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cerave Hydrating cre… vs UNDERATED PURIFYING… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser vs UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser scores 8.2/9.8 vs UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH at 6.3/9.8. cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser wins for hydration.

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.

UNDERATED

PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH

cleanser

6.3

Score comparison

cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser takes this one, winning 4 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 4

Tied 1

UNDERATED wins 0

8.2cerave

+1.9vs

6.3UNDERATED

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

7.2

3.3

cerave

UNDERATED

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

9.4

cerave

UNDERATED

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

6.9

3.6

cerave

UNDERATED

Ingredient Transparency

cerave WINS

8.5

7.8

cerave

UNDERATED

Formulation Safety

cerave WINS

9.0

8.0

cerave

UNDERATED

Ingredient face-off

8% overlap

60cerave

5Shared

12UNDERATED

Only in cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser

55 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+45 more

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Glycerin Carbomer Sodium Hydroxide Salicylic Acid Phenoxyethanol

Only in UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH

7 unique

Aqua Cocamidopropyl Betaine Betaine Niacinamide Sodium Cocoamphoacetate Menthol Fragrance

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 UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH's 3.3. 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 3.6 for UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE 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 uNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH relies on Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide. 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

UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE 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

+1.9 lead

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

8.2cerave

6.3UNDERATED

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser or UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE 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 UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE 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 UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE 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: UNDERATED PURIFYING & ACNE FREE GEL FACE WASH→

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