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cerave Acne Foaming… vs HONEST Refresh Shamp… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
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/HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 vs HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla at 7.0/9.8. 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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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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

HONEST

Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla

cleanser

7.0

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

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

cerave wins 2

Tied 3

HONEST wins 0

8.1cerave

+1.1vs

7.0HONEST

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

6.2

5.5

cerave

HONEST

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

HONEST

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

7.8

2.7

cerave

HONEST

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

HONEST

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

HONEST

Ingredient face-off

14% overlap

27cerave

4Shared

28HONEST

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

23 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Propylene Glycol Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Xanthan Gum Potassium Hydroxide Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Niacinamide+13 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium Chloride Citric Acid

Only in HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla

24 unique

Water (Aqua/Eau)Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria)Flower Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit

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 HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla's 2.7. 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 5.5 for HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla. 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 hONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla relies on Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Flower Extract, and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract. 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

HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla 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

+1.1 lead

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

8.1cerave

7.0HONEST

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla?

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 HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla 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 HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla?

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: HONEST Refresh Shampoo + Body Wash Citrus Vanilla→

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