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cerave Acne Foaming… vs Follain Balancing Cl… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 vs Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control at 6.4/9.8. cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

cerave

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

cleanser

8.1

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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.

Follain

Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control

cleanser

6.4

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Score comparison

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser takes this one, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 2

Tied 3

Follain wins 0

8.1cerave

+1.7vs

6.4Follain

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

6.2

3.7

cerave

Follain

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Follain

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

7.8

2.0

cerave

Follain

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Follain

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Follain

Ingredient face-off

22% overlap

27cerave

6Shared

20Follain

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

21 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Propylene Glycol Xanthan Gum Potassium Hydroxide Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Niacinamide Glycolic Acid+11 more

Shared ingredients

6 in common

Glycerin Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Sodium Hydroxide Citric Acid Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control

14 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Lauramidopropyl Betaine Acrylates Copolymer Cocamide Mipa Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract 2-Hexanediol Rosa Damascena Flower Water Charcoal Powder Arginine

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 Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control's 2.0. Its formula features Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 6.2 here versus 3.7 for Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control. 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 follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control relies on Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Charcoal Powder, and Arginine. 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

Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control 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

+1.7 lead

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

8.1cerave

6.4Follain

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control?

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 Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control 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 Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control?

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: Follain Balancing Cleanser: Oil Control→

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