Cerave • Moisturizing Cream • Lotions/ Creams

rated 4.4(291 reviews)

Average Rating.4.4
Would buy this product again.85%
Package Quality3.0
Price2.7
Ingredients

rated 5 of 5 lfantu on 6/8/2013 9:09:00 PM more reviews by lfantu

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This product was actually recommended by my dermatologist because I had inflamed, dry, and sensitive skin. The cerave really helped me moisturize my skin and some areas of my face aren't even dry anymore. I only have to apply it around my mouth. I also sometimes apply it on my lips, my eyelids, on my arms and legs for a lotion, and anywhere I get a rash. This is an amazing product that does wonders for people everywhere annoyed of their excema. Thumbs up from me!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 1 of 5 rachrachrach on 6/8/2013 2:51:00 AM more reviews by rachrachrach

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Staying far away from cerave. Broke me out something awful. Thankfully, I always test on my chin and part if my neck, so no break out on my face. Still have lingering pimples a week out. I can't say if its the hydrating or foaming cleanser, or the lotions since I was desperate to try something new to help relieve my super dry skin, neither products helped in that department, either.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 Tay8000 on 5/25/2013 2:43:00 AM more reviews by Tay8000

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I love this moisturizer. I use it every single day. I used to have eczema on my face and around my eyes. This was the only lotion that wouldn't make my eczema burn. And sense eczema needs moisture to help heal it, I think this is what cured it for me. Haven't had an outbreak in over a year but I still use this to make sure it won't come back. I've also had the same jar for a year and a half and still have plenty left. A little goes a long way.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 4 of 5 MariQueen on 5/16/2013 7:40:00 PM more reviews by MariQueen

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I have used CeraVe Cream in my face for well over 3 years. It is absolutely my HG moisturizer.
Background on my skin: My biggest skin concern is my hormonal acne on my chin and jaw. I am not prone to product driven breakouts. My routine (alternating nights of course) consists of: 0.05% Tazorac Gel, a 2.5% BP cleanser/mask, 0.5% Stridex, and Aczone. Retinoids and BP can cause transdermal water loss, so my chin/jaw and the skin around my mouth can get dehydrated. As long as I apply CeraVe 2x a day (in the morning and at night to buffer my Taz and moisturize), my skin looks and feels amazing.
I like how CeraVe doesn't stop working half-way through the day like other moisturizers I've used in the past, and it doesn't make my skin oily or anything, despite the fact that it feels so rich. I've found that it plays well under makeup and with sunscreen.
It might seem really expensive when you see it on the shelf, but a jar will last you for well over a year. The jar packaging could be unhygienic, but I always wash my hands before applying, so it doesn't bother me. I've heard that you can buy tubes of the cream online though.
I use the cream straight during the winter when my skin is stripped dry by the weather, but in the warmer months, I just apply to damp skin, and I can sheer out the cream. I could just buy the lotion, but why waste the money, and honestly, the lotion doesn't sink into my skin or moisturize the same way as the cream, even though the ingredients are the same.
In short, I love love love love love this cream.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 2 of 5 desertheat on 5/3/2013 11:03:00 PM more reviews by desertheat

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I have very dry and sensitive skin. I bought a big jar of Cera Ve moisturizing cream at Wal-Mart and it didn't do much for me. This cream is not moisturizing enough and my skin is still dry. This cream is better suited for normal skin types.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 nhwhazup on 5/3/2013 5:07:00 AM more reviews by nhwhazup

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Love, love, love this cream!

I have dry skin from time to time with recently some eczema patches on my legs and really dry, scaly skin on my upper arms. I tried this cream based on reviews and couldn't be happier. The awful scaly skin on my arms was totally normal in 3 days and 6 applications. The eczema came under control and almost totally gone in a week.

The cream does dry to a matte finish fairly quickly which is actually a bonus. Some other creams leave the skin greasy and leave stains on clothes. Usually I'm just focused on getting the results but this one hits all the marks - great results and great feel.

I also tried both the facial cream with sunscreen and the hand cream. I like the face cream - good moisture, dries quickly and decent sun protection. On the other hand (pardon the pun), I hate the hand cream. Just don't like the feel of it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 cecedaily on 4/25/2013 11:54:00 PM more reviews by cecedaily

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Best lotion ever. Better in the tub than in the pump.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 2 of 5 bonetaapplebum on 4/21/2013 12:39:00 AM more reviews by bonetaapplebum

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Unfortunately unlike some of the dryer skin types on here for which this cream worked wonders, I didn't find this product to be particularly moisturizing at all.

Just to give you an idea of my skin condition: I have persistent dry skin on my body and flaky skin on my face if left un-cleansed even for one night. If I skip moisturizing for a couple of days, the skin on my body (particularly on my legs and upper arms) will develop scaly patches. While this cream sounds awesome in theory and really is packed with some heavy duty emollients and good stuff like cholesterol and ceramics, it goes on really thick with a pasty and waxy consistency (from the dominant ingredients ceteareth and cetearyl alcohol) that isn't too spreadable, gets absorbed within the hour but doesn't leave the skin feeling moisturized, only incredibly heavy and matte.

If you're like me and are looking for a *truly* creamy moisturizer that will leave your skin soft and supple for hours on end, this is not the one. I've decided to stay away from heavy cetyl alcohol (which is too waxy) and dimithicone/petrolatum (basically a layer of film that sits on skin and shielding it from environmental damage, but also inhibits skin's natural secretions and leaves a greasy feeling) and go for a product with moisturizing natural oils like olive and jojoba and emollients like cocoa butter.

So with that said, I've opted for Lush Dream Cream recently and have had amazing results. Of course the downside being that it is ridiculously expensive (a small tub will run you $30 CDN here in Vancouver BC). But if you're not fazed by that sort of thing, I suggest looking up some of the reviews here for Dream Cream and think about giving that a try.

Lastly, if you're determined to try this cream, the packaging is extremely unsanitary (especially if you're using it for your face), which means you have to be extra diligent and wash your hands everytime prior to digging into the tub. Or you could just fill up a plastic pump bottle with it.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 Michamich on 4/20/2013 12:16:00 PM more reviews by Michamich

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I use a light layer of this on my face at night after my acv toner. It feels incredibly soothing and gentle. It absorbs into the skin very quickly and looks matte. Completely non-greasy. I use it under my makeup when my skin is parched. One tub could likely last a full year, and I recommend dispensing it into a smaller pot gradually to reduce contamination of the product. I also use this product to gently exfoliate by putting a dab on a clean, damp washcloth and gently rubbing areas which tend to get flaky. Very useful.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 HowGreatThouArt on 4/11/2013 6:39:00 PM more reviews by HowGreatThouArt

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This is a great all around cream. I originally bought it for my face, but I'm using it on my body as well. On my body, it keeps my arms and legs very soft, moisturized, and healthy looking. It leaves me with a very comfortable feeling throughout the day.
I bought this for my face looking for something that would really moisturize. I have used a lot of creams but they either burn my skin due to fragrance, leave my skin feeling dry, or give my face a greasy look. I had heard good things about this cream, so I decided to give it a try. It's a bit pricey, but I have found that it really does a good job for what it's for.
Upon first using this, I had very dry skin around my mouth. It was reddish in appearance and it was flaky, dry, and inflamed. After using it for a few days, it has completely cleared it up. No more redness, no more harsh sting, no more irritation. This does an incredible job at moisturizing my skin and is very good under makeup as well. I have not experienced any breakouts so far, either.
I will continue to use this. This will last me a long time.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* MaryEllen on 4/9/2013 2:00:00 PM more reviews by MaryEllen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Wow, this cream is really something! Fragrance-free and great for face, hands, and body. My skin feels very comfortably hydrated after using this, but not greasy or occluded. It's also a great eye cream under makeup--no sliding or bleeding of concealer or eye makeup. And you can't beat the price, especially when it's on sale at CVS. I wish you didn't have to buy a pound at a time, but I just put some in smaller jars to keep at my sink, my vanity, and in my kitchen. Great stuff!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 elle09 on 4/6/2013 10:05:00 PM more reviews by elle09

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

My dermatologist recommended this product to heIp with my eczema and I am in love with this product. I've seen major improvements in my skin. I've used Cetaphil for years but I have to say this product is much better. For my face I use the AM and PM cream and it has helped a lot with the flakes I use to get on my face. I would recommend this to anyone.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 2 of 5 ngocngaoi on 4/3/2013 7:31:00 AM more reviews by ngocngaoi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Like the most helpful review, I had a good experience with this product for about 3 weeks or so. My skin would feel nice and smooth when I woke up from applying it the night before. However, after these 3 weeks, my skin started to develop pimples on my face my neck. I rarely have face pimples and I have NEVER experienced pimples on my neck. At the same time, I found that my skin no longer feels supple and smooth from using it. Instead, it's dull with dry patches (I also rarely get dry patches). Since I only used the cream along with my cleanser and sunscreen, and I have had no problem using these 2, I reasoned it must be the cream. And true enough, after I stopped applying it, the blemishes cleared up and the dry patches got better.


After some research on acne-causing ingredients, I attributed the reason to Cetearyl alcohol + Ceteareth 20 and Cetyl Alcohol included in this product, which are pretty high up the list of ingredients. Ingredients are always listed in proportional order with highest quantities at the top of the list. I think the alcohols caused my skin to break and became dry. :(

It's a shame because this product was working well for me and I thought I had found my HG moisturizer.


INGREDIENTS: Purified Water, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20 and Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II, Ceramide I, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phytosphingosine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 1 of 5 Llehshar on 4/1/2013 8:48:00 PM more reviews by Llehshar

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Im going to start by saying If you are sensitive, acne prone, clog prone please DO NOT use this. Recently I tried Joseof's Sulfer Soap and after a few days it made my face super dry and my neck and chest became scalely just from it rinsing over that area. I went back to my regular routine but nothing was helping the dryness. I decided to try Cerave Cleanser with the Cerave Cream because of all the great reviews of it balancing ph and moisturizing with ceramides. BIG MISTAKE. After a week my skin was still dry and scalely and I developed a pimple like rash all over my face and neck. Even behind and in front of my ears had clusters of hard bumps. I also had clogged pores everywhere and a lot of them were turning into whiteheads. NIGHTMARE. After about a month of using Dove Sensitive Bar and taking supplements to speed up the healing process Im just now getting my smooth skin back.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* raenamercedi on 3/25/2013 2:37:00 AM more reviews by raenamercedi

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I have combination skin with occasional dry patches on my chin and around my mouth from Retin-A Micro use. I have tried many moisturizers from drugstore to La Mer. This is one of my favorites. It doesn't cause me to break-out and helps with the dryness from the Retin-A use. I have suffered redness and irritation with other moisturizers, and I have not had these problems with the Cerave.
After cleansing I wait thirty minutes and apply the Retin-A. I wait a half hour or so and then apply a generous layer of the Cerave cream before bed. This has really helped with the peeling and dryness from the Retin-A. If my skin is especially dry I will apply the cream both before and after the Retin-A.
This does leave my face feeling greasy, and I can't use it as a daytime moisturizer. I actually use the Cerave PM lotion during the day as it is far less greasy than the cream.
I would recommend this as a nighttime moisturizer for someone using Retinol/Retinoid products or for someone suffering from dryness and/or irritation.
I do not mind the jar packaing, I just use a little plastic cosmetic spatula to remove the product from the jar. The tub is huge and has lasted me over a year. This can usually be purchased on sale for less than $14.00. I wish I would have found/tried this before spending $$$ on creams like La Mer.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 KLovesMac on 3/25/2013 2:17:00 AM more reviews by KLovesMac

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight   Eyes: Blue    

I love this product. I slather this all over my body and my skin is so plump and smooth the whole day! I have not used this on my face yet (I use Cerave PM and AM) but I would not think twice to do so if I ever feel the need. This cream is thick and rich, yet it blends in instantly and does not leave a film or greasy residue. The hyaluronic acid and ceramides are essential for skin health - give this a try, you won't regret it. Dermatologist recommended.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 sbhonda on 3/23/2013 4:03:00 PM more reviews by sbhonda

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This moisturizer has been amazing for me. I'm currently 2 months into a course of accutane and my skin has been flake-city. I was using Cetaphil facial lotion, but every morning, by the time I woke up, the flakes would be back as bad as ever. Unless I wanted to wake up halfway through the night and reapply it, I was starting at square one every morning. I also somehow ALWAYS ended up getting it in my eyes and it stung like crazy. I didn't even put it near my eyes, but it kept happening. I also didn't like that the Cetaphil NEVER sank into my skin. I always felt greasy with it on, yet my skin was still flaking. I was going to try to use it up (and I almost did), but the CeraVe was so much better, I just wanted to switch ASAP. The CeraVe sinks in quickly, but my skin feels very soft and moisturized. It feels like the moisture is IN my skin, not ON it.

When I started using the CeraVe cream, I was shocked when I woke up without flakes the first morning. My face was a bit peely in some places, but not falling-off-my-face-bleeding-cracks.

I rated the price at 4 because it's not "cheap," but I actually got a really good deal on it and wouldn't complain even if I didn't. I used a dollar off manufacturer's coupon and a $3.50 off Ulta coupon while is was on sale for $13.99 at Ulta. Not bad at all for the gigantic size of the tub. I had used the CeraVe PM lotion before, and I liked it a lot when I had oily skin, but this is so much more cost effective. I suppose it might be overkill if you have oily skin, but it's perfect for me, especially since it's winter.

I personally like that it's in a tub because I never get the amount of product I want with pumps, but I can see how some people wouldn't like it for sanitary reasons. Another reason I like that's it's not a pump is that every lotion with a pump that I've used always gets that dried up gooey bit at the end of the pump, just in the 12 hours between when I use it. Not only is it a bit of a waste, but it's also an annoyance. It's not pretty or elegant packaging, but it's sturdy, which is good because it should last you a long time.

It would be convenient if it had SPF, but perhaps that was what was stinging my eyes in the Cetaphil, so maybe it's for the best. When I'm done with accutane and my skin isn't unreasonably dry, I might switch to using the CeraVe cream at night, and using a lighter moisturizer with SPF in the morning; maybe CeraVe AM because I liked CeraVe PM.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 4 of 5 CandyCrystals on 3/21/2013 3:45:00 AM more reviews by CandyCrystals

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I received a sample of this at my dermatologist's office & loved it so much that I went to go buy this tub. At first I used it on my face because it gave such a nice matte finish while delivering all the ceramides & HA goodies to my skin & I thought I had found a miracle product until.... IT MADE ME BREAK OUT.

Since then I have just used this product on my skin in the winter at night after showering & I wake up with smooth, soft skin that lasts for about a day. (I have noticed even when I sweat, this product is still soaked into my skin so when I tissue off, I tissue off my sweat only.) So, for the intended use on the body, I am giving this product 4 stars. Taking off a lippie because of the tub packaging.

I MIGHT repurchase this because it has no smell & is very moisturizing on dry skin.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 khloe101 on 3/21/2013 3:21:00 AM more reviews by khloe101

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I have terrible flaky, dry skin when I use my acne products.
(If you are struggling with acne, check out acne.org. I promise you will not be disappointed).
I use this cream at night. It surprisingly isn't greasy at all, unlike Cetaphil. I use the lotion instead of the cream in the mornings because it absorbs quickly and makes a great base for my makeup. If you have dry skin, this stuff and cetaphil are the best choices. Cetaphil is a bit more moisturizing and should be used at night because it is greasy. This stuff is better in the morning!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rated 5 of 5 QTpii on 3/18/2013 9:32:00 PM more reviews by QTpii

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

LOVE! This finally gave my dry face some relief! For me, it is soothing and makes my face feel very soft. I mostly use it every night, and sometimes during the day if my skin feels like it needs extra love. I pat a little extra on my dry, flaky spots and it usually makes them go away in a day or two. Also good for any irritated or itchy skin on the body!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No