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

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/The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser vs The Ordinary Squalane 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 Ordinary

Squalane Cleanser

cleanserbudget

6.7

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Score comparison

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

CeraVe wins 3

Tied 2

9.0

CeraVe

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

17% overlap

24CeraVe

4Shared

18The Ordinary

Only in CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

20 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Cetearyl Alcohol Peg-40 Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Behentrimonium Methosulfate+10 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Glyceryl Stearate Tocopherol Polysorbate 20

Only in The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

14 unique

Squalane Aqua (Water)Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Sorbitan Laurate Sucrose Stearate Sucrose Laurate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Isoceteth-20 Behentrimonium Chloride+4 more

Why CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser comes out ahead

Where CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 5.7 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 Facial Cleanser scores 6.7 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 Facial 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 Facial Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
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

+1.1 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 Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser or The Ordinary Squalane 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 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 Facial 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 Facial Cleanser→Full analysis: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser→

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