Editor Reviews of CeraVe’s New Shampoos and Conditioners for 2024

CeraVe skincare needs no introduction. It’s loved by dermatologists, praised by editors, and all over social media. What does need an introduction? CeraVe’s first-ever haircare (!!) collection. The brand just launched five hair products—two shampoos, two conditioners, and a 2-in-1—all exclusive to Walmart and all under $10.

Of course the Cosmopolitan beauty team got a sneak peak at the newness first and, in true fashion editor, put the Gentle Hydrating and Anti-Dandruff collections to the test. Keep reading for our honest reviews, along with details on how we tried the products, how they performed, and how our hair looked and felt post-wash.

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The Gentle Hydrating collection details:

CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Shampoo

CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Conditioner

What is it: a sulfate-free shampoo and lightweight hydrating conditioner

What does it cost: $8.97 each

Who it’s for: all hair types (including curls) and dry, sensitive scalps

What’s in the formulas: ceramides, hyaluronic acid

The editor review:

“My colorist is going to hate me for saying this, but I was my hair nearly every day. My fine hair gets oily by day two and when I sweat, I really sweat, so dry shampoo just isn’t a viable option. For this reason (and the general fact that I’m obsessed with all of CeraVe’s skincare products), I was super excited to try the new Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner. They’re designed to keep hair soft and healthy—even if you’re a frequent washer.

At first glance, I didn’t actually think the shampoo would be effective at removing product buildup, sweat, and oil because it’s so creamy, but I was wrong. The formula lathers up a ton and post-rinse my scalp and strands felt clean but not squeaky or straw-like. It is also safe for dyed hair and won’t contribute to color fading, which is a must for me. No notes there.

The conditioner, IMO, is incredibly similar to CeraVe’s iconic Daily Moisturizing Lotion. The texture, feel, packaging—it’s legit like a moisturizing lotion for your hair. Even the ingredient profile—a blend of ceramides, hyaluronic acidand silicones—is similar in both products. While lightweight, the conditioner provides a ton of slip for my fine waves and made my hair feel immediately softer both in the shower and once it was dry. Typically, detangling my hair is a workout but I swear this made combing through knots so much easier.

Overall, this duo is exactly what I expected from CeraVe: well-made basics with good-for-you ingredients that do exactly as they say.” —Lauren Balsamo, deputy beauty director

LAUREN BALSAMO
My air-dried hair after washing with the gentle shampoo + conditioner and using zero other styling products.

The editor review:

“Unlike my fabulous colleague Lauren, I do not wash my hair every day. On average, I wash my 4b hair every 10 to 14 days. But like Lauren, I’m also a major CeraVe fan, so I was pumped to test the new Gentle Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner—especially since it claims to be for all hair types, including kinks and curls like mine.

After some pre-shower detangling, I was ready to try the shampoo. The creamy formulation coated my curls well and felt super gentle as I started to lather it up. I could tell it was doing a good job of clarifying as I watched the murky water go down the drain. I was impressed by its ability to clean my hair without completely striping it of moisture.

Next up, the conditioner. I’m more of a thick, creamy conditioner gal so this lightweight bb was a departure for me. My only real issue was the lack of slip for my hair texture. My curls are tight and dense—especially when wet—so I always look for deep conditioners that have a significant slip in order to keep my hair somewhat detangled throughout the wash/condish process. I will say my hair felt clean and soft when I got out of the shower. It was also nicely prepped for the styling products I used for my braid-out hairstyle.

In the end, this isn’t a line I will be using every time I wash—my tight curls just need a biiiiit more moisture—but I would definitely recommend it to other textured hair folks with looser curls who are looking for a product that is effective but gentle.” —Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large

Julie Wilson
My hair after washing and conditioning with the gentle collection.

The Anti-Dandruff collection details:

CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo

CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Conditioner

CeraVe 2in1 Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo + Conditioner

What is it: a shampoo, conditioner, and 2-in-1

What are the costs: $9.97 each

Who it’s for: any hair type or texture dealing with dandruff and/or itchy scalp

What’s in the formulas: pyrithione zinc, ceramides, niacinamide

The editor review:

“I’m no stranger to dandruff shampoosas I’ve dealt with an itchy, oily, acne-prone scalp that finds itself fighting dandruff every single fall and winter. My problem is that I tend to use said dandruff shampoo until the flakes go away, then switch back to my usual volumizing and nourishing products. And the cycle repeats! But I basically trust CeraVe with my life (their Acne Control Cleanser beats out $$$ formulas for me all the time), so I was willing to see if if their new Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner would change my ways.

As someone with oily roots, I usually choose clear shampoos, since they’re not laden with all the oils and butters that weigh my hair down. This, however, is a creamy, white shampoo with a delicious foamy lather. While it’s free of the two top sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate), it does still contain other strong cleansers, which really help break down buildup and oils. Plus, the included 1 percent pyrithione zinc helps get rid of dandruff plaques and itch. But it also has a mix of lightweight moisturizers—ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide—to help offset any of the potential dryness. As soon as I rinsed this out of my hair, I was shocked at how soft my hair already felt, a strong feat for a dandruff shampoo. As for my scalp? It felt balanced—not itchy or dry or flaky but also not coated in an oily residue either.

As I worked the conditioner into my ends, I immediately felt my hair smooth a lil bit too. This formula is ultra lightweight, which is great for my fine hair. But it still has the necessary ingredients to add detangling slip, shine, and moisture (ahem, ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid). There’s also no goopy texture or funky chemical scent like other dandruff lines I’ve used, which I <3.

Afterward, I blow-dried my hair with no product in—the true test of a shampoo and conditioner’s ability to smooth and detangle for me. My hair had a surprising amount of volume without any additional product, and my roots didn’t feel itchy like usual. And like, look at how soft and shiny my hair is. Reminder: There is no product at all!!! Magic! I think I’ll actually make use of my dandruff shampoo now…” —Beth Gillette, beauty editor

Beth Gillette
The Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner.

Beth Gillette
My hair after washing/conditioning with the dandruff collection and then blow drying without any other leave-ins or stylers.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the best pore-minimizing treatments.

Julie Wilson is the beauty editor-at-large at Cosmopolitan. Previously, July was beauty director at Cosmo and global beauty director at Essence and has held various editorial positions at Huffington Post and Real Simple. She considers herself lucky AF that she gets to play with beauty products for a living and tell dope stories.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from double-chin treatments to LED light therapy tools.

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.