I Tried the CeraVe Cleanser Bar for Softer, Clearer Skin—Here’s My Honest Review

We put the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review. 

After a bout of postpartum acne, my dermatologist and I have been on a year-long mission to clear up the hormonal breakouts that pop up on my chin once a month like clockwork. One of her top recommendations? CeraVe, a brand known for being gentle on the skin.

While I’m used to face wash coming in a bottle, I was pleased to see that the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar can be used on the hands, body, and face—making it a great soap option for my shower caddy and my bathroom sink. In addition to being gentle on skin, it promises to keep skin moisturized, which is always a goal of mine, especially as I apply various topical creams to my face to clear up my skin. Long story short: I tried CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleansing Bar to see if it would work the magic I hoped it would.

Here’s how it worked for me.

About My Skin: Not too dry (but not that hydrated either), and acne-prone

In the winter, the skin on my body and hands tends to get very dry and flaky. The summer is a different story—as long as I’m drinking water, nothing seems to dry it out—but since my daughter was born at the end of 2019, I’ve dealt with annoying hormonal acne every month.

About eight years ago, I had a sulfur-based cleanser clear up another bout of acne, and I’ve been clinging to it ever since. My dermatologist insists it isn’t doing much for me anymore and has been recommending brands like CeraVe and Cetaphil as an alternative. So when the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar showed up at my door and I realized it was made with a non-comedogenic formula that promised not to clog pores, I decided to give it a go. 

The Feel: A little heavy

As far as bar soap goes, the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar is a little on the heavy side. I found it to be more difficult to wash off than other soaps, but not in a way that really bothers me—all I care about is that it moisturizes my skin and helps keep acne at bay.

The Smell: Nothing special

The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar smells like, well, a bar of soap. Compared with the sulfur-based cleanser I’ve been using on my face, it’s a dream (anyone who has ever come into contact with any form of sulfur knows how awful it smells). That being said, I wouldn’t say it’s unscented as advertised—while the smell is mild, it’s a little unpleasant for me. 

The Ingredients: Filled with everything I want to put on my face

I’ve done a lot of research on acne in the past year-and-a-half, and the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar checks off a lot of boxes. First, it’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores—and clogged pores are famous for causing acne. It’s also made with hyaluronic acid, an ingredient dermatologists are obsessed with for its ability to help retain the skin’s natural moisture. It’s also free of added fragrances and parabens. 

The Results: Moisturized, calm skin

But perhaps more importantly, I finally had the courage to break away from my smelly sulfur-based cleanser, and so far I haven’t had a single breakout while using it. As a nice bonus, it doesn’t come in a bottle, which means I’m using less plastic—and I’m always trying to use less plastic.

The Value: Affordable

Retailing around $6.99 for 4.5 ounces, there are cheaper bars of soap out there, but considering that cleansers for acne-prone skin tend to cost a lot more than this—especially when you get into the really high-end stuff—this is a great value. 

Similar Products: If you’re looking for a bar of soap for your face, this is a great option

L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar ($13): I’ll admit that I haven’t used bar soap on my face often, but I did recently try the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar. While I’ll admit that that one smelled better (using it on my body in the shower at night is great for giving me an ultra-calm pre-bed experience), I didn’t feel nearly as comfortable using it on my face, because it isn’t made with the same acne-fighting ingredients that the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar is.