CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Cream
by CeraVe · skin_care
Editor's Take
CeraVe earns its counter space here: serious barrier lipids and Hydroxyethyl Urea in a rich cream, with some not-so-clean emulsifier baggage.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Performance: 8.4 / 10
- Innovative Ingredients: 7.5 / 10
- Clean Standards: 6.9 / 10
- Formula Sustainability: 7.9 / 10
The Verdict
On performance, this lands in strong efficacy alignment: Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, cholesterol, and phytosphingosine make it more barrier-repair cream than plain occlusive. The technology score is Modern thanks to the lamellar delivery system and Hydroxyethyl Urea, while sustainability is Good rather than pristine because PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-20, Carbomer, and Dimethicone keep it in conventional pharmacy territory. The clean profile is the trade-off, with ethoxylated emulsifiers and synthetic polymers doing useful texture work but costing it clean-beauty polish. Worth it as a serious drugstore barrier cream, not as a clean-beauty flex.
Full INCI list
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-20, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium PCA, Serine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Alanine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid