If this drugstore find is good enough for Olivia Wilde, it's good enough for me. Now if I only knew what she used to get that hair... (Rodin Eckenroth/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)(Rodin Eckenroth/GA via Getty Images)More
As a self-proclaimed skin-care addict, I always love getting a little glimpse of the products celebrities use. And while many of them are admittedly out of my price range, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my go-to CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is used by none other than Olivia Wilde. As reported by People, the actress/director posted a photo to Instagram showing the affordable — as in, $15 at Amazon — face wash on her bathroom counter. Hollywood stars have access to every skin-care product under the sun, which speaks to what a fantastic product this drugstore find is — especially for dry skin, in my case. Keep scrolling for my full review.
While it's not exactly meant as a face cream, this ultra-rich moisturizer is used for that purpose by most every seasoned beauty expert I know. It's extremely hydrating, packed with nourishing plant-derived ingredients and is especially good as a nighttime treatment for faces, hands, feet, necks and even the décolleté.
This facial cleanser is a popular, affordable, dermatologist-recommended option that doesn't strip the skin and leaves it feeling soft and hydrated.
Some people experience thirsty, flaky skin once the temperatures drop; I'm one of the lucky ones who was blessed with that condition all year round. Add to that a healthy dose of sensitivity and psoriasis, and you've got my complexion in a nutshell. Long story short, many cleansers I've tried leave my skin feeling even more parched, looking red and, on occasion, cause an itchy, burning sensation. For a while, I hated washing my face so much, I just didn't do it.
My dermatologist eventually scolded me, saying the dirt, makeup and other irritants my skin was exposed to needed to be rinsed off daily. Plus, she explained that cleaning my face would actually help with hydration — as long as I used the right products — and handed me a sample of the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.
Packed with moisture-boosting ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, this gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser was formulated with sensitive skin in mind. It doesn't contain fragrances or parabens, and it's even certified by the National Eczema Association. The first time I tried it, I was confused by how lightweight it was. It feels like a cross between a lotion and a gel, and if you're used to ultra-foamy face washes, this one might catch you off guard. I tried working it into a lather, but to no avail. I remember thinking, "We'll see if this actually does anything," as I applied it over my face.
Somehow, this CeraVe cleanser managed to remove the majority of my makeup — I had to rub a little harder around my liquid eyeliner — but best of all? Once I'd rinsed everything off, my skin felt softer and bouncier, without any trace of irritation.
It wasn't a fluke, either. I didn't wake up with dryness or redness the next morning, and haven't experienced any sensitivity since I started using it regularly over the past year. Once I used up the sample I'd received, I immediately purchased a full-sized bottle, and it's become my nightly cleanser. It makes my skin feel so smooth and plump, I actually look forward to washing my face before bed.
Olivia and I are far from being the only CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser enthusiasts — more than 95,000 Amazon shoppers are "Wilde" about it too.
"This facial cleanser has a luxurious silky feel on your fingers and face," said one happy shopper. "It rinses clean leaving my skin soft. The look and texture of my skin is smooth. So far great for mature skin at 72 years."
It works for all ages, too. One mom shared: "My daughter and I went to the dermatologist last week because both of us have been having bad skin irritation on our face. My face was looking like a rhinoceros with a rash, it was awful. Dermatologist recommended this, we both started using it and WOW, what a difference! Both of our skin is clear and with no red spots. And the discoloration my daughter was having is fading away."
"My skin is clearer after using it than before," wrote a final fan. "It lasts a good while, and my only complaint is that it doesn't lather up enough for my liking (that literally doesn't matter if it works)."
Another affordable dry-skin savior I'm obsessed with? Julia Roberts' and Carrie Underwood's beloved Weleda Skin Food:
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
