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cerave Hydrating cre… vs neutrogena Oil-Free… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser vs neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser scores 8.2/9.8 vs neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash at 6.1/9.8. cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

cerave

Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser

cleanser

8.2

Buy at Amazon

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

neutrogena

Oil-Free Acne Wash

cleanser

6.1

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 3

Tied 1

neutrogena wins 1

60cerave

4Shared

22neutrogena

Only in cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser

56 unique

Aqua/Water Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate Coco-Betaine Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Pca Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 Peg-100 Stearate Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate+46 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Citric Acid

Only in neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

18 unique

Water Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Cocamidopropyl Betaine Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate Disodium Edta C12-15 Alkyl Lactate Benzalkonium Chloride Fragrance+8 more

Why cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser comes out ahead

Where cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 6.9 compared to neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash's 2.0. Its formula features Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser scores 7.2 here versus 2.9 for neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser brings Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop as actives, while neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash relies on Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla, and Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash 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

+2.1 lead

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

8.2cerave

6.1neutrogena

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser or neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser and neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash 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 Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser and neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash?

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

Full analysis: cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser→Full analysis: neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash→

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