Last year, in one of those stretches of time where there seemed to be absolutely nothing to do except scroll and overthink, I found myself falling deep into TikTok. Naturally, my algorithm decided that I was the perfect audience for beauty and skincare content, which meant my For You page became an endless stream of cleansers, serums, and people with impossibly calm skin routines.
One brand that kept appearing again and again was CeraVe. I had genuinely never heard of it before, which now feels almost embarrassing considering it has the kind of cult following that makes you wonder how you missed the memo. Everyone seemed to adore it, and because I am nothing if not easily influenced by widespread enthusiasm, I wanted to try it for myself.
So, this post is all about the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, the very first product I tried from the brand. Since picking it up, I have broadened my collection and somehow ended up with a skincare routine that is both affordable and genuinely effective, which still feels slightly suspicious given how much money I have spent on luxury skincare over the years.
HOW DOES IT REMOVE MY MAKEUP?
If I am wearing makeup, you can be fairly certain it is not a subtle situation. I am a full coverage girl through and through, and I pride myself on the fact that my face looks just as good at nine o’clock at night when I am removing it as it did at six in the morning when I applied it.
Because of that, getting my makeup off properly is essential, and for years I relied on makeup wipes like they were a lifeline. I burned through Simple wipes at a rate that suggested I was being sponsored, even though I absolutely was not. Now, I do it properly. I take two pumps of the cleanser onto slightly damp hands, massage it into my skin, taking my time to make sure every inch is covered, and then I go in with a damp Face Halo to remove everything. It is simple, effective, and feels far kinder to my skin than the wipe era ever was.
HOW DOES IT MAKE MY SKIN FEEL?
One of the main reasons I chose this cleanser in the first place is because it has the word hydrating right there in the name, and hydration is something I am increasingly desperate to hold onto. I do not know if it is working in an air conditioned office, getting older, or simply realising that my skin is not as effortlessly dewy as it once was, but I have noticed more dryness creeping in over the years. I want my skincare routine to support my skin, not strip it, especially at the cleansing stage.
This cleanser leaves my skin feeling calm and comfortable, never tight or squeaky. I would not describe it as some miracle plumping treatment, but it does exactly what a hydrating cleanser should. It cleans without making my face feel like I have accidentally washed it with washing up liquid.
WHAT ABOUT COST PER USE?
The biggest surprise with CeraVe, honestly, is the price. I could not believe that so many people were raving about something so affordable. I have always been the kind of person who splurges on skincare because I want to invest in my skin long term. In my mind, expensive meant effective, and I never would have imagined picking up a cleanser that costs around five pounds and expecting it to compete with luxury brands.
But it does. I have had the same bottle for nearly a year now, because you only need one or two pumps each time. The cost per use is almost laughably good, especially compared to some of the cleansers I have flown through in the past. It is proof, if nothing else, that you do not always need to break the bank for a genuinely solid skincare staple.
WOULD I REPURCHASE THIS?
Without hesitation, yes. This is one of those products that has earned a permanent place in my routine because it is reliable, affordable, and does exactly what it claims.
I have tried countless cleansers over the years, from high end department store staples to super luxe skincare that comes in bottles that look like they belong in a laboratory. And honestly, this performs just as well as many of them. In some cases, I would even argue it is better, because it never irritates or overcomplicates things. It is also incredibly easy to get hold of, which matters more than you think. You can find it everywhere, Boots, ASOS, almost any skincare aisle, which means you are never left panicking when you run out.
CONCLUSION
I hope you enjoyed this review of the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. If you have been wondering whether to try it, I genuinely think it is worth it, especially if you want something gentle, effective, and budget friendly.
It has been part of my skincare routine for quite some time now, and I can safely say it will remain there for many more moons to come. I am forever grateful that my makeup wipe phase is behind me, and that I have finally accepted that sometimes the most dependable products are not the fanciest ones.
As always, let me know if you have tried it, or if there is another affordable skincare staple I should be testing next.
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