Back

Finally, an affordable cleanser that targets blemishes without causing dryness

Our members gave this product a near-perfect score

By Samantha McMeekin

Editor / May 22 2023

Our members gave this product a near-perfect score

The product

Hands up if your face has ever been left feeling dry and tight after using a blemish-focused cleanser? Oh, you are not alone.

Thankfully, we no longer have to sacrifice our skin’s moisture barrier on the quest for healthy skin. Introducing, CeraVe’s Blemish Control Cleanser.

Developed with dermatologists, this gel-to-foam face wash utilises 2 per cent salicylic acid to help unclog pores and visibly reduce blemishes, while three essential ceramides support the skin barrier.

Used morning and night, it also contains purifying clay to help reduce oiliness without causing dryness or discomfort. The result? Well, here’s what our Review Crew® testers had to say…

The panel

Beauty Crew sent the CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser to a panel of women aged 18 to 34 with normal to oily skin. The panel identified with a variety of skin concerns including blemish-prone skin, mild to moderate acne, blackheads, redness and large pores.

The lowdown

Here’s what the Review Crew® loved about the CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser.

It cleansed without drying: A big positive for a lot of reviewers was how the cleanser was able to target blemishes without drying out the rest of their skin. Those who tend to experience sensitivity also praised it for leaving their face calm and comfortable.

It helped to reduce breakouts and improve skin texture: Our Review Crew® found that the cleanser not only helped to minimise the appearance of existing blemishes but to prevent future breakouts and smooth skin texture too.

The wallet-friendly price: CeraVe is known for providing effective formulas at a reasonable price and the Blemish Control Cleanser is no exception. Many reviewers said they’d be happy to recommend it to their friends given its affordability.

The verdict

“I am combination-oily and this worked well with my skin. My skin has improved, it is much more smooth and blemishes are minimised. Even marks that I had are minimised. Didn't do much for pores, mainly breakouts. Good if you have regular breakouts. I also used this on my back as [I] suffer from some back acne and this improved my skin there also. Great for the price and quantity you get.”

Stephanie L

ReviewCrew® member

“My skin can get very sensitive at times and can also get oily and prone to acne if I’m not diligent with my skincare routine. This product works well for both of these concerns because it does not sting on application, even when my skin is feeling particularly sensitive. The. formulation is slightly creamier than a usual acne cleaner which helps. BUT it also contains the active ingredients that work the best at preventing acne on my skin, so it’s a win win!”

Ellie H

ReviewCrew® member

“The cleanser is a lovely, smooth consistency and feels beautiful going on the skin. It doesn’t strip the skin like many other blemish control cleansers, did not sting and did not strip my skin or dry it out. I found the texture of my skin significantly improved with daily use of the cleanser, and blemishes have reduced. It is also wonderful for taking make up off at the end of the day. Would definitely recommend this cleanser to anyone that has issues with blemishes.”

Chelsea B

ReviewCrew® member

Like the sound of this blemish-targeting cleanser? Read more CeraVe’s Blemish Control Cleanser reviews.

The products for this Review Crew® trial have been provided by CeraVe to Are Media and BEAUTYcrew for the purpose of trial and review by Review Crew® members.

*This combined average star rating for CeraVe’s Blemish Control Cleanser is based on a combined total of 100 reviews submitted and is correct as of 23/05/2023.

Main image credit: Are Media

Samantha McMeekin

Samantha McMeekin was BEAUTYcrew's Editor from January 2020 to June 2023. She has worked as a journalist in the beauty and lifestyle industry for over 10 years. In 2019, she was nominated for Best Digital Writer at the BSME Awards for her work on GLAMOUR UK. If you ever meet her in person, she'll probably try to guess which fragrance you're wearing (she's got a humble 60% strike rate).