An Analysis of 600,000+ Reviews Confirms That This Drugstore Cleanser Is One of the Best Money Can Buy—Here’s Why Derms Love It

One of the biggest benefits of shopping for skin care online is that you’ve got thousands of product reviews at your fingertips to help you decide what’s worth investing in. And recently, Skincare Hero, an expert-led beauty content platform, analyzed more than 600,000 of those reviews across multiple retailers. The biggest discovery? That CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($15 to $18) was one of the most beloved (read: worth your money) products on the Internet—so much so that it even outperformed its luxury cleansing counterparts.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser — $15.00

Skincare Hero looked at 677,165 product reviews from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Ulta to “provide consumers with evidence on which skin-care products are really worth their hard-earned money.” The brand examined 10 cleansers, including the Tatcha The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser ($39 to $62) and the Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser ($10), and found that the Cerave hydrating cleanser had the most consistent five-star ratings.

It’s not just reviewers who love this cleanser: It’s also a favorite among dermatologists, who laud it for being gentle and effective. “This cleanser uses an amino acid-based surfactant and gently transforms the cream into a delicate foam to help eliminate oil, dirt, and buildup,” Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, previously told Well+Good. And Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology  has called it a gentle but effective cleanser that is “reliable, moisturizing, and elegant for all skin types.”

Though the cleanser is ultra-hydrating, it can work wonders for all skin types, says board-certified dermatologist Dustin Portela, DO. “It’s an excellent wash that works for dry skin but does great on oily skin too,” he says. “It is perfect for patients with acne or those who want a great cleanser in their skin-care routine.”

What makes the formula so special is that it works to hydrate your complexion while simultaneously strengthening your skin barrier. It’s got three types of ceramides (aka the building blocks of your barrier), plus hyaluronic acid to help your skin attract and retain moisture. Thanks to a patented delivery system, these nourishing ingredients are released slowly into your skin throughout the day, giving you 24-hours worth of hydration. It’s safe for all skin types and won’t clog pores or irritation, and has even got the stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association.

Feeling skin-care FOMO? Add the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser to your cart to see what all the hype is about.

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