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

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/CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
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/The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser vs The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Head to head

CeraVe

Hydrating Facial Cleanser

cleanser

7.8

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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

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

CeraVe wins 3

Tied 2

9.0

CeraVe

The Inkey List

Ingredient face-off

8% overlap

24CeraVe

2Shared

11The Inkey List

Only in CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

22 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Cetearyl Alcohol Peg-40 Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Glyceryl Stearate+12 more

Shared ingredients

2 in common

Glycerin Phenoxyethanol

Only in The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

9 unique

Aqua/Water Cocamidopropyl Betaine Acrylates Copolymer Salicylic Acid Zinc Pca Allantoin Sodium Chloride Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Hydroxide

Why CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser comes out ahead

Where CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 6.7 compared to The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser's 4.3. With Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Cholesterol in its top ingredients, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser scores 5.7 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 Facial 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 Facial Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
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

+1.1 lead

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

7.8CeraVe

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6.7The Inkey List

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser or The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do CeraVe Hydrating Facial 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 Facial 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 Facial Cleanser→Full analysis: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser→

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