I'm a former men's grooming editor who's tested tons of fancy face washes — but this affordable drugstore cleanser from CeraVe is the one I return to over and over again (2024)

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• I'm a former men's grooming editor and even after testing tons of face washes, CeraVe's $14 Hydrating Facial Cleanser is the one I continue to turn to.
• It contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help restore the skin's moisture barrier and provide all-day hydration.
• Its creamy, gel-like formula is gentle enough to use daily, even if your skin is irritated or dry.
  
• CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser is available in most drugstores or at Amazon, Walmart, or Ulta Beauty.

In my previous life as a men's grooming editor, I tested dozens of face washes and cleansers of every type imaginable, from cream to foaming versions, oil cleansers to exfoliating scrubs, glycolic and salicylic acid face washes, and anti-acne and anti-redness formulas ... you get the point.

But the one I keep returning to time and time again over the past three years is CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

With occasional adult acne, combination skin, and the increasing dryness that comes with aging (I'm 33), I spent a good part of my late 20s seeking a facial cleanser fit for my finicky skin. I needed a product that adequately cleansed without stripping my face of its natural oils, while also offering a boost of hydration — all without causing irritation to my congenitally sensitive skin.

CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser is the only face wash I've found that meets all these requirements and then some.

The formula is equal parts cleansing and hydrating.

The results of washing your face with CeraVe Hydrating Facial cleanser are immediate. Post-wash, my skin feels clean, refreshed, and hydrated without feeling taut, tight, or greasy, thanks to a combination of ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin that cleanse and moisturize the skin and strengthen its protective lipid layer.

Now, a bit of the science behind ceramides and that protective barrier: "Ceramides are a great ingredient to have in a cleanser because they help to hold our skin cells together, helping us maintain our natural moisture," says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Dandy Engelman. They have been proven to hydrate and repair skin experiencing a compromised barrier, which often takes the form of dryness.

The combination of ceramides and hyaluronic acid (a naturally-occurring substance within the body known to retain 1,000 times its weight in water) results in skin that's plumped with moisture and fortified with a protective layer that keeps that moisture locked in.

The hydration I get from using CeraVe lasts all day. It works so well that I tell all my male friends who refuse to moisturize that they should at least use this face wash.

CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser is safe for daily use, and it can be used on other parts of the body that experience irritation or acne.

I typically wash my face with this cleanser twice a day for 60 seconds at a time. I pump a couple of generous squirts of the creamy, gel-like face wash into my hands and then proceed to massage my face with circular movements all over using just my fingertips. This face wash does not foam, so the washing process feels more like coating your face with a cool gel and rubbing it in than your standard soapy experience.

Afterward, I pat my face dry with a towel and then proceed with my normal morning and nighttime skincare routine.

But I don't just use this cleanser on my face. In fact, upon the recommendation of my dermatologist when I came down with a virus-induced case of hives, I used this face wash on the affected parts of my body and felt post-wash itch relief. I've also used the wash to cleanse skin that has become inflamed and irritated from contact with lavender oil — an unfortunate allergen of mine. It reduced the inflammation, moisturized, and left the red patches less itchy than they otherwise would have been, all without an additional need for treatment.

Cons worth mentioning

People with oily skin who prefer an astringent wash that leaves the face feeling taut and squeaky-clean may see less than desirable results, as this is specifically geared toward normal to dry skin.

This face wash also does not contain any sort of exfoliant, so those seeking to smooth rough or bumpy skin may want to look into products like CeraVe's Renewing SA Cleanser.

And, while this isn't technically a drawback to the face wash, as a person who doesn't wear makeup, I cannot attest to this wash's effectiveness in removing and cleansing the face of cosmetic products. When in doubt, a double cleanse with an oil cleanser employed first, followed by this wash, is always a good idea.

The bottom line

I would be hard-pressed to name another everyday face wash as beneficial to my skin as CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser has been over the past three years. It's gentle on my sensitive skin, hydrating, and can be used on more than just my face. And, another point in its favor? It's less expensive than a comparable high-end wash like Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, but is on par in price with another cult-favorite favorite, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, though that formula isn't quite as hydrating.