Vanicream and CeraVe are both go-to recommendations for people with sensitive skin, but they take opposite approaches. Vanicream is built around leaving things out: its Gentle Facial Cleanser has a dozen ingredients and none of the common irritants. CeraVe is built around putting things in: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide meant to support the skin barrier.
I have used both the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser and the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, and this comparison also covers CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser, its closest match to Vanicream.
The short answer: choose Vanicream if your skin is very sensitive, reactive, or allergy-prone, or if you want to avoid parabens. Choose CeraVe Foaming if you have normal to oily skin and want a cleanser that feels like it removes oil, or CeraVe Hydrating if your skin is dry and you want barrier-supporting ingredients in your wash.
On my dry, sensitive skin, Vanicream is the gentler of the two. It feels softer and less stripping, while CeraVe Foaming leaves my face feeling cleaner. CeraVe Foaming is still the one I use every day.
Vanicream vs. CeraVe Foaming specs
| Spec | Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser | CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Pharmaceutical Specialties (Vanicream) | CeraVe (L'Oréal) |
| Texture | Gel with a mild lather | Gel that foams |
| Number of ingredients | 12 | About 25 |
| Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | None | All three |
| Parabens | No | Yes (methylparaben, propylparaben) |
| Sulfates | No | No |
| Fragrance | No fragrance or masking fragrance | Fragrance-free |
| National Eczema Association Seal | Yes | No |
| Marketed for | Dry, sensitive, and delicate skin | Normal to oily skin |
| Typical price | About $10 to $15 for 8 oz | About $16 for 16 oz |
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Best for Sensitive Skin
A 12-ingredient gel cleanser free of fragrance, parabens, sulfates, dyes, and lanolin.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Best for Oily Skin
A foaming gel with ceramides and niacinamide that removes oil without stripping.
Ingredients: Minimal vs. Barrier-Focused
Vanicream’s cleanser is made with water, glycerin, two mild plant-derived surfactants, and a handful of stabilizers and preservatives. The cleanser is formulated without dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde releasers, sulfates, and soap. If you have contact allergies or skin that reacts to almost everything, a short list is easier to trust, and easier to check against ingredients you know you react to.
CeraVe Foaming has about twice as many ingredients. The extras are the point: three ceramides, cholesterol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid are included to help the skin barrier while you cleanse. Its surfactants are also sulfate-free and gentle.
Neither approach is objectively better. More active ingredients can help dry or compromised skin, while fewer ingredients reduce the chance of a reaction.
Parabens
The clearest difference is preservatives. CeraVe Foaming uses methylparaben and propylparaben. Vanicream does not use parabens. Regulators consider parabens safe at the levels used in cosmetics, and they are among the most studied preservatives. But some people prefer to avoid them, and a small number of people are allergic. If that describes you, Vanicream, or the paraben-free CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, are the better picks.
Texture and Feel
CeraVe Foaming is a clear gel that builds a satisfying lather and rinses off quickly, which people with oily skin often prefer. It removes oil well without the squeaky, tight feeling of harsher foaming washes.
Vanicream’s gel produces a lighter lather and feels softer and less stripping. It suits dry and sensitive skin better, but people with very oily skin may find it does not feel as thoroughly clean.
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Sensitive and Eczema-Prone Skin
Vanicream’s Gentle Facial Cleanser carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, which the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser does not. Vanicream also says it is the most dermatologist-recommended brand for sensitive skin, a claim based on a survey the company commissioned.
If you want CeraVe for eczema-prone or very dry skin, the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is the better choice. It also carries the NEA Seal, uses no parabens, and has a creamy, non-foaming texture closer to Vanicream’s gentleness. We compare it in detail in our CeraVe vs. Cetaphil guide.
Price and Size
Both are affordable. Vanicream usually costs about $10 to $15 for an 8-ounce pump bottle. CeraVe Foaming costs about the same for a 16-ounce bottle, so it is the cheaper option per ounce.
Which Should You Buy?
- Choose Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser if your skin is sensitive, reactive, allergy-prone, or eczema-prone, or if you want to avoid parabens and fragrance entirely.
- Choose CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser if you have normal to oily skin, like a cleanser that lathers, and want ceramides and niacinamide in your routine.
- Choose CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser if your skin is dry and you want barrier-supporting ingredients without parabens.
Whichever you choose, try it for a couple of weeks before judging it, and stop if it stings or causes irritation. For more detail, read our Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser review, our CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser review, and our guide to the best facial cleansers.