I think the last time I shopped at CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid, or Duane Reade for beauty products was in 2014...a whopping 4 years ago! I hadn't found any beauty product I genuinely loved and would repurchase even once during that 4 year period. Yet it took me only one visit to the drugstore last year to find that item I would repurchase not just once but a total of six times thus far. A single lotion got me being a product loyalist for almost a year. Naturally, I grew curious about any other possible skincare gems the brand might have.
CeraVe has products in three main categories: cleansers, moisturizers (lotions, creams, and balms included), and sunscreen. Their entire brand is based on ceramides—3 to be exact...1, 3, and 6-II—claiming to "keep skin soft all day" with their patented technology. They want to help replenish the ceramides (lipids/fat naturally "gluing" our skin together) back to essentially re-strengthen the skin's barrier. It is a mighty claim to make but it seems to work well for many as I have found in the beauty subreddits.
I guess this isn't a true "Basics with CeraVe" post. I chose not to try any of their sunscreens. In my defense, I read reviews and searched swatch photos and many said the mineral-based UV protectors gives an unfortunately intense white cast despite the "InvisibleZinc" technology. But in terms of trying a different variety of skin care products CeraVe has, a Hydrating Facial Cleanser, a PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, and an Eye Repair Cream isn't a bad representation of the necessities.
***Testing this new combo-review format out. I am not sure I quite like how long it is, but couldn't figure out how to group things to logically make sense while being condensed for this style of post.
CerVe's Description:
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, effectively cleanses and hydrates without disrupting the protective skin barrier. This non-foaming lotion, with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, gently removes dirt and oil while increasing skin hydration after just one use. Fragrance free formula is suitable for sensitive skin.
MVE® Delivery Technology
Controlled release for 24 hour hydration
Hyaluronic Acid
Helps retain skin's natural moisture
Non-Comedogenic
Won't clog pores
Ceramides
All CeraVe products contain the vital ceramides healthy skin needs to help restore and maintain its natural protective barrier.
Fragrance Free
To avoid fragrance irritation
Type of skin
Normal to dry
Areas of concern
Dry skin, facial cleansing, itchy skin, National Eczema Association accepted, psoriasis prone skin care
Directions
Wet skin with lukewarm water. Massage cleanser into skin in a gentle, circular motion. Rinse.
Ingredients
PURIFIED WATER, GLYCERIN, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CERAMIDE 3, CERAMIDE 6-II, CERAMIDE 1, HYALURONIC ACID, CHOLESTEROL, POLYOXYL 40 STEARATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, POLYSORBATE 20, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, DISODIUM EDTA, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, CARBOMER, XANTHAN GUM
Cleanser 355 ml / 12 fl oz
CVS & Walgreens: USD $13.99
Amazon: USD $12.39+
Target: USD $10.99
Packaging
Opaque white bottle with a pump. Nothing extraordinary, just gets the job done. I would prefer if the packaging was a tad more translucent if not clear so that I could physically see how much product is left in the bottle. The biggest gripe I have with it is when dried-up cleanser clogs the pump opening, it will cause the product to fly in unpredictable directions during the next squirt.Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
Translucent gel-lotion type cleanser that spreads very easily and doesn't have a scent. It is very lightweight and washes away with little to no effort on clean skin. This is not a foaming cleanser. There is no lather whatsoever so skin never feels tight or dry.How I Apply
Use mostly in the AM after I wake up (when I still washed with cleanser in the mornings). When in the PM, after a cleansing oil or balm.With wet hands, pump 2-3 times. Rub the product around in my palms first. Then gently massage my face with my hands. Rinse well with water.
Thoughts & Recommendations
I don't think I am ready for non-foaming cleansers. I understand why the Hydrating Facial Cleanser is so beloved by sensitive and drier skin people. It isn't stripping and makes my skin feel soft after a wash. It isn't irritating to rub the product around either.My brain's connection to "clean" is too strongly linked to lather and bubbles, even if just a little bit. Whenever I use the CeraVe cleanser as a second-step cleanse, I always feel the need to follow up with a cotton round and toner to wipe off "residue". I say in quotes because there isn't ever anything on the pad. Then again...cleansing oils and balms never failed me before; the second-cleanse is just to remove possible oil/balm residue.
Since switching back to a foaming facial cleanser, I have been using the Cerave Hydrating cleanser as a hand cleanser instead for the past few months. My hands get unbearably dry every winter. Using foaming soaps too often only exasperates the crackly tight skin. The biggest challenge I face with the Hydrating Facial Cleanser is against water resistant (mineral) sunscreens. The gel seems to help to unglue the sunscreen from my hands but the lack of a foaming agent means the sunscreen doesn't really lift off from my skin and therefore doesn't wash away with water. If this makes any sense. It is like I rub something that doesn't sink in to my skin around (vaseline-lotion-esque) and then expect it to rinse cleanly. Just doesn't work that way. I always have to thoroughly wipe the remaining residue off with a towel.
That being said, I don't completely hate the product. It just isn't my favorite. I have found a use for it but probably won't run out to the store and stockpile if the bottle is gone.
CerVe's Description:
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion effectively moisturizes and helps to restore the protective skin barrier of the face and neck. This lightweight, non-greasy lotion, with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, provides all day hydration after just one use. Fragrance free formula is suitable for sensitive skin.
MVE® Delivery Technology
Controlled release for all night hydration
Niacinamide
Helps calm skin
Non-Comedogenic
Won't clog pores
Ceramides
All CeraVe products contain the vital ceramides healthy skin needs to help restore and maintain its natural protective barrier.
Type of skin
Normal to dry
Areas of concern
Acne prone skin care, dry skin
Directions
Apply liberally to face and neck at night, or as directed by a physician.
Ingredients
PURIFIED WATER, GLYCERIN, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDES, NIACINAMIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CERAMIDE 3, CERAMIDE 6-II, CERAMIDE 1, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, HYALURONIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, DIMETHICONE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, CETEARETH-20, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE, CHOLESTEROL, XANTHAN GUM, CARBOMER, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN
Lotion 89 ml / 3 fl oz
CVS, Walgreens, & Target: USD $16.49+
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Packaging
Opaque white bottle with a twist-to-lock pump. I've bought a few bottles of these and some had a white neck and others had a blue one. I am not sure if that is because one is a newer packaging or not.Again, like the cleanser bottle, it is impossible to see through the packaging (even when held up to the light). The pump dispensing tube doesn't fully reach the bottom either. The only way to find out how much is leftover at the bottom of the bottle when nothing pumps out anymore is to cut it open. Luckily the plastic isn't too difficult to hack through with a box cutter knife. Nonetheless, I am just glad this isn't sold in a jar format.
A bottle lasts me around 1-1.5 months with twice-daily usage.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
White cream straight out of the bottle; becomes clear as it is worked into the skin. It is very lightweight and has a slippery quality to it (possibly from the dimethicone). Once the lotion is absorbed, it leaves behind a matte-ish finish in the sense that there is no residue or tack but not in the sense that it is completely shine-free.The lotion leaves skin wherever it is applied to immediately feeling soft. There isn't any scent to the lotion; the ingredients list doesn't show any added fragrance or essential oils.
How I Apply
Squirt 4-6 pumps' worth of lotion (more or less: a pump for each cheek, forehead, chin, and two for my neck) into my palms or directly onto my skin. Spread evenly and then pat.Use as a hand lotion.
I apply the moisturizer both day and night. There doesn't seem to be any ingredients in it that are sunlight sensitive so I don't see why it can't be used in the daytime as well. Plus, I prefer to use a separate sunscreen so I know for sure I sufficiently cover my face with both cream and SPF.
Thoughts & Recommendations
CeraVe took me by surprise, 100%. Even though I bought it knowing it is a dermatologist recommended product, I have always felt a little indifferent towards drugstore-only skincare.This lotion doesn't have a particularly captivating design and has a rather simple ingredients list; the standouts are obviously niacinamide and the variety of ceramides. But it also lists a silicone and a fair amount of parabens that we've been told are supposedly "bad". Some say those components are pore-clogging and/or could cause cancer. Some say they have received a bad rap and the quoted studies are old or not well supported. For me, I generally tend to avoid both silicones and parabens but I don't completely ban myself from them either.
Aside from the maybe "harmful" ingredients, I have nothing but nice things to say about the CeraVe PM lotion. My skin has never felt softer, even after I cleanse in the mornings with a foaming cleanser. That is saying a lot to how deeply the moisturizer works. I survived a nearly 2-months long cold, nose rubbed raw and all, thanks to the lotion.
I also think the niacinamide helps a lot with keeping my pores less clogged, especially around the nose and right below the lip. I have noticed a dramatic improvement in my overall skin texture after the many months of using the moisturizing lotion. This isn't to say I am completely blemish-free though, but it is at a much better place than it has been in many years.
However, I don't feel like it is as good for dry skin as CeraVe describes it to be. People with very dry skin may find it too lightweight and the moisture not very longlasting. My skin does an ok job at holding onto the lotion for most of the day but once it gets later a night (6pm+) and/or I've been beaten by strong winds, dry patches really shows through and makes my makeup very cakey. I find myself having to layer other products to compensate, especially on my chin area where the flakes are the toughest.
Since I first bought this at CVS last year around May, I have noticed that the PM lotion has increased by USD $1 (USD $15.49 to $16.49) in my local stores. Target also used to list it at about half of CVS' price (~USD $9) but my most recent search shows it is only about ~70% less now. The brand is recently airing more TV commercials and expanding into newer markets (i.e. into the UK) so I guess it may account for some of the new marketing spendings. Luckily the stores that carry CeraVe has frequent deals and manufacturer's coupons.
CerVe's Description:
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream helps to restore the protective skin barrier of the delicate eye area. This fast absorbing, non-greasy lotion, with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness for brighter, smoother looking skin. Fragrance-free formula is suitable for sensitive skin.
Marine & Botanical Complex
Helps reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness
Ophthalmologist Tested
Recognized as safe for use around the eye area
NEA Seal of AcceptanceTM
Accepted by the National Eczema Association
Ceramides
All CeraVe products contain the vital ceramides healthy skin needs to help restore and maintain its natural protective barrier.
Type of skin
Normal to oily, normal to dry
Areas of concern
Dark circles, dry skin, National Eczema Association accepted
Directions
Apply liberally to face and neck at night, or as directed by a physician.
Ingredients
PURIFIED WATER, NIACINAMIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, JOJOBA ESTERS, PEG-20 METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUISTEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, DIMETHICONE, METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUISTEARATE, CERAMIDE 3, CERAMIDE 6-LL, CERAMIDE 1, HYALURONIC ACID, ZINC CITRATE, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (ALMOND) OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, CHRYSANTHELLUM INDICUM EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, EQUISETUM ARVENSE EXTRACT, ASPARAGOPSIS ARMATA EXTRACT, ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, CARBOMER, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, SORBITOL, TRIETHANOLMANIE, LAURETH-4, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, TETRASODIUM EDTA, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, CHOLESTEROL, XANTHAN GUM
Lotion 14.2 ml / 0.5 fl oz
CVS & Walgreens: USD $16.99+
Target: USD $14.99
Amazon: USD $13.99
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Packaging
Opaque squeeze tube with a twist off cap and a precision tip nozzle. I don't mind the lack of transparentness since the packaging is malleable. I easily can feel how much product is left by utilizing the tube squeezing contraptions.I have come to appreciate the fact that an eye product comes in a tube format and not a jar. I also love the pointed tip as opposed to a typical blunt end found in other tubular container goods.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
Following the theme of all other CeraVe products...their eye cream is also a bit white but the translucent stiff cream eventually blends out clear. There is no scent and is also very lightweight.The cream can come out sort of curdle-y. Sometimes there are spots in the tube where the formulation is a little separated and bits of liquid squirts out along with the lotion.
How I Apply
Squeeze the cream directly onto my undereye area, following the dark circle U shape. Use my ring finger to lightly press down on the cream to break it down. Gently rub and tap the product in.Thoughts & Recommendations
The Eye Repair Cream is, disappointing to say, just average. It is a very bare-boned eye cream and great for those who just want an extra layer of hydration under the eyes, but I don't think it does what the brand says it would do (reduce dark circles, brighten, and smooth). Granted, I did not decide to buy this eye cream because of the promised benefits. I just wanted something moisturizing for the under eyes. Even still the amount of hydration isn't mindblowing. Okay not great. Definitely not enough for very dry skin types.For the price, I think the PM Lotion does an equally good job and costs the same if not less (depending on the vendor) while offering more product. The texture isn't the best either. The biggest thing it has going for it is the packaging. An overall pass from me.