CeraVe Moisturizers Review

Index of Contents →

Share this article

Watch this on YouTube.

What Are Ceramides?

Ceramides are the star ingredients in Cerave’s skincare line, and for good reason. These naturally occurring fats help reinforce your skin’s protective barrier, lock in moisture, and minimize water loss—key steps in keeping your skin smooth and hydrated. But you might wonder whether adding ceramides to a daily moisturizer makes any real difference for your skin.

Do Ceramides Really Work?

Research suggests that ceramides can restore a weakened skin barrier, increase hydration, and ease dryness. That sounds promising, of course, but there’s an important nuance to keep in mind.

Most studies on ceramides focus on people with conditions like eczema or dermatitis, where ceramide levels in the skin are often reduced. In these situations, replenishing ceramides can noticeably improve hydration and help relieve symptoms. Some research even explores ceramides as oral supplements, showing potential benefits for skin hydration—but for now, let’s stick to topical creams and lotions.

Is CeraVe Worth It?

If you have eczema or atopic dermatitis, ceramide-rich products like those from Cerave can be especially helpful. But what if your skin is generally healthy and simply feels dry?

One small study found that moisturizers containing ceramides kept skin hydrated slightly longer—up to 24 hours—compared to standard moisturizers. Still, the difference was modest, and the study itself was funded by the company that made the ceramide cream.

So what does that mean for you? If your dry skin stems from ceramide depletion, as it often does with eczema, reaching for a ceramide-focused formula makes sense. However, if your skin barrier is already healthy and well supplied with ceramides, the added benefit is much less clear. And when your goal is simply to keep normal skin moisturized, a well-formulated non-ceramide moisturizer can work just as effectively.

Cerave Comparisons

Cerave has earned a strong reputation for dependable, no-nonsense skincare, but with so many formulas on the shelf, it can be hard to figure out which one is right for you.

cerave-moisturizer-review — Comparing CeraVe daily moisturizers

In this section, we’re breaking down their everyday moisturizing lotions so you can easily compare the textures, ingredients, and benefits—and ultimately choose the best fit for your skin.

Moisturizing vs Daily vs Hyaluronic Acid

At first glance, the Daily Moisturizing Lotion in the pump bottle might look identical to the Moisturizing Lotion in the tub. But once you look closer, you’ll notice a few meaningful differences.

The Daily Moisturizing Lotion includes hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid—a smaller, easier-to-absorb form of hyaluronic acid that can deliver hydration deeper into the skin. The Moisturizing Lotion, however, uses petroleum jelly to seal in the moisture already sitting on your skin. Because of that, it works especially well right after a shower, when your skin is naturally more hydrated.

In practice, the Daily Lotion feels light and absorbs quickly, although you may find yourself reapplying it more often. The tub-style Moisturizing Lotion feels heavier and richer but tends to last longer on the skin.

There are also differences in preservatives. The Daily Lotion contains parabens, which are generally considered safe in small amounts but have sparked concern for their potential links to hormone disruption. Meanwhile, the Moisturizing Lotion uses phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin, which are less controversial in that area but may irritate sensitive skin. So if long-term safety is top of mind—and you don’t react to these ingredients—the tub formula may feel like the safer choice.

Now let’s look at Cerave’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Formulation-wise, it lines up more closely with the Daily Lotion. It’s designed to feel lightweight and silky thanks to ingredients like cetearyl ethylhexanoate and isopropyl myristate. Despite its name, the serum uses sodium hyaluronate rather than hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, so it provides more surface-level hydration. What truly sets it apart is its Vitamin B5 content, which offers mild soothing and wound-healing benefits. Honestly, calling it a “Vitamin B5 Serum” might be more accurate.

However, the serum comes at a steep price—around $20 per ounce—while both lotions cost roughly $1 per ounce. Unless you specifically want the added Vitamin B5, the lotions deliver better hydration at a far more affordable price.

Moisturizing vs Ultra-Light vs Oil Control

So how do Cerave’s Ultra-Light Moisturizing Cream and Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream compare? Let’s walk through the differences.

The Ultra-Light Moisturizing Cream targets oily and combination skin. It includes niacinamide, a standout ingredient that helps regulate oil production, calm inflammation, and reduce breakouts. Moisturizers like isononyl isononanoate and Biosaccharide Gum-1 give this cream its silky, lightweight feel. These ingredients hydrate the skin’s surface but don’t offer deep, long-lasting moisturization. Meanwhile, dimethicone crosspolymer and silica help absorb excess oil and leave a smooth, matte finish—ideal if you want to keep shine at bay.

The Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream builds on this concept with even stronger oil-absorbing power. It uses similarly lightweight ingredients but adds starch to soak up additional oil throughout the day. If long-lasting shine control is your goal, this formula performs better than the Ultra-Light version.

Both moisturizers rely on niacinamide to target oil production at the source, while the rest of the formula helps temporarily reduce shine. Just keep in mind that neither option provides the deeper hydration you’ll get from Cerave’s traditional moisturizing lotions.

In terms of price, the Ultra-Light Moisturizing Cream runs about $8 per ounce, and the Oil Control Gel-Cream costs around $7 per ounce. For oily or shine-prone skin, both are solid choices, with the Gel-Cream offering a stronger matte effect.

Moisturizing vs Eye Repair

Now let’s talk about Cerave’s Eye Repair Cream—specifically, whether it’s worth the upgrade from your regular moisturizer.

This formula does include niacinamide, which can improve the look of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also features plant-based oils that add surface-level hydration and a slight sheen, creating a more refreshed appearance under the eyes. The trade-off is that these oils don’t penetrate deeply, and they may not absorb as seamlessly into the skin.

The Eye Repair Cream also contains botanical extracts like aloe, which is one of the few with solid evidence supporting its soothing benefits. However, most of the other extracts lack strong research, and the small amounts included in the formula mean their overall impact will be minimal.

Ultimately, niacinamide is the most effective ingredient here—and you can find it in many other products that don’t carry the higher price tag of an eye-specific formula.

If you prefer a lightweight cream that adds a subtle glow under the eyes, this product isn’t a bad pick. But if you’re already using a moisturizer that contains niacinamide, you may not notice a major difference. It’s also one of Cerave’s priciest items at $30 per ounce.

Dr. Brian’s Review

Overall, Cerave shines the brightest for people dealing with eczema or dermatitis. In my opinion, their strongest products are the original Moisturizer and the Daily Moisturizer. The original is excellent for dry, compromised skin, while the Daily Moisturizer offers a lighter, everyday option. The only downside is the parabens in the Daily formula, which may concern some users—but if that doesn’t bother you, it’s a reliable, affordable choice.

For oily skin, both the Ultra-Light Moisturizer and the Oil Control Gel-Cream perform well, with the Ultra-Light offering a gentler touch and the Gel-Cream delivering a longer-lasting matte finish. Just remember that both formulas mainly hydrate the surface and may require more frequent application.

Where Cerave falls short, in my view, is with the Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum and the Eye Repair Cream. The Hydrating Serum functions more like a lightweight moisturizer, with Vitamin B5 as its most notable benefit—but it’s not transformative. The Eye Repair Cream is similarly underwhelming, acting as a lightly oily moisturizer with botanical extracts that don’t offer much real-world impact despite sounding impressive on the label.

Top supplement choices

Cerave Daily Moisture – topically
Cerave Eye Repair – topically
Cerave Hyaluronic Acid – topically
Cerave Moisturizer – topically
Cerave Oil Control – topically
Cerave Ultra-light – topically
Niacinamide (cream) – topically

Learn more about

Niacinamide for Clear Skin

Citations

Di Nardo A, Wertz P, Giannetti A, Seidenari S. Ceramide and cholesterol composition of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1998 Jan;78(1):27-30. doi: 10.1080/00015559850135788. PMID: 9498022.

Draelos ZD, Baalbaki N, Colon G, Dreno B. Ceramide-Containing Adjunctive Skin Care for Skin Barrier Restoration During Acne Vulgaris Treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023 Jun 1;22(6):554-558. doi: 10.36849/JDD.7142. PMID: 37276158.

Huang HC, Chang TM. Ceramide 1 and ceramide 3 act synergistically on skin hydration and the transepidermal water loss of sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin. Int J Dermatol. 2008 Aug;47(8):812-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2008.03687.x. PMID: 18717861.

Kono T, Miyachi Y, Kawashima M. Clinical significance of the water retention and barrier function-improving capabilities of ceramide-containing formulations: A qualitative review. J Dermatol. 2021 Dec;48(12):1807-1816. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.16175. Epub 2021 Oct 1. PMID: 34596254; PMCID: PMC9293121.

Larese Filon F, Maculan P, Crivellaro MA, Mauro M. Effectiveness of a Skin Care Program With a Cream Containing Ceramide C and a Personalized Training for Secondary Prevention of Hand Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2023 Mar-Apr;34(2):127-134. doi: 10.1089/derm.2022.29002.flf. PMID: 36939821; PMCID: PMC10029085.

Lueangarun S, Tragulplaingam P, Sugkraroek S, Tempark T. The 24-hr, 28-day, and 7-day post-moisturizing efficacy of ceramides 1, 3, 6-II containing moisturizing cream compared with hydrophilic cream on skin dryness and barrier disruption in senile xerosis treatment. Dermatol Ther. 2019 Nov;32(6):e13090. doi: 10.1111/dth.13090. Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31585489.

Spada F, Barnes TM, Greive KA. Skin hydration is significantly increased by a cream formulated to mimic the skin’s own natural moisturizing systems. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018 Oct 15;11:491-497. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S177697. PMID: 30410378; PMCID: PMC6197824.

Tsuchiya Y, Ban M, Kishi M, Ono T, Masaki H. Safety and Efficacy of Oral Intake of Ceramide-Containing Acetic Acid Bacteria for Improving the Stratum Corneum Hydration: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study over 12 Weeks. J Oleo Sci. 2020 Nov 1;69(11):1497-1508. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess20115. Epub 2020 Oct 15. PMID: 33055441.

Yazdanparast T, Nasrollahi SA, Firouzabadi LI, Firooz A. A Phase II Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of a Topical Repair Cream Containing Skin-identical Ceramide Complex in Patients with Contact Dermatitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018 Nov;11(11):40-44. Epub 2018 Nov 1. PMID: 30588273; PMCID: PMC6303115.