Review: CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

Because nope, CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is not a makeup remover, but rather a face and body wash!

I know I wasn’t the only one engrossed in wishful thinking (yes, my desires are often related to skincare, what can I say, you’re passionate or you’re not 🤪). Most people who reviewed this product on social media were quite confused about the concept!

I must say that the name of the product is indeed a bit confusing: Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser. Usually, an Oil Cleanser is another name for a makeup remover.

But there was a clue in the name: “Foaming”.

In French, there is less doubt. The name “Huile Lavante Moussante Hydratante” is rather clear (if you speak French obviously lol). The name suggests it’s a face and body wash oil, not a makeup remover. And it’s also a category of products that is quite common in France, especially if you visit pharmacies. Most of the pharmacie brands have one (Aderma, La Roche Posay, Avène, Bioderma, Eucerin… and so on!).

Typically, you’ll find this kind of product in the shower of people with very dry or sensitized skin! I myself use one very often, especially in winter when my crocodile skin is acting up.

But for the purpose of this review, I tested it first on my face. Let me tell you all about it!

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CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, product presentation:

This product is a new addition to the CeraVe line of cleansing products, the brand’s specialty! 🙂

CeraVe is an American drugstore skincare brand, which has been around for 15 years.

From the beginning, the brand has been focused on repairing drier skin types, with formulas designed to repair and strengthen the skin’s barrier function. In fact, this famous “skin barrier” is 50% made up of ceramides, and with that in mind, the dermatologists associated with CeraVe created a range of skincare products enriched with ingredients naturally present in the skin: essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid and fatty acids such as cholesterol, to help repair the skin effectively.

The “Cera” of the name “CeraVe” is actually for ceramides! For the record, the “Ve” refers to the MVE® technology contained in all CeraVe products. Medicine inspired, this technology allows the active ingredients to be encapsulated and diffused into the skin for a prolonged period of time, for continuous hydration all day long.

The brand is intended primarily for sensitive (or sensitized) skin. It’s a dermo-cosmetic brand. Another particularity of CeraVe products, the formulas are all fragrance-free!

The range has grown a lot since 2005 and they also have specific formulas for oily skin, with salicylic acid, but they’re still very respectful of the skin barrier. With CeraVe, the skin won’t be stripped!

CeraVe is well known for its range of facial cleansers, which are both effective and very gentle, while being also super affordable!

They have a whole range of cleansers, suited to different skin types and needs. CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is the latest one, but strangely enough, it hasn’t launched (yet?) in the United States (I don’t know why!). But it has been sold in Europe and Australia for several months already.

CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is a cleansing oil for the face and body, which is primarily intended for dry or very dry skin.

Its gel in oil texture, rather liquid, transforms on wet skin into a fine and delicate foam which leaves the skin clean and comfortable, without greasy residue.

No doubt, it is indeed a foaming cleanser, not a makeup removing oil. In fact, it can only remove super light makeup. If, like me, you wear a sunscreen every day plus a full makeup look with foundation and mascara/liner, you’ll have to remove your makeup first with a proper makeup removing product, no doubt about it!

Formula-wise, it contains gentle cleansing ingredients, plenty of essential ceramides to preserve the skin barrier, squalane, hyaluronic acid and cholesterol, and its pH is neutral (so 7, which is a bit high for my preference, but it never stripped my skin; just goes to show that the formula is still queen 😉 )!

If you want more details on this pH thing, feel free to check out my detailed article on skin cleansing where I explain all this and more 😉

CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, my experience:

I purchased this cleanser very soon after its release, thinking it was a makeup removing oil. I must say that most of the English speaking influencers who were talking about it when it was launched suggested that it was this kind of product, and since the brand communication was not yet available, I just relied on what they said.

I was wrong! When I received my order and tried the product on my face, I immediately understood my mistake: it is a shower oil!

Well, if I’m more precise, it’s a shower oil that also works very well as a facial cleanser, not just for the body!

And I have to admit that it’s even very convenient, actually! Most shower oils I’ve tried are all very fragrant, which I don’t mind for the body. But for the face, I prefer more subtle scents or no scent at all (you know me, it’s not because I think scent is irritating for my skin, but rather because it’s often too overpowering, and I don’t find it pleasant on my face). And this one doesn’t contain any fragrance, precisely 🙂

It has a fairly liquid texture, so you have to use a bit more of it, to be able to properly cleanse your face. But it gives a nice, fine lather when used on wet skin (which the brand advises to do). And it leaves my skin completely clean and very comfortable.

I used it a lot as a foaming face wash in the morning, or at night, after I removed my makeup.

Then, after a few months of use, I decided to leave the bottle in my shower, to use it on my body as well as on my face in the morning, when I’m in a rush!

But then, it made me want to repurchase my beloved CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser that I use more in the evening, as a second cleanser after removing my makeup. I definitely prefer it to the Oil, because the texture is so pleasant and sensorial! Perfect for my evening cleansing ritual 😉

In conclusion:

Finally, despite my initial misunderstanding, I think that this CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is a good product to have in your shower! It does a great job, leaves the skin of both your face and body clean. All without being stripped and it’s even suitable for very dry skin.

I’m thinking of buying a bigger bottle next time, probably next winter!

In short, it’s another win from CeraVe! And as usual with them, it won’t break the bank 🙂

The CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser retails from $9 to $14 depending on its size (236 ml or 473 ml) and the retailers.