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CeraVe Hydrating vs Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser: Ingredients & Price Per Ounce

Compared by Kath · 10/29/2026

HMMMM SAYS

Cetaphil edges ahead on price and versatility

At $0.87/oz (ShopRite, 16 fl oz), Cetaphil undercuts CeraVe's $1.06/oz by 18 cents every ounce — that adds up daily. It also wins the water-free factor outright, a unique use-case CeraVe simply doesn't offer. That said, if your readers specifically want ceramides and hyaluronic acid on the label, CeraVe's INCI is unmatched here — three ceramide variants plus sodium hyaluronate versus none in Cetaphil's reformulated nine-ingredient deck. The score reflects your stated weights; pure ingredient-deck buyers may flip the call.

KBy Kath · 10/29/2026 · beauty
Made byKathwith hmmmm

How they scored

FactorCeraVe Hydrating Facial CleanserCetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Price per ounce

weight 25%

86

Key actives & humectants

weight 35%

69

Intended skin type

weight 22%

78

Water-free cleansing option

weight 18%

92
Total7.3/106.8/10

Each option in detail

🥇Rank 1·$16.99

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

7.3out of 10

What's good

  • ✓ShopRite lists 16 fl oz at $13.99 ($0.87/oz) — 18% cheaper per ounce than CeraVe at the same bottle size.
  • ✓Reformulated INCI (per ShopRite/Skinsort) now includes niacinamide (B3) and panthenol (B5) with no parabens or sulfates — per manufacturer labeling.
  • ✓Brand labels the product usable with or without water, enabling a wipe-off option CeraVe's rinse-off formula cannot replicate.

Watch out for

  • ✗Reformulated nine-ingredient INCI lists no ceramides or hyaluronic acid — unlike CeraVe's 24-ingredient deck (per ShopRite INCI).
  • ✗Amazon still lists an older formula with SLS, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben — shoppers should verify the INCI on the physical bottle they receive.
  • ✗Broad 'all skin types' positioning (per brand labeling) makes it less specifically targeted for normal-to-dry skin than CeraVe.
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🥈Rank 2·$13.99

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

6.8out of 10

What's good

  • ✓HEB INCI confirms three ceramide forms (Ceramide NP, AP, EOP) plus Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerin in a single 24-ingredient formula.
  • ✓INCI also lists Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, and Tocopherol — supporting the brand's 'skin-barrier restoration' label claim (per HEB ingredient list).
  • ✓Brand page labels it fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, with 'Developed with dermatologists' per cerave.com — manufacturer's own claim.

Watch out for

  • ✗H-E-B lists 16 oz at $15.48 ($0.97/oz); provided price of $16.99 puts per-oz cost at $1.06 — pricier than Cetaphil at equivalent size.
  • ✗Standard rinse-off formula only; brand site and all retail listings show no wipe-off / water-free usage instructions.
  • ✗INCI includes PEG-40 Stearate and Behentrimonium Methosulfate — ingredients some users on r/SkincareAddiction flag for sensitivity, though neither is classified as a common allergen.
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Sources

Facts in this comparison are drawn from these references. Verify anything that matters for your situation.

  1. [1]CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 16 oz — ingredients & price— H-E-B
  2. [2]Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser 16 fl oz — ingredients & price— ShopRite
  3. [3]Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser US — ingredient analysis— Skinsort
  4. [4]CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser — ingredient analysis— Skinsort

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