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Face moisturiser
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
Covers all three things a moisturiser needs: glycerin draws water in, petrolatum and dimethicone hold it there, and ceramides plus cholesterol repair the skin barrier. Fragrance-free and sold in large tubs.
Worth knowing
- 24 ingredients. The long list is emulsifiers and preservatives that hold the active ingredients together, not filler.
- If the cream feels heavy on your face, CeraVe Moisturising Lotion is the lighter version.
Ingredients
Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ceramide EOP.
What we ruled out
Perfumed creams and 'anti-ageing' creams sold on a hero extract. Fragrance adds irritation risk. Most hero extracts have no good evidence at the levels used.
Nivea Creme. Contains parfum. Otherwise a capable, cheap occlusive cream.
Luxury creams (e.g. La Mer). No evidence they moisturise better than a fragrance-free drugstore cream with the same core ingredients, at 50 to 100 times the price.
Also good
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Cheap and fragrance-free, without petrolatum. A good choice for oily skin.
Sources
- Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin, American Academy of Dermatology