I can’t stress enough how much I LOVE this cleanser. The ingredients are excellent and very effective, especially the inclusion of the hyaluronic acid (great for hydration and “plumpness”) and three ceramides (proven to help with hydration and sensitivity, whilst restoring and strengthening the skin barrier). The only thing I would love to see added is something like niacinamide or a stable derivative of Vitamin C for brightening and pigmentation (although both of these do benefit from being left on the skin, which is why I use serums with them in.)

I love that it is formulated without any irritating additions (unlike most “luxury” skincare) and no added fragrance, which is perfect for all skin types. Although it is fragrance free, the actual cleanser does not smell unpleasant. The bottle is very handy and dispenses a good amount with one pump (enough for a full face) without squirting everywhere, which is a bonus. The packaging looks very clinical, but honestly, I quite like that. My mum did say it looks like something a dermatologist would prescribe, which is funny because it was in fact my dermatologist who recommended this brand in the first place.

The cleanser itself is a light, clear gel which you can either rub onto your skin or onto a cloth. It doesn’t lather up in my experience. I prefer to apply to my skin directly and then wipe it away with a dampened microfibre cloth to really get all the make-up and unwanted stuff off my face. It’s a pleasant texture which isn’t too thick or too thin, and spreads well. Afterwards, my skin never feels that awful dry, “tight” mask feeling that some cleansers give; instead, it is very soft and supple. It can easily get rid of all my makeup (and I wear a LOT), but I prefer to use an oil-based cleanser first for that, followed by this Cerave one in a double-cleansing routine.

I often have bad breakouts across my cheeks which become irritated and inflamed. I also have very sensitive skin due to an underlying medical condition where my mast cells are overactive. Due to these issues, I have a lot of trouble finding skin care which doesn’t irritate my skin or make my breakouts worse. Luckily, this one doesn’t! In fact, it has improved my skin significantly. I’ve been using it daily for about a month now and the difference to my skin texture, irritation and breakouts is staggering.

Plus, it’s super affordable for the amount of product you get, and Amazon appears to have the best average prices from everywhere I’ve looked. As above, I have used it daily for a month (sometimes twice a day, especially if I spend a lot of time in polluted or crowded areas) and I still have plenty of my 236ml bottle left. I will, however, be purchasing the 1L bottle next time for even better value because I love this so much.

I highly recommend you try this cleanser (and the rest of the Cerave range, especially the moisturisers) if you have any skin concerns like acne, sensitivity or dryness.