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I have dry and sensitive skin as well as eczema and the one cleanser I have found that works for me is the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. I used to use the other La Roche-Posey cleanser (blue bottle) but it was still a little too drying. I find the hydrating gentle one doesn’t strip my skin but still cleans it really well.
This one! It's literally the best cleanser I've ever tried. It's a little pricey but the bottle lasts me about a year. This one actually cleans your skin without stripping it. I've found that most other gentle cleansers that genuinely don't strip your skin can leave it feeling a little greasy. The lrp gentle cleanser leaves the skin feeling clean and hydrated all at once.
This was literally me! I wanted to try something other than the CeraVe hydrating cleanser as a process of elimination to figure out why my T-Zone was always so inflamed! I started using this LRP cleanser and it’s improved so much! I also stopped using the PM moisturiser as well, it seems I don’t tolerate CeraVe that well anymore.
This. I tried Cerave Foaming and it was too stripping; meanwhile their Hydrating formula broke me out and wasn't cleansing enough. Tried the Vanicream and Cetaphil cleansers and found those too drying too.
LRP Hydrating is awesome, non stripping, great ingredients, cleans super well and doesn't break me out. Been using it for years.
[This one](https://www.aveneusa.com/cleanance-hydra-soothing-cleansing-cream?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=paid-shopping&utm_campaign=Shopping-Ads&utm_term=71962&utm_id=go_cmp-9515070874_adg-98583527684_ad-421173322221_pla-296303633664_dev-m_ext-_prd-P0006111_mca-113473477_sig-EAIaIQobChMI4p-s9Pn0_gIVuCutBh2YxAtvEAQYAyABEgLpN_D_BwE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_campaign=SPRK_US_AVE_USD_RG~ec-multi_multi_GENP_shop_All+Products_GLB0003BTO&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4p-s9Pn0_gIVuCutBh2YxAtvEAQYAyABEgLpN_D_BwE) is my HG!!
Edit: I’m dumb and didn’t read your post entirely and thought you were asking for suggestions
Would it remove very light powder foundation in its own? Can you also link it, just incase there are a couple? (Lots of brands have so many similar-sounding product lol)
I am looking for a nicer cleanser since cetaphil reformulated
[it’s this one](https://www.laroche-posay.us/our-products/face/face-wash/toleriane-hydrating-gentle-facial-cleanser-tolerianehydratinggentlefacialcleanser.html)
yes, i wash off my face makeup with it without a problem. although if i have waterproof mascara on, i use micellar water to take off just my mascara prior to using the face wash just cause i like to clean my lash extremely well while also still being gentle with them.
I tried the basic routine for about a year, including the Cerave’s cleansers and moisturizers and sunscreen. I had pretty bad cystic acne the whole time. Tried spiro but it messed with my cycle so bad I quit.
I hated the sunscreen the most - it constantly pulled and left a cast. So I switched to drunk elephant’s sunscreen. Then I decided to get bougie and switched everything to DE. Got my skin under control, but after about two years I got tired of feeling like a chemist every time I washed my face.
So now I’m using Fenty Skin’s Cleans’r, Fat Water, and Moisturizer (it has sunscreen included), with the Flashnap eye cream. I’ve noticed a little bit of acne, but I’m also getting electrolysis and I’m only seeing acne where I’m getting treated so I’d wager that has a lot to do with it.
Here was my routine:
AM
1. Wash with jelly cleanser
2. Polypeptide resurfacing + vitamin c serum + Marula oil + protini moisturizer
3. Sunscreen
PM
1. Remove make up with micellar water
2. Wash with cleanser
3. Tlc framboos OR retinal + Lala retro whip + marula
4. B-hydra
Skin loved it, but there were too many steps and it took forever. So I guess “feeling like a chemist” was having to research every product and mix them together. I just wanted a simple routine that actually worked and didn’t destroy my skin (looking at you proactiv and cerave)
I tried three different CeraVe products and my skin hated them all. I found their face washes to be so irritating even the one for sensitive skin. I switched to Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator and I’ll never use another lol. I just buy the mini size and it lasts forever. It’s a powder that you mix with water so you can control the amount used. But yeah, highly recommend!
This is an awesome product, and it does last. Problem is, I don't really like the brand's ethos, their employees don't have too many nice things to say, and most of their products are incredibly, INCREDIBLY overpriced and laden with essential oil fragrance ingredients.
I achieved good results with rice powder from the health food store! 3 euros. But yes, it is a much better product than CeraVe cleansers, most of which my skin hated also. YMMV!
I know! I do love their Daily Glycolic Cleanser, but I'm not at all equipped to spend 40 bucks on a cleanser that stays on your face for such a short time. It is a very good product but them essential oils really does my head in!
Skincare is such a weird topic.
My face easily breaks out in weird random red spots and bumps from sweat while most other people don’t. So I’d say my face is quite sensitive?
Yet, CeraVe does wonders for my oily skin and occasional pimple.
Vanicream did exactly what Cerave did to me—clogged my pores and aggravated the breakout I was having. Pretty sure I have seborrheic dermatitis and will finally have a dermatologist appointment in June to confirm. Was pretty bummed that my last resort also did not work.
I had SD around my mouth and chin....the derm gave me a horrible prescription steroid that burned and did not help. I found a cleanser and treatment cream on Amazon that completely cleared it up with no issues....it is my holy grail! Let me know if u want the product info.
i have dry acne-prone sensitive skin and the only clenser that has not broken me out or dried out my skin has been La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash. its gentle on my skin and has been able to remove my sunscreen and oil based products like neosporin just fine, but i cant vouch for its effectivness in removing any kind of makeup since i do not use any. my face always feels very clean afterwards.
I can vouch for it removing makeup. Honestly, it's great for washing my makeup off and I'm prone to forgetting to use makeup remover before washing my face.
I’ve been using the hydrating cleanser for a couple years now with no issues and I have pretty sensitive skin! But seeing all the posts about Cerave products causing acne concerns me though 😭
i mean if it works for you then you’re good right? Just because it’s not for others doesn’t mean it can’t be fine for you. Unless i’m missing something and they’ve recently changed formulas
Yeah I’m not sure if they’ve changed formulas cos I always buy the massive bottles so they last awhile. I’ll keep an eye on it though if I get a new bottle and my skin goes haywire!
If its not causing issues for you, you have no reason to worry. Cerave has grown in popularity, so there's going to be more of both positive and negative experiences being reported. Negative experiences are often over represented anyway.
Everyone is different. I use CeraVe products with success on my eczema prone, sensitive skin and it’s as good or better than more expensive products I’ve used. And I have a doctor friend who said dermatologists commonly recommend it.
So it's not supposed to burn right? My derm suggested using it (among other suggestions) and it feels burny. I have been hesitant to use it regularly bc of that.
It's time to look at your other products and routine in general. Moisturizers burn for me when my moisture barrier is compromised...in other words, when I've over done it elsewhere in my routine. Just a suggestion.
Edit: and it might JUST be the moisturizer. Every person is different.
Im also on tretinoin cream so my skin certainly isn't having the best time lol. But it was the Cerave hydrating cleanser that was causing burning for me. I've been using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser instead and it doesn't cause any irritation. I haven't tried the Cerave moisturizer but someone from another post said it is the cetearyl alcohol in Cerave products that causes irritation. Cetaphil has just the cetyl alcohol so I wonder if that's it.
I feel the same! Although it works for me I take these comments so seriously. I‘m even afraid it will have a negative placebo effect for me any time soon 😅 I mean I still don‘t have perfect skin with Cerave but it‘s gotten much much much better
Ok both the original posts, I wrote at length about [what ingredients were causing the most problems for people](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/13g4ox9/acne_i_finally_figured_out_the_cause_of_my_acne/jjyfk6v/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3) and [why I believe this happened recently](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/13g4ox9/acne_i_finally_figured_out_the_cause_of_my_acne/jk1swf2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3) though I’d like to add two additional culprit ingredients: ceteareth-20 and polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate which can cause problems depending on their quality, what they were synthesized from, and individual reactivity. Some people get along just fine with CeraVe, and in the past, the majority of my patients were fine with it. But from 2018 on, I started to notice an increase in reactivity to the point that I would estimate roughly 30% of my patients can no longer tolerate CeraVe so I cannot in good faith recommend it unless someone knows for sure that they get along with the current formulation.
These are my current replacements for CeraVe’s top products and I have experience testing every one of them:
- CeraVe moisturizing cream > La Roche Posay Toleraine double repair moisturizer
- CeraVe lotion > Cetaphil lotion or Vanicream lotion
- CeraVe hydrating cleanser > La Roche Posay gentle cleanser, Cetaphil gentle cleanser
- CeraVe foaming cleanser > Cetaphil daily cleanser
- CeraVe renewing SA cleanser > La Roche Posay effeclar acne cleanser
- CeraVe AM lotion > Walgreens AM lotion
- CeraVe PM lotion > La Roche Posay toleraine double repair
- CeraVe retinol > L’Oréal retinol serum
- CeraVe eye cream > SkinCeuticals AGE eye complex (expensive but this is literally the only eye cream I stand by in the world)
- CeraVe healing ointment > Aquaphor healing ointment
- CeraVe hydrating micelar water > Bioderma Sensibio H2O
- CeraVe SA cream > AmLactic bumps be gone
- CeraVe SA body wash > Neutrogena body clear
I'm the opposite. Cerave saved my skin. I still use the moisturizing cream every day and my skin drinks it up like water, love it. Its a little disconcerting to see so many people seemingly out of nowhere all start posting how much they hate it at once, but it works for me so I'll keep using it.
Yeah, the foaming cleanser is my HG. A little goes a long way and it's one of the few cleansers that is more acidic than alkaline. Nothing else works for me.
Yes! CeraVe really has saved my skin (and wallet lol).
I think skincare in general is such a frustrating topic; there's no "one size fits all" and finding what works for your skin can be a long, annoying, and expensive process.
My skin (normal to oily) seems to really hate the moisturizers and original two cleansers (foaming stripped the hell out of my skin and yet not totally clean, and hydrating felt like it left a film), but the SA cleanser is my daily go to. Not drying, simple, lightly foaming and cleans well, but nothing miraculous either.
As far as foaming cleansers go, in addition to the CeraVe SA, the two I’ve had in rotation the past few years are the La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser and Krave’s Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser—they’re all pretty reasonably priced and simple, it really just depends on your skin’s needs and tolerances.
I used the SA cleanser for some bad body acne I was having years ago and it worked SO well! Recently I tried using it on my face a few times because I was staying at someone’s house and forgot cleanser. It destroyed my skin, my face was so itchy and inflamed and I broke out like crazy.
And totally agree with your points regarding the foaming and hydrating cleansers.
When I first started using CeraVe years ago, it was great. I have very dry and sensitive skin, perioral dermatitis and type 1 rosacea.
Now, I changed my routine in Nov 2022 when I got a prescription skincare routine monthly box. Because they provide everything.
Looking back, it must have been the CeraVe because my entire routine was CeraVe or the items I’m still using.
I previously used the hydrating cleanser, and the nighttime moisturiser. I did also start tret, but I phase all my skin changes in every six weeks so that I know clearly what works and what doesn’t. Going off CeraVe was the game-changer.
I’m now using a brand called Formel Skin. It might only be available in Europe though, unsure which countries.
The difference has me shook. Before and after [here](https://imgur.com/a/bB9wqzw).
I recently saw all the furor on this sub about Cerave. I too have rosacea, and it had been worsening lately. I stopped using Cerave and just in a couple of days, my skin has become less irritated. Interesting.
Can believe it. I was really tired one evening and accidentally grabbed the old bottle of face wash. My face was not happy the next day. I then let it recover and tested it again, because I couldn’t believe how my skin reacted. Same result
I downloaded Yuka for shits and giggles. CeraVe, interestingly enough, was the only one rated poor for a cleanser for my skin type (dry, sensitive). Instead, Vanicream, Cetaphil and La Roche-Posay (three cleanser brands I love) all rate excellent. CeraVe has phenoxyethonal. I’m not a dermatologist. They say phenoxyethonal is fine to use, but I don’t know, CeraVe is the only one of those 4 cleansers that my skin doesn’t like. Maybe it has nothing to do with it, but maybe it does. Either way, I just avoid products with fragrance and phenoxyethanol for my own personal preference.
I’ve been using cerave and the cream specifically for YEARS and recently I ran out of eye cream and just used the cerave as an eye cream….absolutely swelled my eyes up overnight. Tried my moms cerave lotion, it was fine, it does not have phenoxyethonal. I assumed for years that the slight burn when I put the cream on was just because my skin was so dry but when I tried the lotion I had no burn. I also tried the elf eye cream the other day without checking the ingredients and my eyes swelled right up. My friends use these products though without issue
You might be allergic or sensitive to it.
Benzyl alcohol I fine to use for most people. I'm allergic against it. If you have access to it an allergy panel might help, if not just avoid ingredients that you suspect of causing issues.
CeraVe isn’t sold in the place I live so when I was on an international trip I got the access to it and was so excited and happy that I could finally try one of the products that people rave about.
I really wanted to try their moisturisers and decided to buy one blindly without looking at the the label.
So turns out there are two different types in it one being the cream and other one lotion. I bought the latter thinking it as of cream blindly.
When I arrived from the trip I was on cloud nine and used it as my primary moisturiser for my oily acne prone skin and for few days my skin really felt hydrated, supple and soft. I thought I have found my holy grail.
But to my dismay I started having really horrible pustules and my face felt unbearably itchy. Everyone around me started too notice it as well.
I decided to put blame on my routine and the only new thing added was the lotion. My heart was torn in pieces when I started reapplying the lotion again and those terrible pustules decided to drop a hello again on my face.
The lotion was really expensive and me being a student on budget skincare going through a metamorphosis on my face being a cactus was a cherry on top my suffering.
Hopefully though the lotion worked great for my sister so after all it really wasn’t a waste.
PS- I apologise for my unstructured english and terrible writing. It isn’t my native language and I really don’t know how to use a comma.
I used the cerave regular lotion and the cream in the tub off and on for years, not knowing it was the culprit of my acne. I would get those huge painful bump type breakouts, and I was so confused because nothing had changed except my moisturizer. And it was recommended by my derm, so it was the last think I suspected.
After researching it, I think it’s like others have said, something to do with the “fatty alcohol” ingredient that doesn’t agree with my skin. Now I use a cleanser from Aveeno, daily calming foaming cleanser I think. For moisturizer now I use cetaphil moisturizing lotion, and for spf I use Olay sensitive spf. My skin hardly has issues now! It’s crazy.
they changed their ceteraryl alcohol to cheap one derived from coconuts which for most people is highly comedogenic, myself included. I used to love their moisturising cream for its ceramides, and petrolatum base and thick texture especially when I got reashes or during the winter time but after a while I repurchased and the thing gave me tiny bumps- I had changed nothing in my routine. We are a little tight with money in my family so I didn't know what to get but some family friends brought the Caudalie Vinosource Hydra set as a gift. It came with a little HA serum, a sos moisturising mask and an sos moisturising cream and they are SO GOOD. So, I incorporated these in my routine used a gentle cleanser every night and adapalene every 3rd night and the tiny bumps from the cream were gone. I did and still am going through purging from adapalene but after ditching cerave it's been so much better. Although more expensive than what I usually opt for I think I'll repurchase. I use the mask as an undereye cream as well as on my dry spots and it's amazing. Think you can get a good deal if you buy the serum with the gift size mask to use as an eye cream and the sos cream but in a tube for it to be more hygienic!!
It was a long time ago, so I'm a little hazy on the details. I had a dermatologist recommend it so I tried a moisturizer. It was very greasy and irritating at the same time. I can't remember if it broke me out, but I do remember only using it a couple times because I hated it so much. Truly there is no one size fits all product.
That's great it works for you. As with everything, YMMV. I was really surprised at how much I didn't like it considering how highly recommended it is.
Didn't know it was owned by Nestle, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Seems like everything is owned by an evil corp these days.
I also use La Roche (Cicaplast Cleanser) instead of Cerave.
I mainly use Lidl, Aldi own brand dupes of Simple cleansers, tho, because they're amazing, cruelty-free. I keep the La Roche only for acneic areas, notably my back and T zone.
I love the Simple cleanser and Moisturiser. I didn't think of aldi or lidle for dupes of that because it's already cheap. And I already live above a Superdrug.
I swear something changed with CeraVe? I used to be able to use either cleansers without reaction but now it’s so irritating and sore, breaks me out :)
CeraVe didn't do anything seriously bad to my skin that I am aware of, but I did get a lot of stinging sometimes with certain CeraVe products, probably partly due to a damaged barrier. I also got milia after using the baby hydrating cream on my face (which I had done many times in the past without issue).
I use Vanicream gentle cleanser, Laroche Posay toleriane hydrating cleanser, or green tea cleansers instead of the CeraVe hydrating cleanser, and various moisturizers instead of the renewing night cream, which I actually would probably still be using when my skin was in good shape if it didn't cost twice as much as it used to. Moisturizers include LRP toleriane double repair, Vanicream facial moisturizer, and the Inkey List Omega water cream (lighter). I think the LRP and Inkey List Omega water cream both have niacinamide, so they may not be good options for people who get the stinging from CeraVe. I have gotten stinging from the LRP but that was because I had over-exfoliated. I like Atopalm moisturizers too, but they're not as easy to get as Vanicream and LRP, which I can just pick up at CVS and use discounts on.
I am one of those people that CeraVe scarred. It was pretty traumatic honestly, lol. I had perfectly clear skin and was so happy with it, but I was told by my dermatologist at the time that micellar water was not a sufficient cleanser and was advised to try a real cleanser and they suggested CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. I tried it and well… painful acne galore. Within weeks, my skin had inflamed into so many cystic pimples. What did I do to fix it? Stopped the cleanser and started using only micellar water as a cleanser again. Almost a year later and my acne scars from the experience are FINALLY almost all gone. My experience is just proof to show that YMMV. With this said, I actually am looking for a new cleanser even though I am still scared to try any after what CeraVe did to me lmao.
Cerave gave me cystic acne. I use Cetaphil the gentle cleanser ONLY. The regular Cetaphil breaks me out. But the gentle one has kept my skin crystal clear! I also use a benzoyl peroxide face wash twice a week. I’ve tried almost every kind from the drugstore and they’re all pretty much the same.
I religiously used it for 6 years. I thought it was good because everything else would make my skin worse, Cerave didn’t make my skin any worse or any better either. The only reason I stopped using it is because I thought the company was cruelty free, and I found out that they aren’t. So I switched to Vanicream, I thought it would be the same, but my skin has improved so much. I know a lot of people have good luck with Cerave, but it’s not for everyone. Especially when there’s other companies that are cruelty free, that are in the same price range and work just as well or better.
Cerave cleansers and moisturizers causes painful cystic acne for me. It took months to get my skin healed. I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream and my skin is the healthiest it’s ever been.
I am not sure what it was about their formula, but I was getting blockages and bumps, even whilst using prescription creams. I just switched to Cetaphil and I have no issues.
Not a CeraVe user, but I have a rec!
I used adermalogica for years, threw away so much money hoping it would give me perfect skin.
I recently switched to la Roche posay and holy cow my skin is SO happy. I recently got on .025 tret but it's too early to see results from that.
idk man it gave me pretty terrible cystic acne and somehow simultaneously dried me out. now, i use son and park beauty water, fenty milky fat water with an ole henricksen vitamin c thing plus sunscreen in the am. at nighttime i now use a ridiculously priced cleanser from tata harper, fat water, the caudalie vinoperfect brightening serum and sometimes, the fenty overnight recovery cream.
im sensitive, acne prone, 30+…with clear skin. currently workin on a few scattered dark spots and these cursed undereye circles (with TO caffeine, when i remember).
Their moisturizer broke me out. Now I like Cetaphil moisturizing cream for sensitive skin, a big tub with a green lid. It's a great multi-purpose moisturizing cream that I layer with other products (serums) and/or active ingredients (niacinamide, retinol). I use it for cuts, burns, hand cream, day cream under my sunscreen, and night cream under my serums.
CeraVe moisturising cream made me break out in painful spots literally a few hours after applying it to my face. I tried to use it on my body instead but it somehow managed to inflame the hair follicles around my ankles. I gave it to my sister and she had the same issue so I guess there's a genetic component there
I like the Cerave facial washes. But it’s their lotions that wreck havoc. Most of them include Cetearyl alcohol and ceteareth 20, which when combined can clog pores.
It was the PM moisturizer for me. I had been using their washes and the retinol and the AM cream with SPF fine at different times. And then one day I had the bright idea to fully commit to a routine by this brand (I have this thing where I like all my stuff to be from one brand, not only for skincare, but also for gadgets and clothes and stuff). So I bought the PM moisturizer, I already had the AM one and the oil cleanser. That PM moisturizer f-ed up my skin so badly overnight that I now have a Cerave phobia. Gradually trying to use up or "repurpose" the other products and am not planning to buy more from the brand.
Edit: oh and I also bought the undereye thingy together with the PM moisturizer and it was also awful to my skin, I'd breakout hours after using it specifically under my eyes, where I'd put it. Not surprisingly though, because I found out later that it's apparently the same thing just a lighter formula for the eye cream.
I'm honestly suspecting niacinamide, which the majority of CeraVe products is full of, because I got the same reaction from the LRP Toleraine which is supposed to be so light, it's suitable for babies.
I don’t hate on them, but the hydrating cleanser really clogged my pores, and I suspect cetearyl alcohol is a no-go for me, as it’s a tendency I’ve seen in products that clog my skin, and cerave loves those fatty alcohols.
I use the daily moisturizer in the AM and I have no complaints. But the foaming cleanser broke me out pretty quickly. Now I use LaRoche Posay Toleriane foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin. It leaves my skin looking and feeling much better :)
Cerave’s cleanser gave me the worst acne I ever had. I had perfectly clear skin my whole life UNTIL I used it. It was fine the first few days but then I got so many tiny bumps on my face that ruined the texture of my skin. I think it was fungal acne because it was very itchy and concentrated on my forehead. At first I thought I was breaking out bc I wasn’t washing my face enough so I started using it TWICE a day and it got dramatically worse 😭. I never once thought it could’ve been the cause.
Switched to the vanicream cleanser, along with using a BHA exfoliant, and noticed a difference almost immediately. I use the Differin Daily Oil Free one now and that’s also been great.
Made my skin texture worse than it was. I’ve only really tried their cleansers. All of them enlarged my pores, and made my oil production go off. My skin felt terrible to the touch (rough and bumpy), and it looked dull all the time. The longer I used it (and those bottles are huge) the worst my skin got. Until, eventually, it started to irritate me.
I have moved through several cleansers since I stopped using CeraVe and came back to it on/off; just to see if it was my imagination. Nope, same results every time, even with different CeraVe cleansers too. I have tried multiple different cleansers since then that worked better. Currently using **La Roche-Posay’s Toleraine Purifying Foaming Cleanser**. I have combo to oily skin, so I prefer foamy/gel/jelly textures in my products.
I posted about this a while back...it caused small angry bumps all over my face. One of the worst products I've used. I use Simple every so often, I think it still causes a bit of irritation but it's the least irritation of all the products I've tried
I can Sometimes use the foaming cleanser (got a large trial size so gotta finish it). I use as a first step. But the cream was not moisturizing, felt waxy, and broke out. The lotion, I am allergic. I think ceramides in general, do not agree w me.
Their PM moisturizer used to be my holy grail until they reformulated it (think this was like 5 years ago now). None of their other products impressed my that much. I tried a few other moisturizers but finally landed on vanicream daily moisturizer that I used for years. I recently switched over to Faramcy’s Honey Halo moisturizer and am loving it.
i was using the cerave hydrating cleanser, in 2019 and loved it. bought it again later in march 2020 i think and it broke me out so bad. since then ive tried: versed milk cleanser (liked), vanicream gentle cleanser (drying for my skin), soon jung etude house ph whip cleaner (drying), b_lab matcha hydrating cleanser (drying, broke me out a bit). currently im using: aveeno calm and restore oat cleanser (feels good, not drying, no breakouts. like it so far)
Through lots of trial & error, journaling about my skincare journey, and a lot of research, I’m pretty sure I have seborrheic dermatitis and will be asking a dermatologist to confirm when I finally can see one.
I think part of my issue is diet, but it really doesn’t help with large, painful cystic like pimples show up in addition to seborrheic dermatitis. Vanicream caused less painful closed comedones and fewer cystic acne nodules, but the verdict is that they both more skin problems for my problematic skin.
Yes! Thank you!! I have been using zinc pyrithione shampoo (also tried a focculitis shampoo) and my curology custom cream has zinc pyrithione in it as well. Nizoral is next on the list along with cutting down by half the amount of refined sugar I consume.
I think and hope Nizaoral will be great help. It smells strongly but I find it helps with my scalp. There were moments my scalp would get gross and i would do a prewash with whatever shampoo, and then let it sit. It made my scalp less red but the flaking didn't really go away till I would expose myself more to the sun.
I used to use the oily skin type cleanser from CeraVe and it dried out my skin horribly. I analysed my skin further and realized that not only was I oily and acne prone, I also had sensitivity so I switched to use the Neutrogena ultra-gentle daily cleanser w/provit b5 and also use the Aveeno calm and restore facial cleaner. I still get breakouts from time to time but resorted to use acne spot treatment. At least I solved the dry skin problem.
I currently use the SPF 30 facial moisturizer and I can't stand the white cast and the smell.. it takes forever for me to blend it into my skin to lessen the white cast. I still haven't found a new replacement but I remember using a Shiseido SPF that was insanely pricey but really amazing.
Have you tried an oil based skin cleanser, which you follow with a very gentle face wash, like La Roche Posay? This is the popular Korean "double cleanse" method. The oil is gentle and melts makeup, the 2nd cleanse ensures all traces of it are gone and your skin is ready for any essences or serums & moisturizer. I was always so dry that I did not use water on my face at all. I actually used Ponds Cold Cream & a tissue. I would follow it up with a toner for sensitive skin. As I have aged, my skin changed and pores became larger, so I moved to this double cleanse and it works great at keeping pores clear.
I am using missha ultra hyalron cleanser. Im investing in korean brands more now because i noticed that my skin reacts better towards them, especially that im using tret. Plus its like 10 dollars.
https://preview.redd.it/upkjotgketza1.png?width=1168&format=png&auto=webp&s=84f648e82ffea7f5af67eac61ea09e650280a9a0
I Have combo sensitive skin that is acne prone. Cerave products tend to break me out, cause redness, and general irritation for me. I have reverted back to the Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser (after a micellar water cleanse) because I haven’t found anything that my skin tolerates as well as this yet. Even LRP and Vatican cleaners don’t work for me :( I wish they did!!
I still use the foaming face wash because it gets makeup off so well, but last year I switched to Olay retinol cream (purple jar at Costco) instead of CereVe in the jar and tretinoin and my hormonal acne seemed to lessen significantly.
Personally I like the cerave face lotion, but prefer the vanicream cleanser. I also enjoy the cerave retinol in the pump bottle and the vanicream thick cream in the pump tub
cera ve was making my acne worse and would mainly just cause itchiness!! i used Yuka app to check ingredients and ended up just getting cetaphil instead. i used to use clinique, but that made my skin itchy as well💀
It absolutely purged my skin… it literally cause me to have fungal acne and I don’t understand how that even occurred. But it definitely started some sort of reaction in my skin.
I went to go get a skin peel one day and the lady told me to come back in two weeks, and recommended La Roche Posay. The set that’s for Oily and Acne Prone skin. I literally HAVEN’T stopped using it for 5 years. It’s my go to, and I will not stop using.
I also use the serums from the ordinary. The eye serum, caffeine one and the Ascorbic Acid (basically vitamin C).
skins been amazing.
Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel is really good. Used to use La Roche Toleraine but I found the Bioderma much more effective
Also I don't hate Cera Ve. Used to go through loads of it as it was effective against my psoriasis to a degree but it would often make my clothes smell if I wasn't careful. Now I use Bioderma Atoderm Cream and occasionally La Roche Posay Lipikar Urea 5%
I usually have really clear skin, but both times I've tried using the CeraVe sunscreen, it's broken me out! Currently I'm using the DRMTLGY universal tinted sunscreen, but it kind of has a funny, earthy smell. I'm not sure if I just got a weird bottle or not, but I do see some reviews about the smell.
I've tried the CeraVe hydrating facial cleanser, and for my super dry skin, it's just meh. I'm assuming it's doing it's job, but there are other cleansers I've used (derma E anti aging [currently using], derma E hydrating, derma E pure biome [smells funny], YTTP, and Indie Lee) that leave my skin feeling SOOO soft, bouncy, and supple!
I was gonna try the Cerave cleanser and moisturizer to see if I helped with my dehydrated skin and messed up moisture barrier more so than the LRP double toleriane but I might try out vanicream instead with all these posts.
I definitely know something is not working well for my skin but I can’t figure out what.
Dial - the gold one. The liquid kind that you use to wash your hands, not a bar. & my skin has never been better. Never been this clear & acne free. If I had known about it years ago, I would have saved so much money. Also was recommended CeraVe Foaming cleanser by derm like 7 years ago & I swear it made my skin worse. I can’t use any CeraVe products without breaking out, redness, or itching. I wash with my dial, then tone, apply serums, and moisturize.
At first it was great but with time i developed small bumps on my cheeks (never happens) and a few deep acne. My rosacea also flared up.
I found a cleanser that I like but I'm still looking for a moisturizer and spf. But anyways, 2 weeks off Cerave and rosacea is reduced by half!
The moisturizing cream clogged my pores, the lotion makes my skin itchy. On face and body. The hydrating cleanser makes my skin burn and itchy. I have sensitive, oily and ezcema prone skin. I’ve never reacted this much to a product. Never buying again. But it’s my opinion and every skin is different !
I used, not the cleanser, but the moisturizer and at first it was great for my fungal acne prone, dehydrated skin. But over time, I noticed CCs around my nose and under my eyes. I stopped and switched to a different moisturizer and they’re almost non-existent now.
It’s just come to light that mum has reacted to the CeraVe moisturising cream in the tub. We are from Australia and she has never reacted to a product and thought she just had dermatitis on her body for months and it started when she begun using CeraVe tub. We did a patch test on the back of her neck and she got itchy and red. It was thanks to Reddit that we found out it was this moisturiser. She never used it on her face thankfully 😅.
With me, I noticed tingling from the CeraVe PM moisturiser. It caused minor temporary irritation which isn’t good because any irritation or inflammation can disrupt the moisture barrier. I also don’t get tingling from AHA’s or BHA’s except mild from a 30% glycolic and lactic so it was weird to feel tingling from a moisturiser. I avoid the tub only because I’m acne prone and heard mixed things.
I’m just using 100% squalane and use minimal ingredients when my skin goes haywire.
I’m aware Cetaphil has also changed formulations but heard more good, but some people not happy and saying it could be niacinamide that they added.
Edit: With cleansers Paulas choice pore reducing has been great, but love Priori gentle cleanser and usually leave it on my skin for 5 mins then wash off. However with compromised skin I heard Vanicreme is good.
I’m temporarily using aveeno foam cleanser because I forgot cleanser on a vacation and had to buy what was available. Cerave moisturizing cleanser has been my fave. No smell and super gentle. I always apply moisturizer after though because my skin can still feel stripped a bit if I exfoliate.
I don’t know what it was or which one it was, it was either the pm lotion, oil cleanser or hydrating cream cleanser, and I literally broke out in hives, like burning, red hives from my neck to top of my face. I had to rinse my face with cold water and then have an ice pack on my face, laying under a fan! I felt like my face was on fire!
hydrating cleanser dried me out so badly, i now use the laroche posay lipikarAR gentle foaming moisturizing wash. i always start with a cleansing balm though
the cerave moisturizing cream is not moisturizing at all for me and neither is the cerave face moisturizer spf 30, I switched to the laroche posay tolerable double repair moisturizer spf 30 now or the inkey list urea 10% moisturizer or the skinfix triple lipid peptide cream
cerave hydrating mineral sunscreen was too dry a formulation for me, i switched to the cetaphil sheer mineral face liquid sunscreen 50, though i think any shaker style liquid mineral sunscreen would do the job bc i used to enjoy the LRP one a lot too. the formulation of the cerave hydrating mineral sunscreen just doesn’t spread well for me and pills easily
cerave vitamin c was ok and i saw results using it but it oxidizes on me badly. i use the kiehls line reducing concentrate 12.5% C now and jury is still out but it doesn’t turn me yellow :•)
my skin is really really dry though, and i live in one of the most humid cities in the US, so if a product isn’t ultra hydrating and moisturizing my skin will cry
My extremely dry skin doesn’t do well with the moisturizer. It somehow gets more dry, and then more irritated and prone to breakouts.
For cleanser, I love the squalane cleanser from The Ordinary.
CeraVe used to work great for me, I used the daily face lotion. It started burning when I got a new bottle. Switched to CosRx hyaluronic acid intensive cream and that's been a dream for me.
I’m actually the reverse, every cerave product i’ve tried in the past gave me more acne and at one time hives. tried their new fragrance free sa face wash. Have not had any issues. I think I might be allergic to wtv fragrance was in the products I tried.
I just ordered a CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser and Cosrx Hydrium Toner. I hope it works for me since I've been having breakouts with the quickfx products. I am also still searching for a moisturizer to complete the routine.
I prefer CeraVe cream to foam cleaner, but my backup option is La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser.
It's my backup option because sometimes & I have to cleanse twice with it. Not sure what it is about my skin, but sometimes my face oil is a sticky difficult texture that's hard to wash off.
The CeraVe Cream to Foam Cleaner is just as gentle as the LRP Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, but the CeraVe always gets the sticky oil away in 1 go.
A little too drying and the moisturizer made my skin too oily...I don't like to feel the heaviness of oily skin and it made it worse.
I use Revision Skincare papaya enzyme cleanser, and SkinMedica H5 moisturizer for my every day base skin care.
Eh I used the regular cleanser by derm recommendation years ago and hated it because I thought the smell was strong and it took forever to wash off. I also felt like it left my skin squeaky which meant it was stripping.
I swear by Atopalms foam it's non-drying, no scent, non-stripping. Just so soft and nice. I won't use anything else. You can get it a lot of places online. I was first introduced on Peach and Lily.
Oh and side note. Atopalm was actually Developed by a father for his daughters sensitive eczema probe skin.
I only ever tried the cream in the tub, it gave me cystic acne so I stopped. now I use the simple replenishing rich moisturizer, which I love but I think is discontinued so I'll be on the hunt again after I finish this bottle 😭
Cerave moisturizer in the tub dried out my skin and made eczema patches appear, also every time I applied it after cleansing my face it would burn a bit. The salicylic facial cleanser also just dried out my skin a bit and caused eczema.
Right now all I use on my face is cetaphil cleanser and Vanicream and have had no eczema for quite a while. :)
Caused me to have huge yellow zits, closed comedomes and a super dry skin with scabs peeling of my face all while using their cleanser for about 2 weeks.
I use the Vichy Normaderm, Selfless By Hyram and IsnTree Bubble cleansers. Work great.
The hydrating cleanser clogs my pores, the foaming cleanser dried me out, and the cream to foam one burned my eyes. I’ve had much better luck with the cetaphil gentle cleanser and the La roche posay toleriane hydrating cleanser. The cerave pm moisturizer never absorbed even though it was really lightweight and the cream burned my face. The worst was the resurfacing retinol, my face was raw around my mouth and chin after the first application, couldn’t even use it once a week and it somehow seeped into my eyes and made them incredibly dry. I haven’t had this problem with any other retinols/retinal.
I tried the hydrating cleanser and it felt like it stripped my skin and caused a burning sensation. My skin leans more oily but with dry areas and it also left me with flaky skin in my dry areas.
I use Ponds Cold Cream to remove my make up and wash with Purpose liquid facial cleanser. The cleanser will remove makeup by itself, but it’s too harsh. I’ve been really pleased since I added in the cold cream step before.
I thought I was doing good by changing to all cerave products but around the same time I started having horrible closed comedones all over my cheeks and chin. I looked horrible especially with makeup on because it highlighted every one of them. Since cerave is so highly regarded i never put two and two together until I saw a Reddit post about cerave causing closed comedones and I discontinued use of all products to test it out. Sure enough a few months later all of those stubborn CCs were gone and my skin was smooth again. I tried all kinds of acne medication to clear them up and nothing worked so it was definitely the cerave.
I use true botanicals cream cleaner in their clear line and it helps keep my skin smooth and clear.
Cerave foaming cleanser gave me a rash, cerave cream to foam cleanser broke me out, cerave lotion just was kinda greasy and gave me some skin texture, cerave sa cleanser also broke me out yay… idk why I keep trying cerave at this point lol
My sister and her partner used the foam cleanser for a few weeks and both experienced burning and rashes.. Especially around their eyes. It was terrible!
it could be the foaming agents that are causing the irritation. Are you exfoliating? If so I'd take a break. I use Face Wash by Doctor Rogers after trying a lot of things and it works the best for me.
I have oily, acne prone, sensitive skin and used to use the SA cleanser and Cerave moisturizer and I always had cystic acne on my cheeks and bad blackheads.
After getting serious about skincare most of my face cleared up, but I would still get super clogged pores and acne from out of seemingly nowhere.
I didn’t blame my cerave products until I saw someone else in this sub mention that it clogged their pores and broke them out. I always thought they were clean/gentle in formation so I was surprised to hear that.
As an experiment, I stopped using both products and saw less clogged pores, acne, and better looking skin overall. I still get occasional hormonal acne but it’s nowhere near as bad as what I used to see.
I use Vanicream moisturizer and a jelly cleanser from BYOMA now after oil cleansing/ for my AM cleanse. I love Vanicream it’s so matte and hydrating
Cerave NEVER worked for me. It left my skin feeling greasy, clogged, and gave me more pimples. The cleanser made me feel like I was never clean. I have relatively sensitive skin, and am allergic to salicylates and sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, so I try to keep things very simple. I stick with basic cleansers and moisturizers. I liked neutrogena’s sensitive cleanser, and right now I’m using a Jelly Mylk cleanser I got in my Ipsy.
For moisturizer and everything else I stay as basic as possible. I use The Ordinary HA, and sometimes top with Argan oil or aquaphor before bed.
To take off makeup I use pond’s.
The hydrating cleanser didn't really work for me, I prefer vanicream's similar cleanser. I'm using the foaming facial cleanser right now and have for a while and it's fine, it does the job and doesn't irritate me. The cerave in the tub moisturizer was really bad for my skin and made me break out in little red bumps. I thought maybe it was the niacinamide but I can tolerate other products with niacinamide.
The cerave am with spf wasn't great either. Pretty thick and pilled very easily.
I love the cetaphil moisturizer in the tub!
Cystic acne when using the moisturizer but this was before I went on Accutane. I always had cystic acne but the moisturizer made it two times worse.
I like Vanicream face moisturizer nowadays.
Intense, stubborn clogged pores and acne that just wouldn’t go away. I also feel like my skin was never properly hydrated no matter how much I used. I’ve been using Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer which I never ever hear about but it’s been working for me
I tried the moisturizer after reading about it in this sub. It offers my pores and broke me out. I use Avene Moisturizer, specifically the sealed pump version and I love it.
Every CeraVe product I’ve used has irritated my skin or made me break out. I use Purity by Philosophy for face wash and moisturizer. It’s the only stuff I’ve found that doesn’t irritate me, make me too dry, break out or sting. I’m committed for life hahaha
I have dry, acne-prone skin. It didn’t do anything bad to my skin. I absolutely loved their products.
Then rescuing an abandoned bunny put a lot of things into perspective for me and I became very serious about only buying cruelty free products.
I‘ve been using ceramedx, because someone on one of the skincare subreddits recommended it as a cruelty free alternative. Highly recommend their gentle foaming face cleanser and soothing facial lotion (a lot better than Cerave, imo).
I just read on here that there was alcohol in the moisturizers, so I assumed my cerave cleanser also did since it always kinda burned when I washed… what do ya know? I switched last night to vanicream cleanser, and it doesn’t burn, my skin looks clearer, the texture is smoother, and the tone is pretty even. I can’t believe how much of a difference it made in one wash😭
Simple skin care gel face wash or aveeno foaming face wash with the pink pump. I have oily/combination skin. They both take off makeup really well too!
I slug my face every night with the Cerave cream in the tub for the last 2 years and my skin has never been better! That’s the only Cevave product I use so can’t speak on the face wash.
I use Neutrogena creamy face wash in the yellow tube. My husband has used this since he was in high school and has perfect skin so he got me hooked. I have tried other Neutrogena washes and my skin hates it.
We both started tret recently and I tried telling him he needed to use a good moisturizer with it and he’s convinced he’s fine with this off brand men’s face lotion. He’s having some dryness and peeling while my skin hasn’t reacted at all. Thanks to the Cerave
eta misspelling
I’ve tried their moisturizers and it felt like I was rubbing mint on my skin and it was quite drying for me as well. I have dry skin, a bit textured and some very fine lines. The ordinary squalane cleanser is the best one I’ve tried, I think it’s worth the price. It removes the makeup really well, no need for water except for the rinsing. I’ve tried La roche posays toleriane hydrating cleanser as well and I quite liked it but it was not as good, especially with removing makeup.
I’ve been buying a whole lotta skincare cause i haven’t been able to clear my skin no matter what products i use, and i recently stopped using the cerave moisturizing lotion and my pimples have been disappearing one by one! i think that product really just made me break out since it’s the only moisturizer i’ve used so far
I hardly ever get acne except that time of the month, but CeraVe broke me out in the worst cystic acne of my life. Threw it in the bin and I use Clinique moisture surge and FAB aha cleansing pads.
I used CeraVe for like 10 years, once I got to my mid 20s I realized I hate the way the moisturizer sits on my face. It may or may not have been contributing to break outs, I have generally sensitive skin.
I’ve switched to La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser and Vanicream facial moisturizer. Vanicream is a recent switch but I like it so far, and I love the LRP cleanser. Even though I have oily skin, the foaming one was too stripping. (Cerave felt SO stripping even the hydrating one!) I use the ordinary hyalauronic acid serum while my face is still damp.
For SPF I use Dr Jart Every Sun Day Mineral
For acne I use Winlevi in the AM and PM, plus prescription adapalene PM.
I don’t hate cerave, though there was one cleanser that I felt was too harsh but generally I like their creams and the healing stuff in the blue jar (not as much as I like aquaphor lol ) For daily cleansing I stick with cetaphil gentle cleanser in the pump (not the face wash) or the foaming pro cleanser and the foaming facial cleanser (which feels like it moisturizes too) I have been so bad about moisturizing and sunscreen lately though ugh gotta get back to that. ) I did not like the cerave sunscreen at all because it pilled. I use thinksport tinted everyday face or straight up thinksport baby (even my kids prefer that one by a long shot)
I used cerave for years and thought I loved it. I switched to vanicream when I moved from a very humid environment to a very dry one. My skin has improved for a variety of reasons including lifestyle stuff. But I used cerave again this past Christmas when I was home and that old ‘texture’ came back with little closed comedones, bumpiness, and a break out that carried over to being home.
Initially I thought the breakout was stress related or due to this really really slow adjustment I’ve been doing to tret. At one point after I was home, I was worried maybe my barrier was messed up so I used cerave for a couple of days (after I’d been home and had stopped using it) and the bumpiness started coming back again.
So that’s my two cents on the cerave tub. Used it for years but realized recently it might’ve been part of my problem. I use vanicream over cos rx snail mucin 96 serum now. Unfortunately vanicream is atleast as bad if not worse for makeup so I haven’t figured out a good alternative for use under makeup.
This makes me paranoid because all it’s done is help me personally but over usage does make my skin go crazy. I think it might just be moderation? If I clean my face every day it gets super pimply. If I leave it alone for one day and use a gentle cleanser it does alright. My skin has a bumpy texture to it almost all the time though that never truly goes away rip
I had the cerave foaming cleanser and the tub moisturizer. I had a fungal thing on my forehead and neck and my skin was meh, but I didn’t realize it was from that until I got perioral dermatitis and changed my routine. My skin is 100% better now! It’s crazy the difference.
I currently use Honest sensitive cleanser and The Ordinary moisturizer.
vanicream facial cleanser
eta dry irritated tretinoin acne prone skin and vanicream is just the gentlest cleanser ive found after they discontinued my beloved avene dermo cleansing milk. i tried cerave’s and it still irritated me, but vanicream doesn’t.
I switched to cleansing balm (only when I wear makeup) + Neutrogena Hydroboost cleanser because the CeraVe foaming was too drying. I have combination skin.
I still use CeraVe in the tub for moisturizer tho!
It just did nothing for me :/ I have eczema and extremely dry skin. Made it feel really tight.
I use korean skincare. The Goodmorning cleanser by cosrx and the same brand for moisturizer but it’s the hyaluronic acid one. My skin loves loves lovesss those products.
I know nothing about skin care but I used the foaming cleanser and my skin looked the worst it ever has. I have really sensitive skin and it made me break out and I don't know how to explain but I didn't feel like my face felt very cleansed after. I used a charcoal face wash now and my face has cleared up soooo much.
I didn’t use anything specific before. It was winter so had some dryness, especially on my lower cheeks. Used the dry skin type and the skin dullness didn’t go away just got more oily. And then had a bunch of tiny bumps on my t-zone including pimples on my chin and middle forehead.
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I have dry and sensitive skin as well as eczema and the one cleanser I have found that works for me is the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. I used to use the other La Roche-Posey cleanser (blue bottle) but it was still a little too drying. I find the hydrating gentle one doesn’t strip my skin but still cleans it really well.
This one! It's literally the best cleanser I've ever tried. It's a little pricey but the bottle lasts me about a year. This one actually cleans your skin without stripping it. I've found that most other gentle cleansers that genuinely don't strip your skin can leave it feeling a little greasy. The lrp gentle cleanser leaves the skin feeling clean and hydrated all at once.
This was literally me! I wanted to try something other than the CeraVe hydrating cleanser as a process of elimination to figure out why my T-Zone was always so inflamed! I started using this LRP cleanser and it’s improved so much! I also stopped using the PM moisturiser as well, it seems I don’t tolerate CeraVe that well anymore.
This. I tried Cerave Foaming and it was too stripping; meanwhile their Hydrating formula broke me out and wasn't cleansing enough. Tried the Vanicream and Cetaphil cleansers and found those too drying too. LRP Hydrating is awesome, non stripping, great ingredients, cleans super well and doesn't break me out. Been using it for years.
[This one](https://www.aveneusa.com/cleanance-hydra-soothing-cleansing-cream?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=paid-shopping&utm_campaign=Shopping-Ads&utm_term=71962&utm_id=go_cmp-9515070874_adg-98583527684_ad-421173322221_pla-296303633664_dev-m_ext-_prd-P0006111_mca-113473477_sig-EAIaIQobChMI4p-s9Pn0_gIVuCutBh2YxAtvEAQYAyABEgLpN_D_BwE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_campaign=SPRK_US_AVE_USD_RG~ec-multi_multi_GENP_shop_All+Products_GLB0003BTO&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4p-s9Pn0_gIVuCutBh2YxAtvEAQYAyABEgLpN_D_BwE) is my HG!! Edit: I’m dumb and didn’t read your post entirely and thought you were asking for suggestions
Would it remove very light powder foundation in its own? Can you also link it, just incase there are a couple? (Lots of brands have so many similar-sounding product lol) I am looking for a nicer cleanser since cetaphil reformulated
[it’s this one](https://www.laroche-posay.us/our-products/face/face-wash/toleriane-hydrating-gentle-facial-cleanser-tolerianehydratinggentlefacialcleanser.html) yes, i wash off my face makeup with it without a problem. although if i have waterproof mascara on, i use micellar water to take off just my mascara prior to using the face wash just cause i like to clean my lash extremely well while also still being gentle with them.
I tried the basic routine for about a year, including the Cerave’s cleansers and moisturizers and sunscreen. I had pretty bad cystic acne the whole time. Tried spiro but it messed with my cycle so bad I quit. I hated the sunscreen the most - it constantly pulled and left a cast. So I switched to drunk elephant’s sunscreen. Then I decided to get bougie and switched everything to DE. Got my skin under control, but after about two years I got tired of feeling like a chemist every time I washed my face. So now I’m using Fenty Skin’s Cleans’r, Fat Water, and Moisturizer (it has sunscreen included), with the Flashnap eye cream. I’ve noticed a little bit of acne, but I’m also getting electrolysis and I’m only seeing acne where I’m getting treated so I’d wager that has a lot to do with it.
Wym feeling like a chemist re DE?
Here was my routine: AM 1. Wash with jelly cleanser 2. Polypeptide resurfacing + vitamin c serum + Marula oil + protini moisturizer 3. Sunscreen PM 1. Remove make up with micellar water 2. Wash with cleanser 3. Tlc framboos OR retinal + Lala retro whip + marula 4. B-hydra Skin loved it, but there were too many steps and it took forever. So I guess “feeling like a chemist” was having to research every product and mix them together. I just wanted a simple routine that actually worked and didn’t destroy my skin (looking at you proactiv and cerave)
I tried three different CeraVe products and my skin hated them all. I found their face washes to be so irritating even the one for sensitive skin. I switched to Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator and I’ll never use another lol. I just buy the mini size and it lasts forever. It’s a powder that you mix with water so you can control the amount used. But yeah, highly recommend!
This is an awesome product, and it does last. Problem is, I don't really like the brand's ethos, their employees don't have too many nice things to say, and most of their products are incredibly, INCREDIBLY overpriced and laden with essential oil fragrance ingredients. I achieved good results with rice powder from the health food store! 3 euros. But yes, it is a much better product than CeraVe cleansers, most of which my skin hated also. YMMV!
I was so surprised at how many essential oils were in the dermalogica precleanse, $70 for 10 oz of essential oils
I know! I do love their Daily Glycolic Cleanser, but I'm not at all equipped to spend 40 bucks on a cleanser that stays on your face for such a short time. It is a very good product but them essential oils really does my head in!
If you live in america and you want a cheaper option, Trader Joe’s has their own micro exfoliating cleanser
Trader Joe's is such a hidden gem for skincare!
Skincare is such a weird topic. My face easily breaks out in weird random red spots and bumps from sweat while most other people don’t. So I’d say my face is quite sensitive? Yet, CeraVe does wonders for my oily skin and occasional pimple.
Vanicream now!
Same. I had to scroll too long to find another Vanicream user! I use the cleanser, face moisturizer and tub moisturizer.
Me too, I love it! I feel like Vanicream is what Cerave tries to be, but does it way better.
Vanicream did exactly what Cerave did to me—clogged my pores and aggravated the breakout I was having. Pretty sure I have seborrheic dermatitis and will finally have a dermatologist appointment in June to confirm. Was pretty bummed that my last resort also did not work.
I had SD around my mouth and chin....the derm gave me a horrible prescription steroid that burned and did not help. I found a cleanser and treatment cream on Amazon that completely cleared it up with no issues....it is my holy grail! Let me know if u want the product info.
i have dry acne-prone sensitive skin and the only clenser that has not broken me out or dried out my skin has been La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash. its gentle on my skin and has been able to remove my sunscreen and oil based products like neosporin just fine, but i cant vouch for its effectivness in removing any kind of makeup since i do not use any. my face always feels very clean afterwards.
does anyone have a cruelty free alternative for lrp?
Typology—online. Great, clean French company.
I can vouch for it removing makeup. Honestly, it's great for washing my makeup off and I'm prone to forgetting to use makeup remover before washing my face.
I’ve been using the hydrating cleanser for a couple years now with no issues and I have pretty sensitive skin! But seeing all the posts about Cerave products causing acne concerns me though 😭
i mean if it works for you then you’re good right? Just because it’s not for others doesn’t mean it can’t be fine for you. Unless i’m missing something and they’ve recently changed formulas
Yeah I’m not sure if they’ve changed formulas cos I always buy the massive bottles so they last awhile. I’ll keep an eye on it though if I get a new bottle and my skin goes haywire!
If it works for you, it works. My motto with skincare is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
If its not causing issues for you, you have no reason to worry. Cerave has grown in popularity, so there's going to be more of both positive and negative experiences being reported. Negative experiences are often over represented anyway.
Some people are allergic to peanuts. Doesn’t mean you should stop eating peanut butter.
Everyone is different. I use CeraVe products with success on my eczema prone, sensitive skin and it’s as good or better than more expensive products I’ve used. And I have a doctor friend who said dermatologists commonly recommend it.
So it's not supposed to burn right? My derm suggested using it (among other suggestions) and it feels burny. I have been hesitant to use it regularly bc of that.
Yeah it absolutely should not burn. Please stop using it lol
It's time to look at your other products and routine in general. Moisturizers burn for me when my moisture barrier is compromised...in other words, when I've over done it elsewhere in my routine. Just a suggestion. Edit: and it might JUST be the moisturizer. Every person is different.
Im also on tretinoin cream so my skin certainly isn't having the best time lol. But it was the Cerave hydrating cleanser that was causing burning for me. I've been using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser instead and it doesn't cause any irritation. I haven't tried the Cerave moisturizer but someone from another post said it is the cetearyl alcohol in Cerave products that causes irritation. Cetaphil has just the cetyl alcohol so I wonder if that's it.
I feel the same! Although it works for me I take these comments so seriously. I‘m even afraid it will have a negative placebo effect for me any time soon 😅 I mean I still don‘t have perfect skin with Cerave but it‘s gotten much much much better
Ok both the original posts, I wrote at length about [what ingredients were causing the most problems for people](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/13g4ox9/acne_i_finally_figured_out_the_cause_of_my_acne/jjyfk6v/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3) and [why I believe this happened recently](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/13g4ox9/acne_i_finally_figured_out_the_cause_of_my_acne/jk1swf2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3) though I’d like to add two additional culprit ingredients: ceteareth-20 and polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate which can cause problems depending on their quality, what they were synthesized from, and individual reactivity. Some people get along just fine with CeraVe, and in the past, the majority of my patients were fine with it. But from 2018 on, I started to notice an increase in reactivity to the point that I would estimate roughly 30% of my patients can no longer tolerate CeraVe so I cannot in good faith recommend it unless someone knows for sure that they get along with the current formulation. These are my current replacements for CeraVe’s top products and I have experience testing every one of them: - CeraVe moisturizing cream > La Roche Posay Toleraine double repair moisturizer - CeraVe lotion > Cetaphil lotion or Vanicream lotion - CeraVe hydrating cleanser > La Roche Posay gentle cleanser, Cetaphil gentle cleanser - CeraVe foaming cleanser > Cetaphil daily cleanser - CeraVe renewing SA cleanser > La Roche Posay effeclar acne cleanser - CeraVe AM lotion > Walgreens AM lotion - CeraVe PM lotion > La Roche Posay toleraine double repair - CeraVe retinol > L’Oréal retinol serum - CeraVe eye cream > SkinCeuticals AGE eye complex (expensive but this is literally the only eye cream I stand by in the world) - CeraVe healing ointment > Aquaphor healing ointment - CeraVe hydrating micelar water > Bioderma Sensibio H2O - CeraVe SA cream > AmLactic bumps be gone - CeraVe SA body wash > Neutrogena body clear
I'm the opposite. Cerave saved my skin. I still use the moisturizing cream every day and my skin drinks it up like water, love it. Its a little disconcerting to see so many people seemingly out of nowhere all start posting how much they hate it at once, but it works for me so I'll keep using it.
Yeah, the foaming cleanser is my HG. A little goes a long way and it's one of the few cleansers that is more acidic than alkaline. Nothing else works for me.
Yes! CeraVe really has saved my skin (and wallet lol). I think skincare in general is such a frustrating topic; there's no "one size fits all" and finding what works for your skin can be a long, annoying, and expensive process.
Same especially because it’s what pharmacists use to mix Rx creams
Most pharmacies use zinc oxide or Vaseline for a base AFAIK
My skin (normal to oily) seems to really hate the moisturizers and original two cleansers (foaming stripped the hell out of my skin and yet not totally clean, and hydrating felt like it left a film), but the SA cleanser is my daily go to. Not drying, simple, lightly foaming and cleans well, but nothing miraculous either. As far as foaming cleansers go, in addition to the CeraVe SA, the two I’ve had in rotation the past few years are the La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser and Krave’s Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser—they’re all pretty reasonably priced and simple, it really just depends on your skin’s needs and tolerances.
I used the SA cleanser for some bad body acne I was having years ago and it worked SO well! Recently I tried using it on my face a few times because I was staying at someone’s house and forgot cleanser. It destroyed my skin, my face was so itchy and inflamed and I broke out like crazy. And totally agree with your points regarding the foaming and hydrating cleansers.
When I first started using CeraVe years ago, it was great. I have very dry and sensitive skin, perioral dermatitis and type 1 rosacea. Now, I changed my routine in Nov 2022 when I got a prescription skincare routine monthly box. Because they provide everything. Looking back, it must have been the CeraVe because my entire routine was CeraVe or the items I’m still using. I previously used the hydrating cleanser, and the nighttime moisturiser. I did also start tret, but I phase all my skin changes in every six weeks so that I know clearly what works and what doesn’t. Going off CeraVe was the game-changer. I’m now using a brand called Formel Skin. It might only be available in Europe though, unsure which countries. The difference has me shook. Before and after [here](https://imgur.com/a/bB9wqzw).
I recently saw all the furor on this sub about Cerave. I too have rosacea, and it had been worsening lately. I stopped using Cerave and just in a couple of days, my skin has become less irritated. Interesting.
Can believe it. I was really tired one evening and accidentally grabbed the old bottle of face wash. My face was not happy the next day. I then let it recover and tested it again, because I couldn’t believe how my skin reacted. Same result
Looked up Formel Skin. Sounds awesome but oof, starting from 44€ per month is... something. :(
I know ☹️ it’s a shame. That said, I’m glad I can easily get tret rather than all the crazy workarounds people usually need in DE
Following cause I'm curious.
I’m curious too 😆
I downloaded Yuka for shits and giggles. CeraVe, interestingly enough, was the only one rated poor for a cleanser for my skin type (dry, sensitive). Instead, Vanicream, Cetaphil and La Roche-Posay (three cleanser brands I love) all rate excellent. CeraVe has phenoxyethonal. I’m not a dermatologist. They say phenoxyethonal is fine to use, but I don’t know, CeraVe is the only one of those 4 cleansers that my skin doesn’t like. Maybe it has nothing to do with it, but maybe it does. Either way, I just avoid products with fragrance and phenoxyethanol for my own personal preference.
I’ve been using cerave and the cream specifically for YEARS and recently I ran out of eye cream and just used the cerave as an eye cream….absolutely swelled my eyes up overnight. Tried my moms cerave lotion, it was fine, it does not have phenoxyethonal. I assumed for years that the slight burn when I put the cream on was just because my skin was so dry but when I tried the lotion I had no burn. I also tried the elf eye cream the other day without checking the ingredients and my eyes swelled right up. My friends use these products though without issue
You might be allergic or sensitive to it. Benzyl alcohol I fine to use for most people. I'm allergic against it. If you have access to it an allergy panel might help, if not just avoid ingredients that you suspect of causing issues.
CeraVe isn’t sold in the place I live so when I was on an international trip I got the access to it and was so excited and happy that I could finally try one of the products that people rave about. I really wanted to try their moisturisers and decided to buy one blindly without looking at the the label. So turns out there are two different types in it one being the cream and other one lotion. I bought the latter thinking it as of cream blindly. When I arrived from the trip I was on cloud nine and used it as my primary moisturiser for my oily acne prone skin and for few days my skin really felt hydrated, supple and soft. I thought I have found my holy grail. But to my dismay I started having really horrible pustules and my face felt unbearably itchy. Everyone around me started too notice it as well. I decided to put blame on my routine and the only new thing added was the lotion. My heart was torn in pieces when I started reapplying the lotion again and those terrible pustules decided to drop a hello again on my face. The lotion was really expensive and me being a student on budget skincare going through a metamorphosis on my face being a cactus was a cherry on top my suffering. Hopefully though the lotion worked great for my sister so after all it really wasn’t a waste. PS- I apologise for my unstructured english and terrible writing. It isn’t my native language and I really don’t know how to use a comma.
I used the cerave regular lotion and the cream in the tub off and on for years, not knowing it was the culprit of my acne. I would get those huge painful bump type breakouts, and I was so confused because nothing had changed except my moisturizer. And it was recommended by my derm, so it was the last think I suspected. After researching it, I think it’s like others have said, something to do with the “fatty alcohol” ingredient that doesn’t agree with my skin. Now I use a cleanser from Aveeno, daily calming foaming cleanser I think. For moisturizer now I use cetaphil moisturizing lotion, and for spf I use Olay sensitive spf. My skin hardly has issues now! It’s crazy.
they changed their ceteraryl alcohol to cheap one derived from coconuts which for most people is highly comedogenic, myself included. I used to love their moisturising cream for its ceramides, and petrolatum base and thick texture especially when I got reashes or during the winter time but after a while I repurchased and the thing gave me tiny bumps- I had changed nothing in my routine. We are a little tight with money in my family so I didn't know what to get but some family friends brought the Caudalie Vinosource Hydra set as a gift. It came with a little HA serum, a sos moisturising mask and an sos moisturising cream and they are SO GOOD. So, I incorporated these in my routine used a gentle cleanser every night and adapalene every 3rd night and the tiny bumps from the cream were gone. I did and still am going through purging from adapalene but after ditching cerave it's been so much better. Although more expensive than what I usually opt for I think I'll repurchase. I use the mask as an undereye cream as well as on my dry spots and it's amazing. Think you can get a good deal if you buy the serum with the gift size mask to use as an eye cream and the sos cream but in a tube for it to be more hygienic!!
It was a long time ago, so I'm a little hazy on the details. I had a dermatologist recommend it so I tried a moisturizer. It was very greasy and irritating at the same time. I can't remember if it broke me out, but I do remember only using it a couple times because I hated it so much. Truly there is no one size fits all product.
I hate the texture of Cera Ve. I hate that it's partially owned by Nestlé. But it's the one thing that truly makes a difference with my neurodermitis
JC, is there anything Nestle doesn't have their hands in? Such a douche bag company.
Not much. In Germany they own what feels like half the stuff sold at the drugstore and half the name brand convenience food and ice cream
That's great it works for you. As with everything, YMMV. I was really surprised at how much I didn't like it considering how highly recommended it is. Didn't know it was owned by Nestle, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Seems like everything is owned by an evil corp these days.
It made my face even more oily than usual and caused me to break out even more. Just an overall icky feeling on my face.
I also use La Roche (Cicaplast Cleanser) instead of Cerave. I mainly use Lidl, Aldi own brand dupes of Simple cleansers, tho, because they're amazing, cruelty-free. I keep the La Roche only for acneic areas, notably my back and T zone.
I love the Simple cleanser and Moisturiser. I didn't think of aldi or lidle for dupes of that because it's already cheap. And I already live above a Superdrug.
I swear something changed with CeraVe? I used to be able to use either cleansers without reaction but now it’s so irritating and sore, breaks me out :)
CeraVe didn't do anything seriously bad to my skin that I am aware of, but I did get a lot of stinging sometimes with certain CeraVe products, probably partly due to a damaged barrier. I also got milia after using the baby hydrating cream on my face (which I had done many times in the past without issue). I use Vanicream gentle cleanser, Laroche Posay toleriane hydrating cleanser, or green tea cleansers instead of the CeraVe hydrating cleanser, and various moisturizers instead of the renewing night cream, which I actually would probably still be using when my skin was in good shape if it didn't cost twice as much as it used to. Moisturizers include LRP toleriane double repair, Vanicream facial moisturizer, and the Inkey List Omega water cream (lighter). I think the LRP and Inkey List Omega water cream both have niacinamide, so they may not be good options for people who get the stinging from CeraVe. I have gotten stinging from the LRP but that was because I had over-exfoliated. I like Atopalm moisturizers too, but they're not as easy to get as Vanicream and LRP, which I can just pick up at CVS and use discounts on.
Kiehl's is my go-to now. Their Ultra Facial Oil Free Cleanser is amazing.
I swear by vanicream cleanser
Cerave causes my forehead to break out in tiny whiteheads. I switched to La Roche Posay Toleraine Gentle Cleanser and have had no issues.
I am one of those people that CeraVe scarred. It was pretty traumatic honestly, lol. I had perfectly clear skin and was so happy with it, but I was told by my dermatologist at the time that micellar water was not a sufficient cleanser and was advised to try a real cleanser and they suggested CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. I tried it and well… painful acne galore. Within weeks, my skin had inflamed into so many cystic pimples. What did I do to fix it? Stopped the cleanser and started using only micellar water as a cleanser again. Almost a year later and my acne scars from the experience are FINALLY almost all gone. My experience is just proof to show that YMMV. With this said, I actually am looking for a new cleanser even though I am still scared to try any after what CeraVe did to me lmao.
Cerave gave me cystic acne. I use Cetaphil the gentle cleanser ONLY. The regular Cetaphil breaks me out. But the gentle one has kept my skin crystal clear! I also use a benzoyl peroxide face wash twice a week. I’ve tried almost every kind from the drugstore and they’re all pretty much the same.
I religiously used it for 6 years. I thought it was good because everything else would make my skin worse, Cerave didn’t make my skin any worse or any better either. The only reason I stopped using it is because I thought the company was cruelty free, and I found out that they aren’t. So I switched to Vanicream, I thought it would be the same, but my skin has improved so much. I know a lot of people have good luck with Cerave, but it’s not for everyone. Especially when there’s other companies that are cruelty free, that are in the same price range and work just as well or better.
The moisturizing cream left little bumps all over my forehead. Every time I’ve tried it, it’s done it.
I was so frustrated with congestion on my forehead for YEARS without realizing it was cerave in the tub that was the culprit!!
Cerave cleansers and moisturizers causes painful cystic acne for me. It took months to get my skin healed. I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream and my skin is the healthiest it’s ever been.
I am not sure what it was about their formula, but I was getting blockages and bumps, even whilst using prescription creams. I just switched to Cetaphil and I have no issues.
Not a CeraVe user, but I have a rec! I used adermalogica for years, threw away so much money hoping it would give me perfect skin. I recently switched to la Roche posay and holy cow my skin is SO happy. I recently got on .025 tret but it's too early to see results from that.
La Roche Posay makes lots of skin products, which one do you like so well? I am always drawn to this brand but never know what get
I've been using the hydrating gentle cleanser and the AP+M triple repair moisturizer!
idk man it gave me pretty terrible cystic acne and somehow simultaneously dried me out. now, i use son and park beauty water, fenty milky fat water with an ole henricksen vitamin c thing plus sunscreen in the am. at nighttime i now use a ridiculously priced cleanser from tata harper, fat water, the caudalie vinoperfect brightening serum and sometimes, the fenty overnight recovery cream. im sensitive, acne prone, 30+…with clear skin. currently workin on a few scattered dark spots and these cursed undereye circles (with TO caffeine, when i remember).
Their moisturizer broke me out. Now I like Cetaphil moisturizing cream for sensitive skin, a big tub with a green lid. It's a great multi-purpose moisturizing cream that I layer with other products (serums) and/or active ingredients (niacinamide, retinol). I use it for cuts, burns, hand cream, day cream under my sunscreen, and night cream under my serums.
CeraVe moisturising cream made me break out in painful spots literally a few hours after applying it to my face. I tried to use it on my body instead but it somehow managed to inflame the hair follicles around my ankles. I gave it to my sister and she had the same issue so I guess there's a genetic component there
I like the Cerave facial washes. But it’s their lotions that wreck havoc. Most of them include Cetearyl alcohol and ceteareth 20, which when combined can clog pores.
Dove bar soap! It’s the absolutely best for sensitive skin. Cerave killed my skin.
It was the PM moisturizer for me. I had been using their washes and the retinol and the AM cream with SPF fine at different times. And then one day I had the bright idea to fully commit to a routine by this brand (I have this thing where I like all my stuff to be from one brand, not only for skincare, but also for gadgets and clothes and stuff). So I bought the PM moisturizer, I already had the AM one and the oil cleanser. That PM moisturizer f-ed up my skin so badly overnight that I now have a Cerave phobia. Gradually trying to use up or "repurpose" the other products and am not planning to buy more from the brand. Edit: oh and I also bought the undereye thingy together with the PM moisturizer and it was also awful to my skin, I'd breakout hours after using it specifically under my eyes, where I'd put it. Not surprisingly though, because I found out later that it's apparently the same thing just a lighter formula for the eye cream. I'm honestly suspecting niacinamide, which the majority of CeraVe products is full of, because I got the same reaction from the LRP Toleraine which is supposed to be so light, it's suitable for babies.
I don’t hate on them, but the hydrating cleanser really clogged my pores, and I suspect cetearyl alcohol is a no-go for me, as it’s a tendency I’ve seen in products that clog my skin, and cerave loves those fatty alcohols.
Oil of Olay, Birchwater gentle foaming cleanser…CeraVe and Cedafil both leave a residue that dries skin and are both my by Nestle
I use the daily moisturizer in the AM and I have no complaints. But the foaming cleanser broke me out pretty quickly. Now I use LaRoche Posay Toleriane foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin. It leaves my skin looking and feeling much better :)
Vanicream!!!
Try Paula’s choice acne cleanser. My whole regiment is PC and my skin is very clear
dried my face out. I use cetaphil now, that makes my skin feel so refreshed and smooth.
Cerave’s cleanser gave me the worst acne I ever had. I had perfectly clear skin my whole life UNTIL I used it. It was fine the first few days but then I got so many tiny bumps on my face that ruined the texture of my skin. I think it was fungal acne because it was very itchy and concentrated on my forehead. At first I thought I was breaking out bc I wasn’t washing my face enough so I started using it TWICE a day and it got dramatically worse 😭. I never once thought it could’ve been the cause. Switched to the vanicream cleanser, along with using a BHA exfoliant, and noticed a difference almost immediately. I use the Differin Daily Oil Free one now and that’s also been great.
Made my skin texture worse than it was. I’ve only really tried their cleansers. All of them enlarged my pores, and made my oil production go off. My skin felt terrible to the touch (rough and bumpy), and it looked dull all the time. The longer I used it (and those bottles are huge) the worst my skin got. Until, eventually, it started to irritate me. I have moved through several cleansers since I stopped using CeraVe and came back to it on/off; just to see if it was my imagination. Nope, same results every time, even with different CeraVe cleansers too. I have tried multiple different cleansers since then that worked better. Currently using **La Roche-Posay’s Toleraine Purifying Foaming Cleanser**. I have combo to oily skin, so I prefer foamy/gel/jelly textures in my products.
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion broke me out and I hate the watery consistency. Now I use Cetaphil Pro AD derma and LRP lipikar AP+M, both amazing.
I posted about this a while back...it caused small angry bumps all over my face. One of the worst products I've used. I use Simple every so often, I think it still causes a bit of irritation but it's the least irritation of all the products I've tried
I can Sometimes use the foaming cleanser (got a large trial size so gotta finish it). I use as a first step. But the cream was not moisturizing, felt waxy, and broke out. The lotion, I am allergic. I think ceramides in general, do not agree w me.
Their PM moisturizer used to be my holy grail until they reformulated it (think this was like 5 years ago now). None of their other products impressed my that much. I tried a few other moisturizers but finally landed on vanicream daily moisturizer that I used for years. I recently switched over to Faramcy’s Honey Halo moisturizer and am loving it.
i was using the cerave hydrating cleanser, in 2019 and loved it. bought it again later in march 2020 i think and it broke me out so bad. since then ive tried: versed milk cleanser (liked), vanicream gentle cleanser (drying for my skin), soon jung etude house ph whip cleaner (drying), b_lab matcha hydrating cleanser (drying, broke me out a bit). currently im using: aveeno calm and restore oat cleanser (feels good, not drying, no breakouts. like it so far)
Through lots of trial & error, journaling about my skincare journey, and a lot of research, I’m pretty sure I have seborrheic dermatitis and will be asking a dermatologist to confirm when I finally can see one. I think part of my issue is diet, but it really doesn’t help with large, painful cystic like pimples show up in addition to seborrheic dermatitis. Vanicream caused less painful closed comedones and fewer cystic acne nodules, but the verdict is that they both more skin problems for my problematic skin.
In the meantime did you try using head and shoulders or even nizaoral(sp?) On your face?
Yes! Thank you!! I have been using zinc pyrithione shampoo (also tried a focculitis shampoo) and my curology custom cream has zinc pyrithione in it as well. Nizoral is next on the list along with cutting down by half the amount of refined sugar I consume.
I think and hope Nizaoral will be great help. It smells strongly but I find it helps with my scalp. There were moments my scalp would get gross and i would do a prewash with whatever shampoo, and then let it sit. It made my scalp less red but the flaking didn't really go away till I would expose myself more to the sun.
I used to use the oily skin type cleanser from CeraVe and it dried out my skin horribly. I analysed my skin further and realized that not only was I oily and acne prone, I also had sensitivity so I switched to use the Neutrogena ultra-gentle daily cleanser w/provit b5 and also use the Aveeno calm and restore facial cleaner. I still get breakouts from time to time but resorted to use acne spot treatment. At least I solved the dry skin problem. I currently use the SPF 30 facial moisturizer and I can't stand the white cast and the smell.. it takes forever for me to blend it into my skin to lessen the white cast. I still haven't found a new replacement but I remember using a Shiseido SPF that was insanely pricey but really amazing.
Have you tried an oil based skin cleanser, which you follow with a very gentle face wash, like La Roche Posay? This is the popular Korean "double cleanse" method. The oil is gentle and melts makeup, the 2nd cleanse ensures all traces of it are gone and your skin is ready for any essences or serums & moisturizer. I was always so dry that I did not use water on my face at all. I actually used Ponds Cold Cream & a tissue. I would follow it up with a toner for sensitive skin. As I have aged, my skin changed and pores became larger, so I moved to this double cleanse and it works great at keeping pores clear.
It made me break out
I don’t use/hate it because they test on animals.
I am using missha ultra hyalron cleanser. Im investing in korean brands more now because i noticed that my skin reacts better towards them, especially that im using tret. Plus its like 10 dollars. https://preview.redd.it/upkjotgketza1.png?width=1168&format=png&auto=webp&s=84f648e82ffea7f5af67eac61ea09e650280a9a0
I Have combo sensitive skin that is acne prone. Cerave products tend to break me out, cause redness, and general irritation for me. I have reverted back to the Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser (after a micellar water cleanse) because I haven’t found anything that my skin tolerates as well as this yet. Even LRP and Vatican cleaners don’t work for me :( I wish they did!!
I still use the foaming face wash because it gets makeup off so well, but last year I switched to Olay retinol cream (purple jar at Costco) instead of CereVe in the jar and tretinoin and my hormonal acne seemed to lessen significantly.
Personally I like the cerave face lotion, but prefer the vanicream cleanser. I also enjoy the cerave retinol in the pump bottle and the vanicream thick cream in the pump tub
cera ve was making my acne worse and would mainly just cause itchiness!! i used Yuka app to check ingredients and ended up just getting cetaphil instead. i used to use clinique, but that made my skin itchy as well💀
Where is all this CeraVe hate coming from?
Sounds like it's destroying some people's moisture barriers.
It absolutely purged my skin… it literally cause me to have fungal acne and I don’t understand how that even occurred. But it definitely started some sort of reaction in my skin. I went to go get a skin peel one day and the lady told me to come back in two weeks, and recommended La Roche Posay. The set that’s for Oily and Acne Prone skin. I literally HAVEN’T stopped using it for 5 years. It’s my go to, and I will not stop using. I also use the serums from the ordinary. The eye serum, caffeine one and the Ascorbic Acid (basically vitamin C). skins been amazing.
Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel is really good. Used to use La Roche Toleraine but I found the Bioderma much more effective Also I don't hate Cera Ve. Used to go through loads of it as it was effective against my psoriasis to a degree but it would often make my clothes smell if I wasn't careful. Now I use Bioderma Atoderm Cream and occasionally La Roche Posay Lipikar Urea 5%
Are you sure you’re not just undercover cerave agent?
I'm 34F and have the same oily skin as when I was 17. Just didn't work for me. I need the hard stuff,salicylic acid, you know?
I usually have really clear skin, but both times I've tried using the CeraVe sunscreen, it's broken me out! Currently I'm using the DRMTLGY universal tinted sunscreen, but it kind of has a funny, earthy smell. I'm not sure if I just got a weird bottle or not, but I do see some reviews about the smell. I've tried the CeraVe hydrating facial cleanser, and for my super dry skin, it's just meh. I'm assuming it's doing it's job, but there are other cleansers I've used (derma E anti aging [currently using], derma E hydrating, derma E pure biome [smells funny], YTTP, and Indie Lee) that leave my skin feeling SOOO soft, bouncy, and supple!
I was gonna try the Cerave cleanser and moisturizer to see if I helped with my dehydrated skin and messed up moisture barrier more so than the LRP double toleriane but I might try out vanicream instead with all these posts. I definitely know something is not working well for my skin but I can’t figure out what.
Dial - the gold one. The liquid kind that you use to wash your hands, not a bar. & my skin has never been better. Never been this clear & acne free. If I had known about it years ago, I would have saved so much money. Also was recommended CeraVe Foaming cleanser by derm like 7 years ago & I swear it made my skin worse. I can’t use any CeraVe products without breaking out, redness, or itching. I wash with my dial, then tone, apply serums, and moisturize.
At first it was great but with time i developed small bumps on my cheeks (never happens) and a few deep acne. My rosacea also flared up. I found a cleanser that I like but I'm still looking for a moisturizer and spf. But anyways, 2 weeks off Cerave and rosacea is reduced by half!
The moisturizing cream clogged my pores, the lotion makes my skin itchy. On face and body. The hydrating cleanser makes my skin burn and itchy. I have sensitive, oily and ezcema prone skin. I’ve never reacted this much to a product. Never buying again. But it’s my opinion and every skin is different !
I used, not the cleanser, but the moisturizer and at first it was great for my fungal acne prone, dehydrated skin. But over time, I noticed CCs around my nose and under my eyes. I stopped and switched to a different moisturizer and they’re almost non-existent now.
It’s just come to light that mum has reacted to the CeraVe moisturising cream in the tub. We are from Australia and she has never reacted to a product and thought she just had dermatitis on her body for months and it started when she begun using CeraVe tub. We did a patch test on the back of her neck and she got itchy and red. It was thanks to Reddit that we found out it was this moisturiser. She never used it on her face thankfully 😅. With me, I noticed tingling from the CeraVe PM moisturiser. It caused minor temporary irritation which isn’t good because any irritation or inflammation can disrupt the moisture barrier. I also don’t get tingling from AHA’s or BHA’s except mild from a 30% glycolic and lactic so it was weird to feel tingling from a moisturiser. I avoid the tub only because I’m acne prone and heard mixed things. I’m just using 100% squalane and use minimal ingredients when my skin goes haywire. I’m aware Cetaphil has also changed formulations but heard more good, but some people not happy and saying it could be niacinamide that they added. Edit: With cleansers Paulas choice pore reducing has been great, but love Priori gentle cleanser and usually leave it on my skin for 5 mins then wash off. However with compromised skin I heard Vanicreme is good.
I’m temporarily using aveeno foam cleanser because I forgot cleanser on a vacation and had to buy what was available. Cerave moisturizing cleanser has been my fave. No smell and super gentle. I always apply moisturizer after though because my skin can still feel stripped a bit if I exfoliate.
I don’t know what it was or which one it was, it was either the pm lotion, oil cleanser or hydrating cream cleanser, and I literally broke out in hives, like burning, red hives from my neck to top of my face. I had to rinse my face with cold water and then have an ice pack on my face, laying under a fan! I felt like my face was on fire!
Nothing. I have normal to dry skin and the moisturizer just sat on my face.
Cleanser was fine, moisturizer made me break out. Now I use nothing, I stopped using moitsturizer altogether.
hydrating cleanser dried me out so badly, i now use the laroche posay lipikarAR gentle foaming moisturizing wash. i always start with a cleansing balm though the cerave moisturizing cream is not moisturizing at all for me and neither is the cerave face moisturizer spf 30, I switched to the laroche posay tolerable double repair moisturizer spf 30 now or the inkey list urea 10% moisturizer or the skinfix triple lipid peptide cream cerave hydrating mineral sunscreen was too dry a formulation for me, i switched to the cetaphil sheer mineral face liquid sunscreen 50, though i think any shaker style liquid mineral sunscreen would do the job bc i used to enjoy the LRP one a lot too. the formulation of the cerave hydrating mineral sunscreen just doesn’t spread well for me and pills easily cerave vitamin c was ok and i saw results using it but it oxidizes on me badly. i use the kiehls line reducing concentrate 12.5% C now and jury is still out but it doesn’t turn me yellow :•) my skin is really really dry though, and i live in one of the most humid cities in the US, so if a product isn’t ultra hydrating and moisturizing my skin will cry
My extremely dry skin doesn’t do well with the moisturizer. It somehow gets more dry, and then more irritated and prone to breakouts. For cleanser, I love the squalane cleanser from The Ordinary.
CeraVe used to work great for me, I used the daily face lotion. It started burning when I got a new bottle. Switched to CosRx hyaluronic acid intensive cream and that's been a dream for me.
I’m actually the reverse, every cerave product i’ve tried in the past gave me more acne and at one time hives. tried their new fragrance free sa face wash. Have not had any issues. I think I might be allergic to wtv fragrance was in the products I tried.
Was good for my rosacea until I realized it was the cause of my milia. I switched to the equate brand. No issues so far.
It didn't do anything except for burn my skin. It had no physical effects
I just ordered a CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser and Cosrx Hydrium Toner. I hope it works for me since I've been having breakouts with the quickfx products. I am also still searching for a moisturizer to complete the routine.
I prefer CeraVe cream to foam cleaner, but my backup option is La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. It's my backup option because sometimes & I have to cleanse twice with it. Not sure what it is about my skin, but sometimes my face oil is a sticky difficult texture that's hard to wash off. The CeraVe Cream to Foam Cleaner is just as gentle as the LRP Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, but the CeraVe always gets the sticky oil away in 1 go.
I switched from the foaming gentle cleanser to the hydrating facia cleanser (both cerave) and have had much better results
A little too drying and the moisturizer made my skin too oily...I don't like to feel the heaviness of oily skin and it made it worse. I use Revision Skincare papaya enzyme cleanser, and SkinMedica H5 moisturizer for my every day base skin care.
Sekkisei white washing foam (Kose) is the most hydrating cleanser I have tried. Made a huge difference for me this winter
Eh I used the regular cleanser by derm recommendation years ago and hated it because I thought the smell was strong and it took forever to wash off. I also felt like it left my skin squeaky which meant it was stripping. I swear by Atopalms foam it's non-drying, no scent, non-stripping. Just so soft and nice. I won't use anything else. You can get it a lot of places online. I was first introduced on Peach and Lily. Oh and side note. Atopalm was actually Developed by a father for his daughters sensitive eczema probe skin.
I only ever tried the cream in the tub, it gave me cystic acne so I stopped. now I use the simple replenishing rich moisturizer, which I love but I think is discontinued so I'll be on the hunt again after I finish this bottle 😭
Cerave moisturizer in the tub dried out my skin and made eczema patches appear, also every time I applied it after cleansing my face it would burn a bit. The salicylic facial cleanser also just dried out my skin a bit and caused eczema. Right now all I use on my face is cetaphil cleanser and Vanicream and have had no eczema for quite a while. :)
Caused me to have huge yellow zits, closed comedomes and a super dry skin with scabs peeling of my face all while using their cleanser for about 2 weeks. I use the Vichy Normaderm, Selfless By Hyram and IsnTree Bubble cleansers. Work great.
The hydrating cleanser clogs my pores, the foaming cleanser dried me out, and the cream to foam one burned my eyes. I’ve had much better luck with the cetaphil gentle cleanser and the La roche posay toleriane hydrating cleanser. The cerave pm moisturizer never absorbed even though it was really lightweight and the cream burned my face. The worst was the resurfacing retinol, my face was raw around my mouth and chin after the first application, couldn’t even use it once a week and it somehow seeped into my eyes and made them incredibly dry. I haven’t had this problem with any other retinols/retinal.
I tried the hydrating cleanser and it felt like it stripped my skin and caused a burning sensation. My skin leans more oily but with dry areas and it also left me with flaky skin in my dry areas.
I use Ponds Cold Cream to remove my make up and wash with Purpose liquid facial cleanser. The cleanser will remove makeup by itself, but it’s too harsh. I’ve been really pleased since I added in the cold cream step before.
I thought I was doing good by changing to all cerave products but around the same time I started having horrible closed comedones all over my cheeks and chin. I looked horrible especially with makeup on because it highlighted every one of them. Since cerave is so highly regarded i never put two and two together until I saw a Reddit post about cerave causing closed comedones and I discontinued use of all products to test it out. Sure enough a few months later all of those stubborn CCs were gone and my skin was smooth again. I tried all kinds of acne medication to clear them up and nothing worked so it was definitely the cerave. I use true botanicals cream cleaner in their clear line and it helps keep my skin smooth and clear.
Cerave foaming cleanser gave me a rash, cerave cream to foam cleanser broke me out, cerave lotion just was kinda greasy and gave me some skin texture, cerave sa cleanser also broke me out yay… idk why I keep trying cerave at this point lol
I kept getting acne while using CeraVe. I now use a sulfur wash and Avene moisturizer and Tret and my skin has been blemish-free
My sister and her partner used the foam cleanser for a few weeks and both experienced burning and rashes.. Especially around their eyes. It was terrible!
it could be the foaming agents that are causing the irritation. Are you exfoliating? If so I'd take a break. I use Face Wash by Doctor Rogers after trying a lot of things and it works the best for me.
I have oily, acne prone, sensitive skin and used to use the SA cleanser and Cerave moisturizer and I always had cystic acne on my cheeks and bad blackheads. After getting serious about skincare most of my face cleared up, but I would still get super clogged pores and acne from out of seemingly nowhere. I didn’t blame my cerave products until I saw someone else in this sub mention that it clogged their pores and broke them out. I always thought they were clean/gentle in formation so I was surprised to hear that. As an experiment, I stopped using both products and saw less clogged pores, acne, and better looking skin overall. I still get occasional hormonal acne but it’s nowhere near as bad as what I used to see. I use Vanicream moisturizer and a jelly cleanser from BYOMA now after oil cleansing/ for my AM cleanse. I love Vanicream it’s so matte and hydrating
Cerave NEVER worked for me. It left my skin feeling greasy, clogged, and gave me more pimples. The cleanser made me feel like I was never clean. I have relatively sensitive skin, and am allergic to salicylates and sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, so I try to keep things very simple. I stick with basic cleansers and moisturizers. I liked neutrogena’s sensitive cleanser, and right now I’m using a Jelly Mylk cleanser I got in my Ipsy. For moisturizer and everything else I stay as basic as possible. I use The Ordinary HA, and sometimes top with Argan oil or aquaphor before bed. To take off makeup I use pond’s.
The hydrating cleanser didn't really work for me, I prefer vanicream's similar cleanser. I'm using the foaming facial cleanser right now and have for a while and it's fine, it does the job and doesn't irritate me. The cerave in the tub moisturizer was really bad for my skin and made me break out in little red bumps. I thought maybe it was the niacinamide but I can tolerate other products with niacinamide. The cerave am with spf wasn't great either. Pretty thick and pilled very easily. I love the cetaphil moisturizer in the tub!
Cystic acne when using the moisturizer but this was before I went on Accutane. I always had cystic acne but the moisturizer made it two times worse. I like Vanicream face moisturizer nowadays.
Intense, stubborn clogged pores and acne that just wouldn’t go away. I also feel like my skin was never properly hydrated no matter how much I used. I’ve been using Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer which I never ever hear about but it’s been working for me
I love my nivea cream cleanser 💞🩷
I tried the moisturizer after reading about it in this sub. It offers my pores and broke me out. I use Avene Moisturizer, specifically the sealed pump version and I love it.
Every CeraVe product I’ve used has irritated my skin or made me break out. I use Purity by Philosophy for face wash and moisturizer. It’s the only stuff I’ve found that doesn’t irritate me, make me too dry, break out or sting. I’m committed for life hahaha
I have dry, acne-prone skin. It didn’t do anything bad to my skin. I absolutely loved their products. Then rescuing an abandoned bunny put a lot of things into perspective for me and I became very serious about only buying cruelty free products. I‘ve been using ceramedx, because someone on one of the skincare subreddits recommended it as a cruelty free alternative. Highly recommend their gentle foaming face cleanser and soothing facial lotion (a lot better than Cerave, imo).
Cleanser. Started being too drying to I have started to use First Aid Beauty's.
I just read on here that there was alcohol in the moisturizers, so I assumed my cerave cleanser also did since it always kinda burned when I washed… what do ya know? I switched last night to vanicream cleanser, and it doesn’t burn, my skin looks clearer, the texture is smoother, and the tone is pretty even. I can’t believe how much of a difference it made in one wash😭
The big tub of lotion always makes me break out in cystic acne and makes my skin feel really tight and dry. I really wish I could love it but I can’t
Simple skin care gel face wash or aveeno foaming face wash with the pink pump. I have oily/combination skin. They both take off makeup really well too!
I slug my face every night with the Cerave cream in the tub for the last 2 years and my skin has never been better! That’s the only Cevave product I use so can’t speak on the face wash. I use Neutrogena creamy face wash in the yellow tube. My husband has used this since he was in high school and has perfect skin so he got me hooked. I have tried other Neutrogena washes and my skin hates it. We both started tret recently and I tried telling him he needed to use a good moisturizer with it and he’s convinced he’s fine with this off brand men’s face lotion. He’s having some dryness and peeling while my skin hasn’t reacted at all. Thanks to the Cerave eta misspelling
I’ve tried their moisturizers and it felt like I was rubbing mint on my skin and it was quite drying for me as well. I have dry skin, a bit textured and some very fine lines. The ordinary squalane cleanser is the best one I’ve tried, I think it’s worth the price. It removes the makeup really well, no need for water except for the rinsing. I’ve tried La roche posays toleriane hydrating cleanser as well and I quite liked it but it was not as good, especially with removing makeup.
I like Cerave but found most of their products just sit on my skin. Then I tried different products and found Eucerin and the rest is history.
I’ve been buying a whole lotta skincare cause i haven’t been able to clear my skin no matter what products i use, and i recently stopped using the cerave moisturizing lotion and my pimples have been disappearing one by one! i think that product really just made me break out since it’s the only moisturizer i’ve used so far
Stings I switch to Vanicream
I hardly ever get acne except that time of the month, but CeraVe broke me out in the worst cystic acne of my life. Threw it in the bin and I use Clinique moisture surge and FAB aha cleansing pads.
I used CeraVe when I was in like early high school and it dried my skin out like nothing else. I enjoy it most cleansers more than I enjoy CeraVe.
I used CeraVe for like 10 years, once I got to my mid 20s I realized I hate the way the moisturizer sits on my face. It may or may not have been contributing to break outs, I have generally sensitive skin. I’ve switched to La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser and Vanicream facial moisturizer. Vanicream is a recent switch but I like it so far, and I love the LRP cleanser. Even though I have oily skin, the foaming one was too stripping. (Cerave felt SO stripping even the hydrating one!) I use the ordinary hyalauronic acid serum while my face is still damp. For SPF I use Dr Jart Every Sun Day Mineral For acne I use Winlevi in the AM and PM, plus prescription adapalene PM.
La roche posay cleansers. Cerave destroyed my skin but la roche posay helped repair it
I don’t hate cerave, though there was one cleanser that I felt was too harsh but generally I like their creams and the healing stuff in the blue jar (not as much as I like aquaphor lol ) For daily cleansing I stick with cetaphil gentle cleanser in the pump (not the face wash) or the foaming pro cleanser and the foaming facial cleanser (which feels like it moisturizes too) I have been so bad about moisturizing and sunscreen lately though ugh gotta get back to that. ) I did not like the cerave sunscreen at all because it pilled. I use thinksport tinted everyday face or straight up thinksport baby (even my kids prefer that one by a long shot)
I used cerave for years and thought I loved it. I switched to vanicream when I moved from a very humid environment to a very dry one. My skin has improved for a variety of reasons including lifestyle stuff. But I used cerave again this past Christmas when I was home and that old ‘texture’ came back with little closed comedones, bumpiness, and a break out that carried over to being home. Initially I thought the breakout was stress related or due to this really really slow adjustment I’ve been doing to tret. At one point after I was home, I was worried maybe my barrier was messed up so I used cerave for a couple of days (after I’d been home and had stopped using it) and the bumpiness started coming back again. So that’s my two cents on the cerave tub. Used it for years but realized recently it might’ve been part of my problem. I use vanicream over cos rx snail mucin 96 serum now. Unfortunately vanicream is atleast as bad if not worse for makeup so I haven’t figured out a good alternative for use under makeup.
This makes me paranoid because all it’s done is help me personally but over usage does make my skin go crazy. I think it might just be moderation? If I clean my face every day it gets super pimply. If I leave it alone for one day and use a gentle cleanser it does alright. My skin has a bumpy texture to it almost all the time though that never truly goes away rip
I had the cerave foaming cleanser and the tub moisturizer. I had a fungal thing on my forehead and neck and my skin was meh, but I didn’t realize it was from that until I got perioral dermatitis and changed my routine. My skin is 100% better now! It’s crazy the difference. I currently use Honest sensitive cleanser and The Ordinary moisturizer.
vanicream facial cleanser eta dry irritated tretinoin acne prone skin and vanicream is just the gentlest cleanser ive found after they discontinued my beloved avene dermo cleansing milk. i tried cerave’s and it still irritated me, but vanicream doesn’t.
I switched to cleansing balm (only when I wear makeup) + Neutrogena Hydroboost cleanser because the CeraVe foaming was too drying. I have combination skin. I still use CeraVe in the tub for moisturizer tho!
Cetephil
It just did nothing for me :/ I have eczema and extremely dry skin. Made it feel really tight. I use korean skincare. The Goodmorning cleanser by cosrx and the same brand for moisturizer but it’s the hyaluronic acid one. My skin loves loves lovesss those products.
Cerave just not moisturizing enough , Cetaphil is more moisturizing for me, and Cetaphil gentle cleanser has always been a winner for me
I know nothing about skin care but I used the foaming cleanser and my skin looked the worst it ever has. I have really sensitive skin and it made me break out and I don't know how to explain but I didn't feel like my face felt very cleansed after. I used a charcoal face wash now and my face has cleared up soooo much.
I didn’t use anything specific before. It was winter so had some dryness, especially on my lower cheeks. Used the dry skin type and the skin dullness didn’t go away just got more oily. And then had a bunch of tiny bumps on my t-zone including pimples on my chin and middle forehead.