Skin Care: Finally tried CeraVe (Review)

It has always been in the back of my mind to try CeraVe moisturizing lotion, and I just wanted to share that I finally tried it. I bought the Hydrating Cleanser, the Foaming cleanser and the regular Moisturizing lotion.

My husband and I have been battling minor skin issues since moving to a state with very hard water (I think it might be the hardest water in the the entire US), and have been bouncing around between various shower soaps, facial cleansers and so on. I was prompted to try the CeraVe because my husband looks like he might be developing the beginnings of very mild rosacea. The Dove bar soap for an everyday shower soap solved most of our issues, but I was still searching for a mild facial soap and moisturizer.

I bought the CeraVe stuff on Wednesday at Walgreens...it's already making a difference! I have the moisturizing lotion in a pump bottle sitting on the kitchen window ledge - thinking we'd use it as hand lotion, but I have also tried it on my face after washing up before bed.

The other night, I went into the kitchen after washing up (with my new CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser) and got some of the moisturizer to put on my face. I just put a little bit on. It felt very, very comfortable and soothing. For the first time in a very long while, my face didn't feel like it was stinging, it didn't feel all tight and dry, and it didn't feel greasy either. I woke up the next morning with noticeably 'nicer' looking skin. I have no idea what's in that stuff (or maybe it's what's not in it), but gee - Angie sure knows how to find the right thing. I had heard about Impruv quite awhile back thanks to YLF, but didn't get around to buying it, and apparently it's not so commonly available now - so I decided to try the CeraVe.

It's not fancy. Has no smell at all. Does not come in a pretty jar or anything, but boy, does it help.

I've tried both the Hydrating Cleanser (meant for normal to dry skin) and the Foaming Cleanser (meant for normal to oily skin) and both are excellent. The lotion is incredible if you put some on your face at night before going to bed. You don't feel like it's going to "do" anything - it's almost kind of clinical and boring, but even though it's only been a couple of days, I can already notice a difference. No more red, irritated skin. This is in just two days.

I'm kind of surprised that something so simple and inexpensive could make such a difference already. Like I said, it's only been a couple of days, and even though this skin care line isn't purporting to offer up all kinds of way-out-there anti-aging claims, it really does help. It helps in terms of just getting back to basics and restoring your skin to some sort of balance.

Hmm..seems simpler really is better.

Just wanted to share that I think this stuff is worth trying. No, it's not a frou-frou expensive skin care line and it's not retinol, or retin-a, or AHA's or whatever - it's not "Help Me" from Philosophy, it's not Peter Thomas Roth "UnWrinkle" or...well, you get the idea. Thing is, if you just want to get back to basics and calm your skin - the CeraVe is really quite good.

I'm impressed. Waking up with calm, smooth and non-stressed skin is a nice change.

Bonus points for being the type of thing that anyone can use - its not girly or expensive, so it's great for husbands too.

Two days, and both my husband are noticing calmer, softer and 'happier' looking skin, and that's only with the Hydrating cleanser and/or the Foaming cleanser plus the moisturizing lotion. No other products other than my usual facial sunscreen and sometimes a primer before makeup. What I'm saying is no specialty creams, and yet, my skin is looking and feeling a whole lot better already.

I have a ton of other skin care creams, lotions, potions, cleansers. In the past couple of days I just went simple, and tried CeraVe cleanser plus CeraVe moisturizer. I still put my sunscreen on in the morning, and I still sometimes use a makeup primer - but that's all. For just these past couple of days, I've ditched all the other fancy, expensive creams and 'treatment' products.

My skin looks and feels better. It's possible that maybe some of the other products I was using were irritating my skin, not to mention the insanely hard water I'm dealing with - but even so - I think CeraVe is helping. You still have to wash and moisturize your face, right? It's early days yet, but I think this stuff is really, really good.

Inexpensive, super-simple, accessible (can buy it in drugstores), and very effective. Reduces redness, softens, seems to reduce large-ish pores, somehow also seems to plump up and refresh skin a wee bit. Granted, this might also be because of keeping it simple and not gooping all manner of skin-fixer-uppers onto my face. Hmm...a good test is that I'm not in the habit of putting frou-frou skin care products on my hands, and the CeraVe worked it's magic on my hands too.

Sometimes boring is better.

End PSA.

PS - I don't work for these people!

12 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Now I've got to try this!

velvetychocolate

I bought two kinds of cleansers (because I didn't really know if my husband considered his skin normal-to-oily or normal-to-dry) and figured because it was such a reasonable price it would be ok to try both of the cleansers at the same time. Plus, since summer's coming up, I figured the Foaming cleanser (meant for normal-to-oily skin) might come in handy - I'm always a bit 'greasier' in summer.

Ended up with three large-ish pump type bottles, two cleansers (both the Hydrating and the Foaming kinds) plus the basic moisturizer.

Just for the record, my husband hasn't really ever used any kind of "skin care" - and he's happy with the cleanser and moisturizer. Like I said, they don't smell or look all that fancy.

So far - it's less redness, less irritation and somehow "happier", slightly smoother and softened skin. That's just the cleanser (I like the hydrating formula slightly better myself) and the moisturizing lotion.

The hydrating cleanser is just $10-something on Amazon - for a large-ish container. I just happend upon Walgreens and bought it on the spot. I think it was closer to $15 at Walgreens.

Anonymous

Thank you for this VC. I'm out of my Walmart cleanser and I had just assumed CeraVe was expensive. I'll have to give it a try!

Ruby Jackson

Active Member

You don't see the value of real life experience and breaking a trail AND making millions out of it?

10 years ago

Style Fan

I am not familiar with this brand. I use Ceraphil which may be the same in Canada. Very plain and boring. Great for sensitive skin. Two types of cleansers and a moisturizing lotion. I will look for CeraVa when I am in the States. Thanks for the recommendation.

Staysfit

That's what I use! Love it. My dermatologist recommended it a few years ago.

retailgirl

I have used cetaphil as a facial cleanser for over twenty years. My derm suggested CeraVe cream for the dry skin on my arms and legs; I love it and have been meaning to try the facial products. Thanks for the review, I think I'll try it.

Beth Ann

I have a tub of CeraVe cream in the bathroom for apres-shower (whole family uses it). I alternate with the Neutrogena Bath Oil (lovely jasmine scent with that one). I use the PM facial lotion over my ROC retinol at night.

It's good stuff!

Style fan - it's available here in Canada - Shoppers Drug Mart carries it. Same shelf /aisle with the Cetaphil. I've used it too .

merwoman

Thanks for posting this VC. I have mild rosacea and am very cautious about what I put on my face. I've had good luck with a moisturizer from Kiehl's - but I think I will give this a go as well.

Peri

I've used this for about 3 years on the advice of my dermatologist...totally agree, it's great! And try the cream that comes in a tub...really good as hand cream and I use it on my face sometimes too. It seems thick but absorbs so easily, no greasy feel.

Aziraphale

I totally use CeraVe cream on my face! It's the best. I used to use Cetaphil, but gave CeraVe a whirl a few years ago when Angie recommended it, and it seems to sink into my skin better with -- and here's the key -- no residue. Most creams work just fine for moisturizing, and most also leave a thin greasy film. CeraVe cream does not.

I have a weird complaint about CeraVe lotion, though. Is it just me, or does it smell faintly of cat pee? Or some similar unpleasant odour that I can't quite place? It might well just be me. I seem to have an sensitivity to certain volatile chemicals that other people can't detect. Mango, for instance, smells of rotting meat to me, but I can tell people think I'm nuts when I say that.

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