We tested these popular moisturizers side by side and named a winner. Picking a moisturizer can be tricky, especially because there are so many options to consider.
A lot of it depends on your skin type and the type of cream you’re looking for. Two of the most popular daily moisturizers on the market are the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer and the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
It’s no coincidence that they have a lot in common. Both are intended to be used both day and night by all skin types, including those with sensitive skin.
They are also available at the drugstore at an affordable price. However, while both are often recommended by dermatologists, there are differences in their formulas and containers to consider.
The Bottom Line
Several members of our team were unanimous in choosing the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer over all other options, including the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. While the two are so similar, the Vanicream formula is less likely to irritate skin, cause breakouts, or trigger rashes.
Keep reading for our in-depth comparison of the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer and the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
What We Like: Comes in a tube, features a ceramide-rich formula, is non-greasy, and won’t clog pores.
What We Don’t Like: It can temporarily burn after applying.
Cerave Moisturizing Cream
What We Like: It has a rich consistency, provides a large amount of product, and is deeply hydrating. It can also be used on the face and body.
What We Don’t Like: It might clog pores, and the tub container can become contaminated.
Who It’s For
Looking for a moisturizer that can be used on both the face and body? CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream should be on your radar.
The rich cream feels incredibly hydrating on all body parts, dry elbows and knees included, and never feels greasy. It’s a fan favorite among people of all skin types, especially those with very dry, sensitive skin.
Plus, each tub comes with a ton of product, so one purchase lasts you a long time.
Ingredients
Winner: Vanicream Daily Moisturizer
Our tester was recently prescribed a prescription-strength topical cream that rapidly sloughs away the top layer of skin to help treat acne. To combat the flakey patches, they needed a moisturizer that would deliver intense hydration without clogging pores.
After obsessively reading ingredient labels, they discovered that the Vanicream Daily Moisturizer has gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane. These are the ingredients least likely to clog pores or cause a reaction.
CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream is also loaded with ceramides and hyaluronic acid and is recommended for super dry skin. However, since it’s a little thicker and has a few more ingredients, it might actually make some users break out.
To figure out why, board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, M.D., explained that although the ingredient profiles are almost the same, CeraVe’s formula has dimethicone. This can give it a smoother application, but might clog pores for some people.
In general, Vanicream is a dermatologist favorite for very sensitive skin given it has only the essentials without anything that can potentially be irritating, he shares.
Container
Winner: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Formulas are important, but so are the containers they’re housed in. If a product has a container that can be easily tampered with, the formula can become tainted and actually do more harm than good.
Although it’s easier to stick your hand in Cerave’s large tub, the risk of polluting the formula with grubby fingers is much higher than using Vanicream’s squeeze tube. However, the Cerave formula is available at some stores with a pump top or in a travel-size squeeze tube, so just be sure to check before you buy.
Consistency
Winner: It’s a tie!
Vanicream’s consistency is like a milky lotion that spreads out nicely and evenly. On the other hand, Cerave’s Moisturizing Cream is thick and rich, taking a little more effort to smooth across the skin.
There’s no right or wrong here; it’s simply up to personal preference. People with super oily skin might hate the feeling of a thick moisturizer on their face, while others are really into thicker formulations.
Commerce Writer Alyssa Kaplan notes that the CeraVe texture is thick and occlusive. It feels rich on the skin without being greasy and leaving behind a shine.
Value
Winner: It’s a tie!
Though the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer and the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream are available at a similar price point, they have different ingredients and serve different people. The main distinction between the two is that the Vanicream moisturizer is less comedogenic and can be better suited for oily, acne-prone skin.
Meanwhile, the CeraVe moisturizer can be better tolerated by those with severely dry skin. When determining the right moisturizer for you, you should consider how often you’ll use it and which ingredients mean the most to you.
As far as drugstore formulas are concerned, both the Vanicream and Cerave lotions are well priced and quite a steal when considering their effectiveness.