{"id":605213131058,"title":"CeraVe vs. Cetaphil: Which has Cleaner Ingredients?","created_at":"2023-04-07T23:20:49-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"CeraVe vs. Cetaphil: Which has Cleaner Ingredients?\",\n \"keywords\": \"cerave, cetaphil, cerave vs cetaphil, cetaphil vs cerave, cerave or cetaphil, is cerave or cetaphil better\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in the face wash and moisturizer sold by Cetaphil and CeraVe to give our take on which brand is the better option in terms of quality. We also provide a cost breakdown to share which brand is more affordable.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/cerave-vs-cetaphil\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Nely Aldrich\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.D.\",\n \"FAAD\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/nely-aldrich\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.healthgrades.com\/physician\/dr-nely-aldrich-gf53b\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nely-aldrich-16b99530\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"skincare, anti-aging, wrinkles, acne, moisturizer, clinical research, clinical trials, hair, aging, sunscreen, soap\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center\",\n \"Northeast Ohio Medical University\",\n \"Kent State University\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n },\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/CeraVe_vs_Cetaphil_Thumbnail.png?v=1680924330\",\n\"width\": \"1725\",\n\"height\": \"1725\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21982351\/\", \n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17147561\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/drmtlgy-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3583886\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23508773\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5796020\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17388926\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/monat-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2472232\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18498456\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32387382\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30287361\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11896774\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24471735\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Daily Facial Cleanser\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"niacinamide\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"fragrance\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"CeraVe Foaming Cleanser\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"ceramides\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Hyram\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Vanita Rattan\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"shea butter\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"caffeine\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"BHT\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-04-07\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/CeraVe_vs_Cetaphil_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1680923904\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eC\u003c\/span\u003eeraVe and Cetaphil are two of the most popular skincare brands. Both are sold online and also at many drug stores and big box chains.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut which brand uses cleaner ingredients? Which is a better value for the money? How do real users compare the two brands? And do we recommend either brand?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we compare the best-selling products from CeraVe and Cetaphil in two categories: face wash and moisturizer. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll analyze the ingredients in both categories for both brands to give our take on which has cleaner ingredients, and we’ll provide a cost breakdown to compare value.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also feature real, unsponsored user reviews comparing CeraVe and Cetaphil.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFace Wash Comparison: Which Brand Wins?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Cetaphil_Face_Wash_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1680923920\" alt=\"Cetaphil face wash ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in Cetaphil’s face wash, called Daily Facial Cleanser, are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis formulation does have some research-backed ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePanthenol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a type of B-vitamin that was shown in a 2011 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21982351\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to improve skin moisture content.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNiacinamide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another type of B-vitamin that was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17147561\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to be effective “for use in disorders of epidermal barrier function, for ageing skin, for improving pigmentary disorders and for use on skin prone to acne.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnfortunately, it also contains two additive ingredients we consider questionable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSodium benzoate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a synthetic preservative, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003efragrance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e may be harmful to human health according to a 2016 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how does this formulation compare to CeraVe? We’ll analyze the ingredients in CeraVe’s face wash, called CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, shown below:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/CeraVe_Foaming_Cleanser_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1680923942\" alt=\"CeraVe face wash ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis formulation contains more active ingredients we consider to be effective than Cetaphil’s face wash.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCeramide NP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eCeramide AP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eCeramide EOP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are members of a class of chemical compounds called ceramides, and as we referenced in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/drmtlgy-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDRMTLGY reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article, ceramides are clinically shown to improve skin moisturization and repair the skin barrier.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHyaluronic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a potent anti-aging ingredient according to a 2012 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3583886\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNiacinamide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is also included in this product, and we reviewed its benefits in the previous ingredient analysis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLike the Cetaphil product, there are two additive ingredients in this face wash that we consider questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethylparaben\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003epropylparaben\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are part of a class of compounds called parabens, and a 2013 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23508773\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e outlined the potential health risks of paraben use. These compounds have been associated with cancer development in clinical studies but a link has not been conclusively proven.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ebecause both Cetaphil’s face wash and CeraVe’s face wash contain two additive ingredients we consider questionable, but CeraVe contains more effective active ingredients, we consider CeraVe’s face wash the better choice.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users compare the two brands? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored User Reviews on CeraVe vs. Cetaphil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA popular YouTube creator named Hyram compared Cetaphil and CeraVe in a video with over 4 million views:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xA-BxSKV0aU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA doctor named Vanita Rattan compared the two brands for skin of color:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ML-PhvSn0hg\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMoisturizer Comparison: Which Brand Wins?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Cetaphil_Moisturizer_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1680923980\" alt=\"Cetaphil moisturizer ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in Cetaphil’s facial moisturizer, called Redness Relieving Night Moisturizer, are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a large number of active ingredients in this product we consider effective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eShea butter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e can aid skin barrier repair, according to a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5796020\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCaffeine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17388926\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinically shown\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to protect the skin from UV damage when applied topically.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSunflower seed oil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e can improve skin barrier function, as we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/monat-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMonat reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article on another skincare brand containing this ingredient.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSodium hyaluronate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eceramide NP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003epanthenol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eniacinamide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e were all shown to be effective ingredients in the previous section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis product only contains one inactive ingredient that we consider questionable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBHT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a synthetic preservative, and one of the chemical compounds it’s broken down to in the body was described as a “tumor promoter” in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2472232\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCarcinogenesis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how does this formulation compare to CeraVe? We’ll analyze the ingredients in CeraVe’s moisturizer, called CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion, shown below:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/CeraVe_Moisturizer_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1680923997\" alt=\"CeraVe moisturizer ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGlycerin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e can improve skin moisture content by around 15% according to a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18498456\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe remaining active ingredients in this formulation that we consider effective are the same as those in CeraVe’s face wash: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eceramide NP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eceramide AP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eceramide EOP\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eniacinamide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ehyaluronic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhenoxyethanol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is the only ingredient in this formulation we consider questionable, as this preservative shown in a 2020 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32387382\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to be toxic to human cells.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall, because both moisturizers contain one questionable additive ingredient but Cetaphil’s moisturizer contains one more effective active ingredient, we consider Cetaphil’s moisturizer to be the slightly better choice.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do these products compare on price? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs CeraVe or Cetaphil Better-Priced?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the cheapest Amazon prices for all four of the products reviewed in this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCetaphil Face Wash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$11.97\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/43jySRB\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCeraVe Face Wash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e: $21.99 (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3KkuIjI\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCetaphil Moisturizer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e: $13.99 (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3KIf4jp\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCeraVe Moisturizer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$18.37\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/417YS0e\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe face washes are a similar size, so Cetaphil is the better-priced option. While Cetaphil’s facial moisturizer is slightly cheaper overall, it’s significantly smaller, making CeraVe the better value.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCeraVe’s facial moisturizer costs only $0.97 per ounce, while Cetaphil’s costs over $8 per ounce.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Skincare Picks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Skincare_Products_Image_Optimized.png?v=1664754145\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are skincare products that contain ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality generally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"http:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=155\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=2077\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnnie Mak Vitamin C Serum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is our top skin cream pick because of its effective and clean formulation. It contains \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ehyaluronic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which was described as a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"skin-rejuvenating biomedicine\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30287361\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"http:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=155\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=2077\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e to the product page on the official brand's website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"http:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=159\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=2174\"\u003eHydraglow\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is our top moisturizer pick.\u003c\/span\u003e It features \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ebakuchiol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24471735\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"clinically proven to have anti-aging effects.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can purchase Hydraglow at the secure checkout below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\u003c!--\n.katalys-iframe-container {\n position: relative;\n width: auto;\n height: 100%;\n max-height: 420px;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n .katalys-iframe-container::after {\n display: inline-block;\n content: \"\";\n padding-bottom: 58.82%;\n }\n .katalys-iframe-container iframe {\n position: absolute;\n width: 100%;\n height: 100%;\n }\n @media (max-width: 660px) {\n .katalys-iframe-container {\n width: 300px;\n height: 600px;\n max-height: 600px;\n margin: 0 auto;\n }\n .katalys-iframe-container::after {\n padding-bottom: 0%;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n }\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"katalys-iframe-container\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\u003ciframe allow=\"payment\" src=\"https:\/\/1o.io\/checkouts\/ffccd0c3-b4bc-4d88-aea3-38e8de7f1296\/#placementId=cerave-vs-cetaphil\/placementId2=HydraGlow\/placementId3=inline\" style=\"margin: auto; border: none; width: 100%; height: 100%;\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe only oral supplement we recommend for skin quality improvement is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/c\/3271428\/1278011\/9221\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBulletproof Collagen Powder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOral \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ecollagen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e supplementation was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJournal of Drugs in Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eto improve visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Powder \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/c\/3271428\/1278011\/9221\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e to the product page on the brand's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNone of the products recommended in this section contain additive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCeraVe and Cetaphil are both high-quality skincare brands, and all four products we analyzed in this article we consider likely to be effective due to the multitude of research-backed active ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe recommend CeraVe’s face wash over Cetaphil’s due to more active ingredients we deem likely effective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe recommend Cetaphil’s moisturizer over CeraVe’s for the same reason.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost online customer reviews of these brands are highly favorable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-04-07T23:30:45-04:00","updated_at":"2023-07-25T13:14:23-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in the face wash and moisturizer sold by Cetaphil and CeraVe to give our take on which brand is the better option in terms of quality. We also provide a cost breakdown to share which brand is more affordable.","template_suffix":"","handle":"cerave-vs-cetaphil","tags":"_related:skincare"}

CeraVe vs. Cetaphil: Which has Cleaner Ingredients?

CeraVe vs. Cetaphil: Which has Cleaner Ingredients?


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CeraVe and Cetaphil are two of the most popular skincare brands. Both are sold online and also at many drug stores and big box chains.

But which brand uses cleaner ingredients? Which is a better value for the money? How do real users compare the two brands? And do we recommend either brand?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we compare the best-selling products from CeraVe and Cetaphil in two categories: face wash and moisturizer. 

We’ll analyze the ingredients in both categories for both brands to give our take on which has cleaner ingredients, and we’ll provide a cost breakdown to compare value.

We’ll also feature real, unsponsored user reviews comparing CeraVe and Cetaphil.

Face Wash Comparison: Which Brand Wins?

Cetaphil face wash ingredients

The ingredients in Cetaphil’s face wash, called Daily Facial Cleanser, are shown above.

This formulation does have some research-backed ingredients.

Panthenol is a type of B-vitamin that was shown in a 2011 clinical trial to improve skin moisture content.

Niacinamide is another type of B-vitamin that was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology to be effective “for use in disorders of epidermal barrier function, for ageing skin, for improving pigmentary disorders and for use on skin prone to acne.”

Unfortunately, it also contains two additive ingredients we consider questionable.

Sodium benzoate is a synthetic preservative, and fragrance may be harmful to human health according to a 2016 medical review.

But how does this formulation compare to CeraVe? We’ll analyze the ingredients in CeraVe’s face wash, called CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, shown below:

CeraVe face wash ingredients

This formulation contains more active ingredients we consider to be effective than Cetaphil’s face wash.

Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP and Ceramide EOP are members of a class of chemical compounds called ceramides, and as we referenced in our DRMTLGY reviews article, ceramides are clinically shown to improve skin moisturization and repair the skin barrier.

Hyaluronic acid is a potent anti-aging ingredient according to a 2012 medical review.

Niacinamide is also included in this product, and we reviewed its benefits in the previous ingredient analysis.

Like the Cetaphil product, there are two additive ingredients in this face wash that we consider questionable from a health perspective.

Methylparaben and propylparaben are part of a class of compounds called parabens, and a 2013 medical review outlined the potential health risks of paraben use. These compounds have been associated with cancer development in clinical studies but a link has not been conclusively proven.

Overall, because both Cetaphil’s face wash and CeraVe’s face wash contain two additive ingredients we consider questionable, but CeraVe contains more effective active ingredients, we consider CeraVe’s face wash the better choice.

But how do real users compare the two brands? We’ll review in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored User Reviews on CeraVe vs. Cetaphil

A popular YouTube creator named Hyram compared Cetaphil and CeraVe in a video with over 4 million views:

A doctor named Vanita Rattan compared the two brands for skin of color:

Moisturizer Comparison: Which Brand Wins?

Cetaphil moisturizer ingredients

The ingredients in Cetaphil’s facial moisturizer, called Redness Relieving Night Moisturizer, are shown above.

There are a large number of active ingredients in this product we consider effective.

Shea butter can aid skin barrier repair, according to a medical review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Caffeine is clinically shown to protect the skin from UV damage when applied topically.

Sunflower seed oil can improve skin barrier function, as we documented in our Monat reviews article on another skincare brand containing this ingredient.

Sodium hyaluronate, ceramide NP, panthenol and niacinamide were all shown to be effective ingredients in the previous section.

This product only contains one inactive ingredient that we consider questionable.

BHT is a synthetic preservative, and one of the chemical compounds it’s broken down to in the body was described as a “tumor promoter” in a clinical trial published in the Carcinogenesis journal.

But how does this formulation compare to CeraVe? We’ll analyze the ingredients in CeraVe’s moisturizer, called CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion, shown below:

CeraVe moisturizer ingredients

Glycerin can improve skin moisture content by around 15% according to a clinical trial published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.

The remaining active ingredients in this formulation that we consider effective are the same as those in CeraVe’s face wash: ceramide NP, ceramide AP, ceramide EOP, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Phenoxyethanol is the only ingredient in this formulation we consider questionable, as this preservative shown in a 2020 clinical trial to be toxic to human cells.

Overall, because both moisturizers contain one questionable additive ingredient but Cetaphil’s moisturizer contains one more effective active ingredient, we consider Cetaphil’s moisturizer to be the slightly better choice.

But how do these products compare on price? We’ll review in the next section.

Is CeraVe or Cetaphil Better-Priced?

Here are the cheapest Amazon prices for all four of the products reviewed in this article.

Cetaphil Face Wash: $11.97 (link to official Amazon listing)

CeraVe Face Wash: $21.99 (link to official Amazon listing)

Cetaphil Moisturizer: $13.99 (link to official Amazon listing)

CeraVe Moisturizer: $18.37 (link to official Amazon listing)

The face washes are a similar size, so Cetaphil is the better-priced option. While Cetaphil’s facial moisturizer is slightly cheaper overall, it’s significantly smaller, making CeraVe the better value.

CeraVe’s facial moisturizer costs only $0.97 per ounce, while Cetaphil’s costs over $8 per ounce.

Our Clean Skincare Picks

There are skincare products that contain ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality generally.

Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top skin cream pick because of its effective and clean formulation. It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.

Interested consumers can check out Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.

Hydraglow is our top moisturizer pick. It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects."

Interested consumers can purchase Hydraglow at the secure checkout below:

The only oral supplement we recommend for skin quality improvement is Bulletproof Collagen Powder.

Oral collagen supplementation was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to improve visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Powder at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.

None of the products recommended in this section contain additive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.

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Conclusion

CeraVe and Cetaphil are both high-quality skincare brands, and all four products we analyzed in this article we consider likely to be effective due to the multitude of research-backed active ingredients.

We recommend CeraVe’s face wash over Cetaphil’s due to more active ingredients we deem likely effective.

We recommend Cetaphil’s moisturizer over CeraVe’s for the same reason.

Most online customer reviews of these brands are highly favorable.