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CeraVe Hydrating cre… vs The Inkey List Salic… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser
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/The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser vs The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Head to head

CeraVe

Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser

cleanser

8.2

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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.

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The Inkey List

Salicylic Acid Cleanser

cleanserbudget

6.7

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Score comparison

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

CeraVe wins 3

Tied 2

9.0

CeraVe

The Inkey List

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

60CeraVe

7Shared

11The Inkey List

Only in CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser

53 unique

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 CI 77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE+43 more

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Aqua/Water Glycerin Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Salicylic Acid Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

4 unique

Cocamidopropyl Betaine Acrylates Copolymer Zinc Pca Allantoin

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

Where CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 7.2 compared to The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser's 4.3. With Glycerin, Sodium Pca, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser scores 6.9 here versus 4.0 for The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser. 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 the Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser relies on Salicylic Acid, Zinc Pca, and Allantoin. 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

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser is better if you have

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

Value comparison

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser comes in at budget pricing with a 6.7 score, which is reasonable for what you get.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.5 lead

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

8.2CeraVe

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6.7The Inkey List

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser or The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser?

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 The Inkey List Salicylic Acid 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 Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser and The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser?

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: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser→

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