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CeraVe Hydrating cre… vs The Ordinary Squalan… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser vs The Ordinary Squalane 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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The Ordinary

Squalane 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 Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

7% overlap

60CeraVe

4Shared

18The Ordinary

Only in CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser

56 unique

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

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Glyceryl Stearate Chlorphenesin Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

14 unique

Squalane Aqua (Water)Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Polysorbate 20 Sorbitan Laurate Sucrose Stearate Sucrose Laurate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Tocopherol Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone+4 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 The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser'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 5.6 for The Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary Squalane Cleanser relies on Tocopherol. 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 Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser or The Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary Squalane Cleanser→

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