This CeraVe daily moisturizing lotion review will focus on the ingredients, product feel, and overall pricing of the ever-popular moisturizer.
Picking a daily moisturizer is like picking the backbone of a skincare routine. Whether you use serums or creams, a basic moisturizer is the step that ties everything together. And to be honest, finding a good one can be a challenge. (Almost as hard as finding a good sunscreen.)
CeraVe is one of the most popular moisturizers for a reason. The product offers a lightweight feel, deeply moisturizing ingredients, and a fragrance-free formula.
This photo is from a great CeraVe review conducted by Byrdie.com. Read the full review here!
Things I Like
- Hydrating formula with hyaluronic acid
- Works to restore the skin barrier
- Affordable price point
- Easy to find and buy
- Lasts forever
Things I Don’t Like
- Parabens in the formula
- Specifically, Propylparaben (which is a known Endocrine disruptor)
- Dimethicone is an ingredient that has a high bioaccumulation rating (meaning this ingredient accumulates in the body over time)
My Experience with CeraVe Lotion
The CeraV moisturizing formula works really well with my dry skin type. I use this moisturizer as the last step in my skincare routine and always wake up feeling like I have an enhanced moisture barrier on my face in the morning.
Since the formula is lightweight, it isn’t too thick to wear day or night. It also works extremely well to address dry skin patches. And at the price point of $16 for the value size, I’m not worried about using the CeraVe moisturizing lotion on the rest of my body.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Formula
The formula is lightweight yet possesses a staying power that even some expensive products lack. This particular moisturizer locks in hydration throughout the night much better than most moisturizers at this price point. And since the formula is fragrance-free, I’m also not worried about skin irritation.
CeraVe Ingredients
The star ingredient of the show is hyaluronic acid. A powerful hydrating ingredient that is a mainstay in the skincare world at this point.
Other noteworthy ingredients include the various ceramides in the formula. Ceramides are lipids that work to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and protect against environmental stressors.
Price Point
You can get the 16 oz value size of the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion for right at $16. This size bottle lasts me a really long time and is easy to pack on all my travels with the spout closure feature.
The packaging is nothing special and certainly not aesthetic. It gives off a clinical vibe which makes sense given the brand was created by dermatologists.
CeraVe History
Dermatologists founded the CeraVe brand in an effort to provide affordable gentle-on-the-skin products for their clients. The brand has been around since 2005 and can be found at all major retailers, like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
EWG Score
In my quest to live the least toxic life available to me, I always check ingredients and product ratings using sites like EWG or Think Dirty. These sites review and rate products on the market based on the toxicity of the ingredients list.
Unfortunately, this CeraVe moisturizer gets a 5 rating from EWG. This is a midlevel cautionary rating. Of the top four common concerns, the daily moisturizing lotion ranks low for cancer risk, high for allergies and immunotoxicity, and moderate in both developmental and reproductive toxicity categories.
Problematic Ingredients
The ingredients that give this formula a less-than-stellar rating include:
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate – EWG ranking: 5*
- Ceteareth-20 – EWG ranking: 3
- Dimethicone – EWG ranking: 4 (ranked high for bioaccumulation)
- Polysorbate-20 – EW ranking: 3 (has contamination concerns due to Ethylene oxide and 1,4- Dioxane)
- Methylparaben – EWG ranking: 4 (ranked moderate for allergies/immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and biochemical or cellular level changes)
- Propylparaben – EWG ranking: 9 (ranked high for endocrine disruption. Ranked moderate for developmental/reproductive toxicity)
*The EWG scale is based on a 1-10 ranking, with 10 being the worst rating.
To read more detailed descriptions and concerns about this product, check out the EWG breakdown.
Bottom Line
Well, another one bites the dust. After reviewing the EWG results, I’m thinking about returning to my good old faithful organic coconut oil for my daily moisturizer.
The bottom line is the CeraVe daily moisturizing lotion is truly a solid hydrating formula for a great price. On the flip side, some of the ingredients (the parabens specifically) are known Endocrine disruptors that can affect nonreproductive and reproductive organs.
Of all the ingredients, there are six that are in question. And unfortunately, that leaves a pretty big question mark regarding whether this product is a good one to go back to again and again.
F&Q
Is CeraVe daily moisturizer OK for use on the face?
Yes, CeraVe moisturizer is okay to use for the face and body. Personally, I like to use CeraVe moisturizer as the last step of my skincare routine.
Is it good to use CeraVe every day?
The moisturizer is marketed as a daily moisturizer. It is an everyday essential that can be used daily. As with most things, though, it is good to look into the ingredients and mix up how often you use products that are not purely organic and naturally occurring.
What is CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion good for?
Considering the ingredients, the CeraVe Daily moisturizer is good for hydrating the skin and restoring the skin’s moisture barrier. The formula works well with eczema and dry patches.
What are the Cons of CeraVe moisturizer?
The fact that the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing lotion has parabens in the formula is by far the biggest con for this product. This ingredient is known to disrupt the Endocrine system. Not to mention some other bioaccumulating ingredients, these items alone may force CeraVe off the shelves of those of us who are concerned with longevity.
