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Moisturizing Cream
A fragrance-free ceramide and petrolatum cream that remains the default barrier moisturizer for dry face and body skin at a drugstore price.
8.8
Excellent
Beauty score
#1 of 9 moisturizers
Community
—/10
- Format
- Cream
- Size
- 16 oz
- Typical price
- $19.99
- Price tier
- Drugstore
Made for: Dry skin · Normal skin · Sensitive skin
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A fragrance-free ceramide and petrolatum cream that remains the default barrier moisturizer for dry face and body skin at a drugstore price.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is a rich, fragrance-free face and body cream built on three ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and petrolatum, with the brand's MVE time-release delivery. It carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance and is non-comedogenic. Creators and dermatologists consistently cite it for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin, and the 16 oz tub keeps the cost per use low. The main caveats: CeraVe itself steers oily skin to its lighter lotion, and some reviewers find it less hydrating on the face than its reputation suggests.
Best for
- Dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin
- Budget face-and-body barrier care
- Families sharing one moisturizer
What we love
- Three ceramides plus cholesterol, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum
- Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and NEA Seal of Acceptance
- Works on face and body, suitable from age 3 per the brand
- Large 16 oz tub keeps cost per use very low
- HSA/FSA eligible according to CeraVe
Worth knowing
- CeraVe recommends its lighter Daily Moisturizing Lotion for oily skin
- Tub packaging means dipping fingers in unless using the pump version
- Some reviewers find it less hydrating on the face than expected
- Some Reddit users report it stings on the face
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
8.8Excellent
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%8.7
Dermatologist-recommended for dry and eczema-prone skin and NEA-accepted; creators report reliable comfort, with a minority finding it underwhelming on the face.
- Formula & ingredients20%8.8
Three skin-identical ceramides with cholesterol, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum in a fragrance-free base is a textbook barrier formula.
- Texture & experience15%7.6
Rich and non-greasy by the brand's description, but the tub format and heavier feel do not suit everyone, especially oily skin.
- Value20%9.5
A 16 oz tub at a drugstore price covers face and body for months, which few barrier creams match.
- Community love15%9.0
One of the most recommended moisturizers on Reddit and YouTube, frequently used as the benchmark other creams are compared against.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Rich, non-greasy cream that the brand says absorbs quickly without residue
Format
Cream
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Size
16 oz / 453 g
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- CeCeramidesBarrier & repair — ingredient guide
- HaHyaluronic acidHydrators — ingredient guide
- PtPetrolatumBarrier & repair — ingredient guide
- GlGlycerinHydrators — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Ceramides NP, AP and EOP with cholesterol and phytosphingosine; sodium hyaluronate; petrolatum and dimethicone as occlusives; MVE controlled-release delivery. No percentages disclosed.
How to use
Apply liberally as often as needed to face and body, day or night.
Free from (brand-stated)
- fragrance
Claims & certifications
- National Eczema Association Seal
- Non-comedogenic
- Fragrance-free
- FSA/HSA eligible
Full ingredient list (INCI)24 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Aqua / Water / Eau,
- Glycerin,
- Cetearyl Alcohol,
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride,
- Cetyl Alcohol,
- Ceteareth-20,
- Petrolatum,
- Potassium Phosphate,
- Ceramide NP,
- Ceramide AP,
- Ceramide EOP,
- Carbomer,
- Dimethicone,
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate,
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate,
- Sodium Hyaluronate,
- Cholesterol,
- Phenoxyethanol,
- Disodium EDTA,
- Dipotassium Phosphate,
- Tocopherol,
- Phytosphingosine,
- Xanthan Gum,
- Ethylhexylglycerin
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
4 verbatim quotes · 2 positive · 1 mixed · 1 critical
r/SkincareAddictionCritical
ooh the cerave tub stung for me too, something about the preservatives just doesn't agree with some faces.
r/SkincareAddictionMixed
Those are both great at reducing trans-epidrmal water loss (TEWL). For some people they can cause clogged pores or breakouts, but definitely not everyone. However, neither of those is very hydrating.
r/SkincareAddictionPositive
I would do plain moisturizer (like CeraVe cream in the tub) with Aquaphor or CeraVe healing ointment every night until it is better
r/SkincareAddictionPositive
I use the cerave moisturizing cream during the day and the la Roche posey barrier cream at night
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$19.99
for 16 oz / 453 g
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
About 38% less than the typical moisturizers we review. Our value score: 9.5/10 for a drugstore pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
Check price on AmazonShop on TikTok Shop2129 soldBuy from the brand$19.99USee it at Ulta◎See it at Target
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
No discussions yet.
Tried CeraVe Moisturizing Cream? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Can CeraVe Moisturizing Cream be used on the face?
Yes. CeraVe says it can be applied anywhere on the face and body, day or night, and it is labeled non-comedogenic. CeraVe suggests its lighter Daily Moisturizing Lotion for normal to oily skin.
What is the difference between the cream and the Daily Moisturizing Lotion?
CeraVe says the main difference is texture: the cream is richer and contains petrolatum for dry skin, while the lotion is a lighter, oil-free formula better suited to normal to oily skin.
Is it safe for eczema-prone skin?
It carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance and is fragrance-free. It is a cosmetic moisturizer, so persistent eczema should still be managed with a dermatologist.
Is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream suitable for children?
CeraVe describes it as gentle enough for the whole family from age 3 and up, and recommends its Baby Moisturizing Cream for infants.
Sources we checked (5)
- cerave.com/skincare/moisturizers/moisturizing-cream
- ulta.com/p/moisturizing-cream-body-face-moisturizer-xlsImpprod3530069
- target.com/p/cerave-moisturizing-cream-16-oz/-/A-13977967
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CeraVe
- shop.tiktok.com/us/pdp/cerave-moisturizing-cream-with-hyaluronic-acid-for-normal-to-dry-skin/1729599347170185253
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