La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser is a cream face wash for normal to dry, sensitive skin, formulated with the brand's thermal spring water, niacinamide and ceramide-3. It is fragrance-, paraben-, sulfate- and soap-free and allergy tested. Dermatologist reviewers, comparison videos and Reddit users treat it as a close alternative to CeraVe's hydrating cleanser. It is a gentle, low-lather wash rather than a treatment, so very oily skin may prefer a foaming formula.

Best for

Dry or sensitive skin that reacts to fragrance and sulfates
Retinoid users who need a non-stripping wash
A gentle morning cleanse

What we love

Free of fragrance, sulfates, soap and parabens, and allergy tested
Ceramide-3, niacinamide and glycerin support the moisture barrier while cleansing
A creator on tretinoin reported a big difference after almost a month of use
Available in a 400 ml refill format

Worth knowing

Recommended by the brand for normal to dry skin, so oily skin may prefer a foaming cleanser
Cream texture is not designed to foam, so it lacks the lather some people expect
No published concentrations for its niacinamide or ceramide-3

How it scored

The breakdown.

Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.

8.4Great

Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.

Results30%8.3
Dermatologists, creators and r/tretinoin regulars treat it as a dependable gentle cleanser for skin that feels tight or irritated, and one creator on tretinoin credited it with a big difference; it does not target acne or texture directly.
Formula & ingredients20%8.7
Ceramide NP, niacinamide, glycerin and panthenol in a fragrance-, sulfate-, soap- and paraben-free base is a well-judged formula for reactive skin.
Texture & experience15%8.2
The brand describes a gentle cream that leaves skin comfortable, and a Reddit user calls it super gentle and sting-free even on angry skin; it is not a foaming wash for those who like lather.
Value20%8.4
The brand lists 400 ml at $19.99, a fair price per milliliter for a dermatologist-favorite cleanser, with a refill format available.
Community love15%8.7
It is a fixture in dermatologist videos and drugstore-cleanser comparisons, and in 2026 r/tretinoin and r/SkincareAddiction users repeatedly recommend it as a super gentle second cleanse for dry or irritated skin.

Beauty profile

Inside the bottle.

Texture

Gentle cream formula that the brand says leaves skin feeling comfortable and hydrated

Format

Cleanser

Fragrance

Fragrance-free

Size

13.5 fl oz / 400 ml

Key ingredients

Ingredient encyclopedia →

What’s in it: La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal spring water, ceramide-3 (ceramide NP) and niacinamide, with glycerin and panthenol; no percentages published.

How to use

Use morning and evening: wet the face with lukewarm water, apply in circular motions, then rinse and tap skin dry to avoid friction.

Free from (brand-stated)

fragrance
parabens
sulfates
soap
oil

Claims & certifications

Fragrance-free
Non-comedogenic
Paraben-free
Sulfate-free
Dermatologist-tested

Full ingredient list (INCI)1 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand

AQUA/WATER/EAU • GLYCERIN • PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE • PROPANEDIOL • AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE • POLYSORBATE 60 • CERAMIDE NP • NIACINAMIDE • SODIUM CHLORIDE • COCO-BETAINE • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • CITRIC ACID • TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE • PANTHENOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN • TOCOPHEROL • CHLORPHENESIN

Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.

Official product page

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.

We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.

What people say

Straight from the source.

Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.

3 verbatim quotes · 3 positive

r/SkincareAddiction

the LRP hydrating one (the white bottle) is way better, super gentle, never stings even when my skin is angry.

u/WarWest3993r/SkincareAddiction · 2026-103Source

r/tretinoin

If your face starts to feel tight switch from the foaming cleanser to LRP Toleriane Hydrating, You really don’t need a foaming cleanser as the second cleanser when you have used a cleansing balm or cleansing oil as the first cleanser.

u/TheWorldofSciencer/tretinoin · 2026-101Source

r/tretinoin

Yes! I got 2 for you; La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser and Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser.

u/SpreadUnlikely8170r/tretinoin · 2026-095Source

Price & value

Is it worth it?

Typical price

$19.99

for 13.5 fl oz / 400 ml

Per ounce

$1.48

DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury

About 35% less per ounce than the typical cleansers we review. Our value score: 8.4/10 for a drugstore pick.

Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.

Where to buy

Check price on Amazon Buy from the brand$19.99 ◎See it at Target

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money

Community

What members noticed.

Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.

No member ratings yet.

Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.

Highlighted: what it’s built to do.

Discussion

No discussions yet.

Tried La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.

FAQ

Good questions.

Can La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser be used on oily skin?

La Roche-Posay recommends it for normal to dry, sensitive skin. The brand also sells a Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser aimed at normal to oily skin, which is the more natural fit for very oily complexions.

Does it remove makeup?

The brand says it gently cleanses dirt, makeup and impurities. For long-wear or waterproof makeup, a micellar water or cleansing oil first is the more reliable approach.

Is it fragrance-free?

Yes. The brand lists it as fragrance-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, soap-free, oil-free and non-comedogenic, and says it is allergy tested and tested on sensitive skin.

How is it different from CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser?

Both are fragrance-free, low-foam cleansers with ceramides for normal to dry skin. La Roche-Posay adds niacinamide and its thermal spring water, while CeraVe uses three ceramides with hyaluronic acid; dermatologist comparison videos treat them as close alternatives.

Sources we checked (8)