Which alternative should you choose?
The products compared here are the US Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion and Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, not their sunscreen versions. These are lotions rather than gels, so the texture is part of the swap, not a detail for the packaging department.12
| Difference | Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion | Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Ultra light, oil free lotion that absorbs quickly | Rich but lightweight, non greasy lotion that absorbs quickly |
| Formula | Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, glycerin and hydroxyethyl urea | Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane and five ceramides |
| Fragrance | Labeled fragrance free | No added fragrance in the complete ingredient list |
| Skin types | For all skin types; particularly suited to sensitive combination skin | Designed for sensitive skin; also suitable for oily, dry and combination skin |
| Directions | Apply evenly to the face after cleansing, until absorbed | Apply as needed, day or night |
Choose Cetaphil if your priority is an ultra light, oil free moisturizer, especially for combination skin. Its hyaluronic acid helps attract water and retain moisture. Cetaphil describes immediate hydration and moisture retention for 24 hours, making this a practical option when you want a light daily lotion rather than a thick cream.1
Choose Vanicream if you want a rich but lightweight lotion with ceramides, the fatty components that help skin hold moisture. It contains no botanical extracts or essential oils. Vanicream describes a smooth finish suitable for makeup and permits morning and evening use, so it can fill either moisturizer slot in your routine.23
If your skin is very dry, replacing one light moisturizer with another is not necessarily the right move. A cream or ointment adds more moisture than a lotion. For combination skin, concentrate moisturizer on dry areas rather than automatically applying the same amount to oily areas.3
How to use your replacement
- 1Cleanse gently, then pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it. For dry skin, apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp.
- 2Apply Cetaphil evenly over your face until absorbed, or apply Vanicream as needed. Gently massage the moisturizer into your skin.
- 3If you use a serum with Vanicream, apply the serum first, then the moisturizer.
- 4In the morning, follow with sunscreen before makeup. Use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Vanicream can be used twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. For dry skin generally, reapply moisturizer when your skin feels dry rather than waiting for the next scheduled routine.24
Check for fragrance free, not just unscented
Look for the words "fragrance free" on the packaging, rather than asking the product name to do the ingredient list's job. "Unscented" products can contain chemicals that hide other ingredients' odors, and those chemicals can irritate dry, sensitive skin. Fragrance itself can also irritate dry skin, which makes removing it a useful selection criterion.34
Test the new moisturizer before using it everywhere
For sensitive skin, apply the new moisturizer to a small test spot twice daily for up to 10 days. Choose somewhere the product will not be rubbed or washed away, and leave it on as long as you normally would. If there is no reaction, move to regular use. Sensitive skin can also be oily, dry or combination, so choose the texture for your moisture needs as well as the fragrance status.5
Tell a dermatologist if moisturizer causes burning, stinging or irritation. Seek care if dryness persists despite moisturizing, or becomes painful, cracked or bleeding.34
Where this answer comes from
- 1Daily Hydrating Lotioncetaphil.com
- 2Vanicream™ Daily Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skinvanicream.com
- 3How to pick the right moisturizer for your skinaad.org
- 4Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skinaad.org
- 5Sensitive Skin Awareness Month - Skincarecetaphil.com
