CeraVe’s moisturizing cream is one of the most popular products on the market. The brand describes it as “developed by dermatologists” and “supporting your protective skin barrier.”
But does CeraVe’s moisturizing cream contain research-backed ingredients for moisturizing? Does it have any unhealthy ingredients? What was our Product Tester's experience trying it for a month? And is this product better or worse than other popular moisturizers like Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in CeraVe’s facial moisturizing cream to give our take on whether or not the product is likely to be effective, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also feature our Product Tester's honest experience trying CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for a month (including before-and-after images), and compare the product to other popular moisturizing creams to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Contains many research-backed active ingredients for moisturizing skin
- Contains a preservative combination we consider unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in CeraVe Moisturizing Cream are shown below:
image source: https://www.cerave.com/
Petrolatum is a jelly-like substance that’s commonly used in moisturizers.
It’s the same active ingredient as in Vaseline, and it’s been shown in a 2016 clinical trial to provide skin barrier repair and antimicrobial effects.
Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP and Ceramide EOP are all ceramides, and as we documented in our review of CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, this class of compounds (from which the brand gets its name) are clinically shown to improve skin hydration and repair the skin barrier.
Sodium hyaluronate is one of the most well-studied anti-aging ingredients. A medical review published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules found that this ingredient can significantly increase skin tightness and significantly reduce wrinkles.
Tocopherol, also known as vitamin E, is another effective ingredient. It’s clinically proven to have photoprotective effects, which means it can help protect the skin from the damaging effects of UV exposure.
While there are clearly a number of effective ingredients in CeraVe facial moisturizer cream, there's also one questionable additive ingredient.
Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative shown to be toxic to human cells in a 2020 clinical trial.
Ethylhexylglycerin is another synthetic preservative that's clinically shown to enhance the toxic effect of phenoxyethanol.
Overall, we consider CeraVe Moisturizing Cream to be well-formulated and likely to be effective for the improvement of skin quality and increase of skin moisture content.
However, we don't currently recommend this product due to the preservative combination described above.
We Tested CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
One of our product testers named Linh Tran tried CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for a month.
Here's her experience:
The cap of the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream squeeze tube snaps open easily and securely closes back in place, so I had no issues with the packaging.
As the package label describes, the formula is fragrance-free and I can confirm there is no odor or fragrance at all.
This product made my skin barrier feel moisturized and protected from drying.
Here's a headshot before my month of testing:
And here's a headshot after my month of testing:
My skin continued to break out but I cannot say for sure whether this effect correlates to the product, or corresponds to unrelated causes to my acne.
In terms of moisturizing effects, this product did as promised.
I deal with dry hands, and this CeraVe Moisturizing Cream also works great as a hand cream to keep my skin supple.
Overall, I would rate CeraVe Moisturizing Cream 8/10 and I would purchase it again.
CeraVe vs. Popular Moisturizers
Here's how CeraVe Moisturizing Cream compares to other popular moisturizing creams in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream
While this cream should effectively moisturize the skin, it contains seven inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy, including synthetic dye Violet 2.
Artificial dyes are clinically shown to be absorbed through the skin, and can harmful effects on health when in the bloodstream.
Winner: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Byoma Moisturizing Rich Cream
Byoma sells a facial moisturizer which is one of the best formulations we've reviewed in the category on Illuminate Health.
This cream contains research-backed active ingredients and is entirely free of unhealthy ingredients.
Winner: Byoma Moisturizing Rich Cream
Tula Moisturizing Cream
Contains a synthetic fragrance ingredient which is clinically shown to be toxic to human cells.
We consider Tula's inactive ingredients to be worse for health than CeraVe's.
Winner: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Our Clean Skincare Pick
MindBodyGreen Best Skin+ is our top anti-aging skin supplement.
It contains orange extract which is clinically shown to increase skin moisturization, skin elasticity and skin radiance.
This supplement also contains astaxanthin which is clinically shown to cause "wrinkle formation reduction."
This supplement is free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Contains research-backed moisturizers
- Contains research-backed skin barrier protecters
- Contains research-backed anti-aging compounds
- Our Product Tester experience skin-moisturizing effects
- Reputable brand
Cons:
- Contains phenoxyethanol
- Contains ethylhexylglycerin
- Didn't resolve our Product Tester's acne
