CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid, Face Wash for Dry Skin,16oz

Why it's worth it

CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a lotion-textured, fragrance-free wash with ceramides and hyaluronic acid built in. It cleans without that tight, stripped feeling, it's certified by the National Eczema Association, and a 16-ounce bottle lasts months of twice-daily use.

It's the safest default if you don't know your skin type. Fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, and certified by the National Eczema Association — that combination rules out most of the common triggers before you even open the bottle. Owners with rosacea, eczema-prone skin and post-procedure skin all report using it without flare-ups. If you're building a routine from scratch, start here and change only if something's actually wrong.

The ceramides aren't just marketing. Ceramides are lipids your skin barrier already makes, and they account for roughly half of what holds that barrier together. CeraVe builds three of them — 1, 3 and 6-II — into every formula, along with hyaluronic acid and glycerin. So you're replacing a little of what washing removes as you wash. That's why skin doesn't feel taut afterward the way it does with a foaming bar.

From our review of 5 face cleansers, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +It's the safest default if you don't know your skin type
• +The ceramides aren't just marketing
• +It doesn't foam, and that's the point
• +The size makes twice-daily use painless

What to know

• –If you love lather, you'll be disappointed
• –It's not a one-and-done makeup remover
• –The thick texture is polarizing