What do the main ingredients do?
| Ingredient | What it contributes |
|---|---|
| Three ceramides | Help restore and maintain the skin barrier, which keeps moisture in and irritants out. |
| Hyaluronic acid | Attracts moisture to the skin's surface and helps skin retain it. |
| Glycerin | Attracts moisture to the skin. |
| Petrolatum | Forms a physical barrier that helps reduce water loss from the skin. |
| Dimethicone | Conditions skin to improve softness and flexibility. |
CeraVe's MVE delivery system releases moisturising ingredients gradually. The Africa cream is described as providing 24 hour hydration. That describes moisture delivery, not a rule that you must wait a full day before applying more. The cream is intended for dry skin, including sensitive dry skin, and can be used on both the face and body.1
Which ingredient list should you check?
CeraVe updates ingredient lists regularly and directs you to the packaging for the current formula. Besides the headline ingredients, the US cream lists cholesterol, phytosphingosine, phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin. Ingredient names alone do not give you the percentage of each ingredient.2
Do not assume every version has the same preservatives: some CeraVe Moisturizing Cream formulations list methylparaben and propylparaben. Check the pack if you need to avoid a particular ingredient. Niacinamide is not listed in the current US standard cream formula. CeraVe Eczema Relief Moisturizing Cream is a separate product containing niacinamide and 1% colloidal oatmeal as its active skin protectant; its ingredients and treatment directions are not interchangeable with the standard cream.356
Is the cream suitable for sensitive skin?
The standard cream is fragrance free, and the US product is labelled noncomedogenic, meaning formulated not to clog pores. For easily irritated skin, try a small amount on your inner arm for a few days before applying it widely. Fragrance free products can still cause a reaction to another ingredient. A rich cream is not automatically the best texture for an oily face; a lightweight lotion is another option.57
How should you use the cream?
- 1Cleanse your skin. After a bath or shower, apply moisturiser while your skin is still damp.
- 2Apply the cream liberally to your face or body. CeraVe allows use during the day or at night, as often as needed.
- 3In a routine with other products, use the cream after treatment products and before sun protection.
Moisturisers soften and smooth dry skin and help prevent cracking. Morning, bedtime and after bathing are useful application times. Speak to a dermatologist if dryness does not go away or keeps returning, rather than treating persistent dryness as a reason to keep adding cream.4
How do the ingredients in CeraVe cream and lotion compare?
| Feature | US Moisturizing Cream | US Daily Moisturizing Lotion |
|---|---|---|
| Shared ingredients | Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and dimethicone | Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and dimethicone |
| Formula distinction | Contains petrolatum to help seal in moisture | Described as an oil free formula |
| Texture | Rich cream | Lightweight lotion |
| Best reason to choose it | You want a richer moisturiser for normal to dry skin | You prefer a lighter feel, including for normal to oily skin |
Choose between the rich cream and lightweight lotion by texture, not by which name sounds more committed to moisturising. Both support hydration and the skin barrier; the cream adds petrolatum, while the lotion offers a lighter formula.5
Where this answer comes from
- 1Intense Hydration for Healthy Skin | Moisturizersafrica.cerave.com
- 2Moisturizing Creamcerave.com
- 3Moisturizing Cream | Moisturizersafrica.cerave.com
- 4Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Preventionmy.clevelandclinic.org
- 5Moisturizing Creamcerave.com
- 6DailyMed - CERAVE DEVELOPED WITH DERMATOLOGISTS ECZEMA RELIEF MOISTURIZING- colloidal oatmeal creamdailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- 7What To Look for in a Day and Night Face Creamhealth.clevelandclinic.org
