CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly

85 facts in comparison

These products are from different categories (Curly hair products vs Skincare products), so direct comparison may not be meaningful.

Based on 392 Reddit opinions. Too close to call.

392 opinions
Facial Cleanser
Reddit's Pick
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
73%
B-
Based on
14 Redditors
Winner

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Limited Data
~$16.97
5 opinions

tldr; Reddit opinions on the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser are mixed (60% positive across 14 mentions). Consider your specific needs and priorities.

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VS
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
73%
B-
Based on
1,009 Redditors

Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly

~$5.48
387 opinions

tldr; Reddit highly recommends Vaseline for its exceptional healing, moisturizing, and occlusive properties, often favored by dermatologists and praised for its affordability.

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IngredientsValue
ING
VAL
100
Points
76
Points

Score by Category

Ingredients
67%
Value
100%100%

Why is Original Petroleum Jelly better than Foaming Facial Cleanser?

  • Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
  • ⏱ Heals skin fast and effectively
  • Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
Based on 1,023 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Facial Cleanser

Winning by 0 points (73% vs 73%)

Higher Reddit score (73% vs 73%)
High confidence (1,023 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,023 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Facial Cleanser
7.3/10
14 mentions
Petroleum Jelly
7.3/10
1,009 mentions
VALUE
Facial Cleanser10.0/10
Petroleum Jelly10.0/10
EFFECTIVENESS
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly7.3/10
INGREDIENTS
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly6.7/10
SKIN FEEL
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly5.0/10
GENTLENESS
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly8.8/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Facial Cleanser: 0|Petroleum Jelly: 4
Value
Facial Cleanser100%
Petroleum Jelly100%
EffectivenessPetroleum Jelly
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly73%
IngredientsPetroleum Jelly
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly67%
Skin FeelPetroleum Jelly
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly50%
GentlenessPetroleum Jelly
Facial CleanserN/A
Petroleum Jelly88%
Facial Cleanser73%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Dead heat - too close to call

Key Specs

SpecCeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserVaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Key Ingredients
3 Essential Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide
Skin Type
Normal to Oily Skin
Texture
Gel-based, transforms into a foam
Formulation
Non-drying, non-irritating, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free
Brand
CeraVe
Vaseline

Key Highlights

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Vaseline Original Petroleum JellyWinner
🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
💰 Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
🎯 Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight
💧 Excellent for extremely dry skin when layered

Topic Battles

Facial Cleanser: 0|Tied: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 1
Ingredients
Petroleum Jelly wins
Facial Cleanser
Petroleum Jelly
67%
Value
Facial Cleanser
100%
Petroleum Jelly
100%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 2 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Best Praise
+2 pts
Thank you, the routine suggestions are really helpful and ill give it a shot! I dont think i can swing the olaplex but ill look into similar products. The cerave sounds perfect. I didnt have a good understanding of scalp health either, so i really appreciate the info and the help
r/curlyhair
View
Top Criticism
+1 pts
that's how ceraVE did me i used it for 2 days and it cooked the back of my head flakes everywhere i was about to go to a dermatologist about it but then hopped off and it went away pretty quickly
r/curlyhair
View
2 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly

Best Praise
+49 pts
My dermatologist won’t let me put anything on my face after any minor surgery by Vaseline. Not even aquapore- just Vaseline. My skin healed so fast. Supposedly to remove stitches it take 4-7bdays, but my skin healed up so fast they have to remove the stitches in 3 days tops. Any wound, dryness - this is all that doctors recommend. My mom also swears that putting light Vaseline on your face and rinsing it before you get out of the shower and applying make up after, your make up will be vibrant and last longer. She was an actress in the 70s and this is how the production make up artist does her make up.
r/SkincareAddiction
View
Top Criticism
+11 pts
I guess whoever who hasn't tried it yet, give it a go . But I've since learned during the winter trying to combat dry air, that dabbing a a little Vaseline a bit around my face, causes my face to break out like crazy the next day. Oh the night of, it is shiny and moist and lovely. But the next day, big ol bright red zits
r/SkincareAddiction
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
$10$15$20Jun '25Jun '25Jul '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Sep '25Oct '25Jan '26May '26Low: $14.1Low: $5.97Current: $16.97Current: $9.99
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
All-time low: $10.43(2019-10)
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
All-time low: $2.29(2022-05)

Which is Better?

Too Close to Call

Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (73% vs 73%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.

Why Facial Cleanser
    Why Petroleum Jelly
    • 🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
    • ⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
    • More discussed (1,009 vs 14)

    ❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

    Sentiment Breakdown

    21%Positive
    Positive
    21%
    Neutral
    65%
    Negative
    14%
    Based on 14 Reddit opinions

    Sentiment Breakdown

    28%Positive
    Positive
    28%
    Neutral
    62%
    Negative
    10%
    Based on 1,009 Reddit opinions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is better, CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
    Based on 1,023 Reddit comments, both are similarly rated at 73% and 73% positive - too close to call a clear winner.
    Should I buy CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
    Both have similar approval ratings (73% vs 73%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
    What do Redditors love about CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser?
    CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser has 14 mentions on Reddit with 73% positive sentiment. Users consistently recommend it based on real ownership experiences.
    What do Redditors say about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
    Reddit users highlight: Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor. Heals skin fast and effectively. Works as an effective, affordable occlusive. With 1,009 mentions and 73% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
    How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
    This comparison analyzed 1,023 Reddit comments: 14 about CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and 1,009 about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly. Data was sourced from Curly hair products community discussions.
    How accurate are these ratings?
    Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
    Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
    Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

    392 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/7/2026