Can I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser without water?

Does it need water before and after?

Yes. Wetting your skin and rinsing the cleanser away are both part of the directions. Applying it to dry skin and removing it with a tissue or cotton pad is not the intended routine. Keep the rinse even if the cleanser feels more like a lotion than a face wash. Its lotion texture makes the cleanser look like it has applied for a job in the moisturizer department, but it still belongs at the sink.23

How to use it

1. 1Wet your face with lukewarm water.
2. 2Massage the cleanser onto your skin with your fingertips, using gentle circular motions. For the Canadian Hydrating Cleanser, CeraVe specifies one pump and about 20 seconds.
3. 3Rinse well with lukewarm water rather than simply wiping the cleanser away.
4. 4Gently pat your skin dry with a clean, dry towel.
5. 5Follow with a moisturizer. If you use serums or treatments, cleansing comes before them.

You do not need a cleansing brush or washcloth for the Canadian product; CeraVe notes that these can be too abrasive for daily use. Gentle fingertip massage is enough. Avoid hot water, which can strip natural oils and leave skin dry, and do not scrub vigorously. For the French Crème Lavante Hydratante, avoid the eye area and rinse immediately and thoroughly if the cleanser gets into your eyes.345

Why does it feel like lotion?

The Canadian Hydrating Cleanser has a lotion texture and is designed not to foam, but it still lifts away dirt and oil. The Hydrating Facial Cleanser also contains ceramides, which help maintain the skin's protective barrier, and hyaluronic acid, which helps retain moisture. A quiet wash is still a wash; bubbles are not the cleaning receipt.23

Hydrating does not mean you should leave the cleanser on. The US Hydrating Facial Cleanser is designed to support the skin's moisture balance after rinsing. For dry skin, choose a gentle cleanser that does not leave skin feeling stripped rather than trying to turn a face wash into a moisturizer. Ceramides help limit disruption of the skin barrier during cleansing; keeping cleanser residue on your face is not a substitute for the moisturizer step.16

When should I use it?

The US product can be used at any time of day. The Canadian Hydrating Cleanser directions place it first in your morning and evening routine, before serums, treatments and moisturizer. It is made for normal to dry skin, and the Canadian version is also intended for sensitive skin. If you wear heavy or waterproof makeup, use a dedicated makeup remover first, then wash with Hydrating Cleanser. The Canadian routine also includes a makeup remover or micellar water first when removing sunscreen in the evening.13

What if I cannot rinse my face?

Choose a micellar water intended for use without rinsing instead of changing how you use Hydrating Cleanser. Micellar water contains micelles, small clusters of cleansing agents that attract dirt, makeup and impurities. It can serve as the only cleansing step or as a makeup removal step before a face wash. Check the directions on the particular product you buy.4

Names differ by market, but the US and Canadian Hydrating Facial Cleanser and French Crème Lavante Hydratante all require wet or damp skin followed by rinsing. Follow your bottle's directions rather than assuming that every creamy cleanser can be used without water.135