1cerave

+0.4vs

7.7cerave

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

TIE

6.2

6.4

cerave

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

7.8

5.4

cerave

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Ingredient face-off

42% overlap

27cerave

14Shared

33cerave

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

13 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Propylene Glycol Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Potassium Hydroxide Niacinamide Glycolic Acid Sodium Citrate Phenoxyethanol Propanediol+3 more

Shared ingredients

14 in common

Glycerin Xanthan Gum Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Sodium Chloride Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Hydroxide+4 more

Only in cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

19 unique

Aqua/Water Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate Coco-Betaine Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate Polysorbate 20 Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate Ppg-5-Ceteth-20

Why cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser comes out ahead

Where cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 7.8 compared to cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser's 5.4. Its formula features Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser brings Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil 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 Foaming Oil 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

+0.4 lead

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is still a solid pick.

8.1cerave

7.7cerave

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil 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 Foaming Oil 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 Foaming Oil 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 Foaming Oil Cleanser→

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Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides

+9 more