CeraVe currently offers over 70 products delivering therapeutic skincare for all, developed with the expertise of dermatologists. CeraVe has won more seals of approval from the National Eczema Association than any other brand.
If you're looking for a quick answer, Cerave is better for those who deal with dry skin and Cetaphil is more geared towards those with sensitive skin. Not to say they can't work for either skin type, of course. Cetaphil is also the older brand, having been around for longer.
Dermatologist-Approved Skincare
Not only are our products developed with dermatologists, but CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand1.
With its accessible price point and efficacious formulas, CeraVe is one of the most popular drugstore skincare brands. But you might be surprised by how much there truly is to know about the brand—or why its products are highly recommended by both dermatologists and influencers alike.
Cetaphil wins this comparison if you have dry skin. While both are lightweight lotions and CeraVe contains ceramides and sodium hyaluronate, Cetaphil packs in moisturizing and soothing ingredients like avocado oil, panthenol, and vitamin B5, making it an excellent choice for dry skin.
Both CeraVe and Cetaphil are recommended by dermatologists. In fact, dermatologists warn that the real good creams for your skin are the creamy rich creams, with no fragrances and cerave and cetaphil are part of these products.
Overall, there is no clear winner. It just depends on the needs of your own skin. If you experience dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin then CeraVe might be the clear choice. However, if you experience sensitive skin the Cetaphil is the better option.
Dr Vyas agrees, adding that Cerave's short ingredient lists make it especially beneficial to dry and irritation-prone skin types. “Cerave gives you your ceramides, fatty acids, lipids and hyaluronic acid delivering moisture as an instant hit and then a long lasting effect through a clever delivery system.
The product continues to work after it is applied, hydrating your skin all day in just one use. This system—along with our unique combination of skin-identical ceramides—helps replenish your skin's existing ceramides, relieves dry skin by reducing moisture loss, increases hydration and helps restore the skin barrier.
The CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser has an impressive 4.6-star average rating from more than 1,000 verified Amazon reviews. At $15 for 16 ounces, it's a fantastic value and is currently the third bestselling facial cleanser on Amazon. It's also worth noting that CeraVe has the No. 2 spot with its hydrating face wash.
Ingredients (Rating: Bad)
CeraVe doesn't prioritize clean ingredients in their lineup of products, which are full of questionable ingredients we don't recommend. Examples include, but aren't limited to: Parabens (propylparaben, methylparaben) - Found in many products. Silicones - Found in many products.
By far the most popular lotion by this brand is the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, a lightweight oil-free moisturizer that hydrates without feeling heavy or greasy. It's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores, so this CeraVe lotion is safe to use on both your face and your body.
If you have sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea/eczema/psoriasis, this cleanser will sting your skin and /or cause a rash or acne in the very first week. If you have normal skin, it will eventually sensitive your skin and it will thereafter start reacting to PG.
Dermatologists recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for people with acne as it works to cleanse the skin and remove oil, without disrupting the skin's protective barrier. It won't clog pores or dry the skin out, and contains niacinamide and ceramides to help calm and moisturize irritated skin.
And because CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizer is non-comedogenic and won't clog pores, it's ideal for all skin types. Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly.
This moisturizer makes a great option for normal skin due to its lightweight and non-greasy texture and gentle, non-comedogenic formula that provides 24-hour hydration. At nighttime, opt for a moisturizer without sunscreen to support your skin's natural repair processes, such as CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.
However, it can take six to eight weeks to see an improvement,10 so it's important to continue using anti-acne products to achieve the results you want. When looking for a solution, try to choose a simple, yet effective regimen.
No, CeraVe products are not made in China.
The brand manufactures their products in America and then ship them around the world.
CeraVe was created by US dermatologists and is super affordable with its competitors including brands such as Cetaphil and French pharmacy favourites Avene and Bioderma.
CeraVe is a combination of two words : Ceramides, our key ingredient for healthy skin, and MVE, which is our revolutionary delivery system called MultiVesicular Emulsion Technology which releases moisturizing ingredients over the course of 24 hours, layer by layer, to help keep skin soft all day long. #
Cerave Moisturizing Lotion
The combination of ingredients like polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate and cetyl alcohol both can contribute to some pretty serious breakouts. As well propylparaben, shown further down on the extensive ingredients list, is ranked at 7 out of a scale of 9 in regards to safety.
CeraVe's face washes for oily skin and moisturizers for oily skin are formulated with essential ceramides to help restore your skin's protective barrier, which helps your skin hold on to hydration and keep irritants out.
Final Verdict. Sliding into first place, the best face wash overall is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. The dermatologist-approved formula is extra-gentle and super-hydrating, effortlessly dissolving sebum and makeup while reinforcing the skin barrier.
Cetaphil is a gentle skincare brand that has been recommended and trusted by doctors and dermatologists for over 70 years, and is used by millions with sensitive skin around the world to improve the resilience of their skin.
The CeraVe Foaming Cleanser makes an ideal cleanser for sensitive skin as not only is it fragrance-free, but it is also allergy-tested and therefore free from irritants.