CeraVe vs Cetaphil 2023 (The Definitive Guide)

CeraVe and Cetaphil are two brands you’re very likely to see in the beauty section of your local supermarket or drugstore. They are best known for their skin-nourishing creams and lotions, as well as their effective-yet-gentle cleansers, but which brand is better?

We’ll be comparing their best-sellers side-by-side so you can see which would suit you and your skin the best. CeraVe vs Cetaphil - let's get into it!

This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate we earn commission from qualifying purchases.

CeraVe vs Cetaphil Cleanser

Cleansing your skin is the most crucial step in your skincare routine. In the morning, it removes all the debris and dead skin cells that your body replenished. By night, it serves to remove your makeup and whatever else your face picked up from the day. Let’s take a look at CeraVe’s and Cetaphil’s options for facial cleansers.

Hydrating cleanser comparison

Both the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and the Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser are super popular in beauty stores across the country.

On paper, they are both designed for a gentle-yet-effective cleanse and can help remove makeup and excess oils, supposedly without leaving skin with that uncomfortable 'dried-out' feeling. We're going to have to dig a little deeper to verify those claims and find any real differences, though, so let's get into it!

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser's ingredients list is truly a sight to behold. Not only does it contain intensely hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and barrier-replenishing Ceramides, but it's also completely free from nasties such as parabens, SLS, and SLES (which you would find in a typical face wash). In fact, it is accepted by the National Eczema Association, so that's how you know for sure that it is gloriously gentle.

In practice, it removes dirt, oil and makeup with ease, all without over-stripping the skin or leaving it feeling tight and dry. What's more, their patented 'MVE Delivery Technology' ensures that your skin's protective barrier is supported long after you've finished your skincare routine.

On the other hand, Cetaphil's Gentle Skin Cleanser is *not* quite as gentle as it is made out to be since it contains several parabens that have been known to sensitize the skin.

It's not all doom and gloom, though, as those very same parabens that aren't so great for those with sensitive skin are actually fantastic for people struggling with folliculitis (also known as mallesezia, or fungal acne).

Furthermore, since it is completely oil-free, non-comedogenic, and astringent without being over-drying (due to the inclusion of cetyl and stearyl alcohol), it is also excellent for those with oilier skin types and those struggling with plain old regular acne, too.

If you're looking for a hydrating cleanser for dry or sensitive skin, though, CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser is definitely the way to go.

Oily skin cleanser comparison

Oilier skin types require a deeper cleanse, which is exactly what the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and the Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser promise without disrupting your skin's protective barrier.

CeraVe's Foaming Facial Cleanser features Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, and Niacinamide which support your skin’s moisture barrier, intensely hydrate, and regulate oil production, respectively. It is a gel that lathers into a foam for a refreshing, deep cleanse, offering you an effective yet gentle way to cleanse and care for excessively oily skin.

Cetaphil's Oily Skin Cleanser also features a trio of skin-nourishing ingredients, namely: Glycerin, Niacinamide, and Panthenol which more or less yield the same benefits as CeraVe's. It is even texturally very similar to CeraVe's cleanser with it also being a foaming gel.

Uncharacteristically, CeraVe's is *not* the gentler of the two with it containing Methylparaben - a potentially sensitizing paraben. It does offer some additional benefits for oily skin (being antibacterial and antifungal), but our impression is that Cetaphil's is the better and safer option of the two.

Acne cleanser comparison

Acne-prone skin and oily skin are often (incorrectly) treated synonymously in the skincare industry. Granted, keeping oiliness at bay is indeed part of the puzzle, but treating acne successfully involves so much more than that.

In a good acne cleanser we're looking for mild exfoliation, a deep cleanse, and most importantly: a gentle, soothing action that calms angry skin (as we certainly don't want to be aggravating an already inflamed epidermis).

We think that the CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser or the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser could be just the ticket in this regard, but there's a few differences between the two which need to be explored first.

As has been well and truly established by now, CeraVe has the "gentle, soothing action that calms angry skin" part of what we're looking for on lock, and the Acne Control Cleanser is no exception. It contains ceramides to maintain the skin's protective barrier, as well as niacinamide to soothe inflammation and redness.

Cetaphil takes a slightly different approach with their Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser. It relies on the hydrating and soothing powers of Aloe and White Tea to balance out any overstripping. It being a cream (rather than a foaming gel, like CeraVe's) also helps prevent drying out the skin, although this does have some negative implications with regards to cleansing efficacy, albeit minorly.

As far as directly treating acne is concerned, both cleansers contain 2% Salicylic Acid, which is considered to be a fairly optimal concentration for unclogging pores and banishing blemishes while respecting the skin's moisture barrier. While Salicylic Acid is generally heralded as the saviour of all saviours in the realm of OTC acne treatments, please just be careful not to use too many products containing SA in your routine (as overexfoliation can worsen acne).

CeraVe goes one final step further by including Hectorite Clay, which is fantastic for absorbing oil and minimizing shine. Cetaphil uses alcohols for a similar de-greasing effect, although this is generally regarded as a poor practice since the effect is temporary and can actually cause dryness in the long run.

There can only be one winner here, and for us, the champion is CeraVe's Acne Control Cleanser. With both products being non-comedogenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and containing the same actives, it's the slightly more compelling list of inactive ingredients and qualities that stole victory away from Cetaphil.

Rough skin cleanser comparison

The best way to tackle rough skin is with an exfoliant cleanser that helps to slough away dead skin cells and impurities, yielding smooth, healthy skin. The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser and the Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser offer two similarly effective solutions, but with a major difference between them that might make you reach for one over the other - let's take a look side-by-side!

The key distinction between the two is that CeraVe's Renewing SA Cleanser contains a chemical exfoliant (Salicylic Acid) whereas Cetaphil's Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser contains a physical exfoliant (Bamboo Extract).

A physical exfoliant such as a scrub tends to be relatively harsh and overly strip the skin's protective barrier due to the indiscriminate nature of its operation. Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, much more precisely target the surface of the skin due to their molecular size and weight, meaning that they are usually far more gentle.

For this reason, and without even needing to compare the rest of their ingredients lists, we can already tell you that we prefer CeraVe's Renewing SA Cleanser. That said, we're still going to dig a little deeper for the sake of fairness and completeness.

The Renewing SA Cleanser also contains barrier-restoring ingredients like ceramides which help keep moisture in while keeping irritants out—important for post-exfoliation! Furthermore, it also contains niacinamide which helps to reduce inflammation, and it is completely free from potential irritants.

Further driving home the point that Cetaphil's "Gentle" Exfoliating Cleanser is not-so-gentle, is the fact that it contains fragrance—a well known irritant—which is a big no-no when it comes to exfoliation due to the potential for extreme sensitization. Somewhat making up for this, though, is the fact that it does contain Niacinamide and Panthenol for their soothing qualities.

Ultimately, CeraVe's Renewing SA Cleanser is the clear winner in this comparison (unless you are actively looking for a facial scrub as opposed to an exfoliating cleanser).

Cleanser bar comparison

While we wouldn't normally recommend using a bar of soap anywhere near your face, CeraVe and Cetaphil both offer bars that are actually *designed* to be suitable for facial skin.

Granted, it's all well and good being designed for use on the face, but it's another thing entirely to be genuinely effective. So, let's put them both to the test and find out which—if any—you should be picking up for your skincare routine.

First and foremost, the reason why these bars can be used on the face is because they are soap-free. Soap notoriously overstrips moisture from the skin, drying it out, causing a whole host of nasty side-effects such as flakiness and irritation. So don't go getting any ideas about trying that bar of soap by your sink after reading this comparison, because that one will more than likely contain soap (hence the name).

The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar has been designed to mimic the ever popular Hydrating Facial Cleanser, except in solid, bar form. It should be no surprise, then, to hear that it contains Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides like its sister product. What might come as a surprise, however, is that it also features 5% CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.

Cetaphil's Gentle Cleansing Bar bears some resemblance to its sister face wash, the Gentle Skin Cleanser, in that the packaging is similar and it contains the same key surfactant (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate). That said, it doesn't contain the same cohort of superstar ingredients such as Niacinamide or Panthenol. In fact, the only similarity in this regard is Glycerin (a moisturizing agent).

What turns these formulations into convenient, easy-to-use, solid bars is up for some debate given that they're not true soaps, but it largely boils down to the inclusion of Sodium, and Lactic Acid esters. CeraVe's contains Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate which tends to appear as a white to off-white plastic solid outright. Cetaphil's instead contains Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate—a clear viscous liquid—in addition to Sodium Tallowate—animal fat mixed with Sodium Hydroxide—among other Sodium compounds to saponify the formula.

Still with us? Sorry, the science-y stuff behind this one is a bit less glamorous than usual. Ultimately what matters is that we can confirm that both bars are gloriously gentle and effective, minus one unfortunate problem: they both contain masking fragrances. This rules them out for those with particularly sensitive skin, but if you fall into the category of 'normal' skin, then you can definitely enjoy the benefits of either bar comfortably.

Though both bars are great, we do have a preference. How can we not love the CeraVe Gentle Cleansing Bar when it is essentially an amalgamation of the holy grails of skincare that are the Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Moisturizing Cream.

CeraVe vs Cetaphil Moisturizer

We all know that moisturizing is a critical step in our skincare routines. Proper hydration can strengthen your skin barrier, slow aging, increase efficacy of your other skincare products, and prevent acne and other skin conditions. To put it simply, you need a moisturizer, and you need a good one.

CeraVe's and Cetaphil's wide range of moisturizers are among the best in these arenas, however, there are some differences between them that may make you reach for one over the other.

Moisturizing cream comparison

Two of the very best moisturizing creams are the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, but to decide which one is best for you we'll need to dig a little deeper into their formulas.

Cetaphil's Moisturizing Cream is focused on improving the skin barrier function (the most common cause of dry/sensitive skin and related concerns are due to a compromised moisture barrier). A dermatologist-backed blend of Niacinamide, Panthenol, and Glycerin help to significantly improve the resilience of sensitive skin within just 3 days, with complete restoration in just 1 week.

CeraVe's Moisturizing Cream does offer you something that Cetaphil does not include, though, and that is the addition of ceramides. I mean, it’s the whole basis of the brand name with the “Cera” in there. The thing about ceramides is they help restore and support the skin’s natural barrier.

CeraVe has three different ceramides in an encapsulated format which are designed to release throughout the day and night to keep your skin healthy, moisturized, and soothed. The ceramides aid in repairing that outer layer with every use, enabling your skin to properly protect itself from environmental threats, as well as preventing moisture loss.

Both creams can be used from head to toe for moisturizing dry and sensitive skin that is prone to irritation. With Cetaphil, it is specifically labeled as being for "dry to very dry skin", whereas CeraVe's is for "normal to dry skin"—this just seems like a case of semantics, though.

When it comes down to it, both Cetaphil and CeraVe offer excellent moisturizing creams that are versatile enough to use from head to toe. They are both targeted for dry skin with a lean toward those that have skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and others - *and* they both offer a non-greasy application that is noncomedogenic.

However, since CeraVe offers the addition of ceramides which can help improve your skin’s outer barrier strength, we’re leaning a little harder toward the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. It goes beyond just quenching thirsty skin to delivering that extra something that your skin needs to repair itself and stay healthy. If you simply need some assistance with keeping your skin from going too dry though, Cetaphil is a good one for you.

Moisturizing lotion comparison

Moisturizing lotions are a lightweight alternative to moisturizing creams, while offering the very same nourishing and protective qualities. CeraVe and Cetaphil both offer extremely popular lotions, namely: the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion and the Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion.

There are very few differences between these lotions and their sister moisturizing creams other than texturally, so perhaps unsurprisingly, this side-by-side comparison will result in more or less the same conclusion (CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion being our preference).

For the sake of originality (and so as not to completely repeat ourselves), we'll just briefly summarize the key points here. If you want the full low-down, Skip back to the moisturizing cream section.

Cetaphil's Moisturizing Lotion is focused on restoring and hydrating dry skin with a dermatologist-backed blend of Niacinamide, Panthenol, and Glycerin. Complete restoration of your skin's protective barrier is assured within just a single week of use.

CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion contains three different ceramides in an encapsulated format which are designed to release throughout the day and night to keep your skin healthy, moisturized, and soothed. This inclusion of ceramides is what sets the two lotions apart, since CeraVe's goes beyond just quenching thirsty skin, to actually delivering that extra something that your skin needs to repair itself and stay healthy.

Both lotions can be used from head to toe for moisturizing normal to dry skin, and both boast a lovely, lightweight, non-greasy texture. That said, Cetaphil's Moisturizing Lotion is *not* oil-free, whereas CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion is oil-free.

The point that seals the deal for us when it comes to choosing between the two is the fact that CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion has also been accepted by the National Eczema Association, which is how you know it is gloriously gentle and perfect for even the driest skin types.

Day cream (SPF) comparison

A hydrating day cream is a key part of any morning skincare routine—and one with broad spectrum SPF is critical for helping to protect your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays. Pitting CeraVe's and Cetaphil's best-sellers head-to-head, we have the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50.

Both day creams include the brands' signature base of ingredients, with Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer containing Glycerin and Vitamin E, and CeraVe's AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion contains Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Ceramides. I think it's been fairly well established thus far into the review that CeraVe's ingredients tend to be more appealing, especially due to the inclusion of barrier-supporting ceramides.

With regards to sun protection, CeraVe offers a mix of chemical and mineral sun protection (which they call InvisibleZinc Technology), whereas Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer offers purely mineral sun protection with micronized Titanium Dioxide. Once upon a time this might make or break your decision - and to a lesser extent it still might - but the difference in texture and effectiveness is fairly negligible.

More importantly, however, is that CeraVe's lotion provides SPF 30 (blocking 97% of UV rays), whereas Cetaphil's moisturizer provides SPF 50+ (blocking >98% of UV rays). Generally speaking, an SPF of at least 30 is recommended for day creams. Both creams clearly satisfy this requirement, however, it's up to you to decide whether you would prefer to trade higher sun protection for fewer moisturizing ingredients.

We prefer CeraVe's AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion for its qualities as a moisturizer, but we prefer Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer for its sun protection—choosing between the two depends on what you prefer from a day cream. If that doesn't help you decide, our recommendation would be to err on the side of better sun protection (i.e. Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer).

Night cream comparison

Now that you've got your day cream sorted, you need a night cream to properly round off the day and comfort your skin after being bombarded by external stressors. A night cream is the best way to nourish & hydrate your skin while you sleep so you can wake up with a radiant, healthy glow. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs Cetaphil Rich Night Cream—let's get into it!

First and foremost, it's worth noting that CeraVe's PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is *ultra*-lightweight and completely oil-free, which is rather unusual for a night cream, but this fact actually makes it ideal for *all* skin types. Cetaphil's Rich Night Cream is much more typical with a thick, rich texture, and nourishing Sweet Almond Oil but this does limit its audience to those with dry to very dry skin (as also stated on the label).

You'll be unsurprised to find out that CeraVe's night cream features the brand's usual trio of hero ingredients: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, and Ceramides, which help hydrate, calm, and soothe skin while also maintaining your protective skin barrier. It uses MVE Technology for a steady release of moisture throughout the night.

Cetaphil's Rich Night Cream is formulated with Niacinamide, Panthenol, and Vitamin E for more or less the same purposes, and consistent use of the cream completely restores the skin's natural moisture barrier in just 1 week.

Both creams contain Dimethicone, which is a silicone-based polymer used as a skin protectant. It coats the skin, helping to moisturize by reducing water loss and providing the skin with softness and coverage, and it also provides that satisfying 'glide' that you get with some creams. However, if you have a Silicone allergy, it's best to avoid these two products (for obvious reasons).

Deciding between the two comes down to skin type. If you have dry to very dry skin, you will be best served with Cetaphil's Rich Night Cream thanks to its occlusive, repairing qualities. Otherwise, you will more than likely prefer CeraVe's PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, especially for its lightweight, non-greasy feel and the innumerable nourishing benefits it is famed for.

CeraVe vs Cetaphil Sunscreen

As is thankfully becoming more and more understood these days, sun exposure is responsible for 90% of the visible signs of ageing (among other nasty effects), so it is absolutely critical to have a high quality sunscreen as part of your daily skincare routine.

Sunscreen comparison

Cetaphil and CeraVe both offer a wide variety of sunscreens. There's ones with SPF 30, others with SPF 50, ones for the face, others for the body, and CeraVe even offers one with a sheer tint (we love this sunscreen, by the way).

So as not to compare apples to oranges, we'll be comparing the most similar sunscreens—CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion vs Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30—to discover any glaring underlying differences. We can then infer from the winner which range of sunscreens is best, and then it's up to you which you choose from that range based on your own personal preferences. Anyway, let's dive straight in.

As is evident from the names alone, both sunscreens offer what is known as 'mineral' sun protection. This essentially just means that they contain tiny particles that *physically* prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin (as opposed to chemical sunscreens which contain chemicals that absorb UV light and convert it into heat). The tiny particles in these products in particular are made from Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

Where they begin to differ is the concentration of these active ingredients. The CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen contains 6% Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) and 5% Zinc Oxide (ZnO), whereas the Cetaphil Mineral Sunscreen contains 3% TiO₂ and 10% ZnO. Honestly, you won't notice any difference here when it comes to application. They both still provide the same level of sun protection (SPF 30), just in slightly different ways.

The differences extend to their inactive ingredients, too. While Cetaphil's formula is packed with soothing botanical ingredients such as Aloe, Oat Extract, Soybean Extract, and Jojoba Seed Oil, CeraVe's ingredients list looks more like a jumble of random letters (or at least you'd be forgiven for thinking so). In actuality, CeraVe's formula ends up being the more appealing of the two, containing skincare heroes Hyaluronic Acid (hydrates), Niacinamide (calms the skin), and Ceramides (restores skin barrier).

Both products are thankfully fragrance-, paraben-, and oxybenzone-free, and we couldn't find any other nasties in there either, which is great!

As far as effectiveness is concerned, their popularity speaks for themselves. That said, if you've perused any of their reviews you might have noticed some fairly polarizing opinions and ratings. The most common complaint is to do with the white cast they sometimes leave behind (which is an unfortunate characteristic of most mineral sunscreens). Priming your skin with a light lotion before application helps with this, but even then, it's hard to justify the 'sheer' claim of Cetaphil's sunscreen. CeraVe makes no such claim, but that doesn't necessarily make it any better.

If you're looking for an ultra-effective facial sunscreen that is suitable for sensitive skin, you've found winners in both CeraVe and Cetaphil here, but if your definition of 'effective' extends to ease of application (i.e., not having to wait ages for the sunscreen to absorb properly) then we'd recommend seeking out chemical sunscreen alternatives such as the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (SPF 30) or the Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer (SPF 35) instead.

CeraVe vs Cetaphil Serum

Serums are a fantastic way to quickly and effectively target specific skin concerns thanks to their high concentrations of potent actives that can penetrate deep below the skin's surface thanks to their small molecular sizes.

Hydrating serum comparison

With the trend of Cetaphil and CeraVe evidently being two brands intensely focused on improving your skin's moisture levels with their products, it should come as no surprise that they each offer fantastic hydrating serums: CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum.

While serums usually tend to be watery, both the CeraVe Hydrating HA Serum and the Cetaphil Deep Hydration Serum are actually creamy. They are certainly more lightweight than a regular moisturizer, but also heavier than a normal serum.

At the heart of both serums is Hyaluronic Acid, which has an unbelievable ability to retain moisture; in fact, it can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water! This simple-yet-powerful property is the reason why you see it listed under the 'Key Ingredients' section of nearly every skincare product these days (because it keeps skin very hydrated).

CeraVe additionally includes Vitamin B5 and essential Ceramides that work together to lock in the skin's moisture and help restore the moisture barrier. Cetaphil's features what they call the HydroSensitiv Complex which also serves to improve the skin's hydration levels while helping to desensitize and soothe sensitive skin.

There's a slight difference in emphasis regarding the purpose of these serums. While CeraVe claims to replenish hydration, restore the skin barrier, and instantly provide smoother, softer skin, Cetaphil claims instead to improve the quality of sensitive skin while restoring the skin's radiant appearance and replenishing the skin's hydration levels. Subtly different, sure, but different.

Ultimately, choosing between the two again comes down to skin type. If you have dry/dehydrated and sensitive skin, then you will prefer the soothing qualities of Cetaphil's Deep Hydration serum. If you have normal to dry skin that isn't overly sensitive (or at least, sensitivity isn't your main concern), you will probably prefer the CeraVe Hydrating serum for its focus on hydration and restoring healthy-feeling skin.

Vitamin C serum comparison

Vitamin C helps with collagen production, treats hyperpigmentation, hydrates the skin, reduces redness, smoothes the complexion, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Let's find out how CeraVe's Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum stacks up against Cetaphil's Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum.

You wouldn't have thought that Vitamin C serums could be all that different, but the derivative of Vitamin C they contain makes all the difference. In this case, CeraVe's Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum contains the purest form Vitamin C, L-Ascorbic Acid, whereas Cetaphil's Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum contains a derivative called Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate.

What does this mean? Well, L-Ascorbic Acid is a 'bioactive' form of vitamin C that is instantly available to the skin in its most potent form. However, this potency comes with a couple of downsides: (1) it is unstable, meaning it is liable to 'go off' quickly, and can irritate sensitive skin; (2) it has poor penetration properties, meaning that unless formulated at a specific pH (≤3.5), the deeper layers of your skin won't actually receive any benefits at all.

CeraVe doesn't disclose the pH of their formula, however our tests show that it has a pH of about 6. Unfortunately, this means that this serum *doesn't* actually deliver the full benefits of vitamin C to anything other than the surface of your skin.

While Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is indeed less potent, it instead bio-converts into Ascorbic Acid after penetrating the skin, meaning that your dermis (the deeper layers of your skin) *does* get to experience the perks of vitamin C. Cetaphil isn't very specific about the concentration of SAP in their serum, so it's impossible to calculate exactly how much Ascorbic Acid your skin will receive. Our best estimate is that it contains about 10% SAP, of which your skin will receive ~50% of that in pure vitamin C form. Even though that means it is half as potent as CeraVe's serum, we believe it is still more beneficial due to its stronger penetration.

The inactive ingredients in CeraVe's Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum (ceramides, vitamin B5, and vitamin E) are slightly more convincing than the slew of botanicals in Cetaphil's serum, but ultimately it's the active ingredient that we're most interested in here. Ergo, our verdict is that the Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum is the more effective of the two.

CeraVe vs Cetaphil Eye Cream

Oversleeping, sleep deprivation, dehydration, sun exposure, allergies, eyestrain, stress, and age are all proven causes of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines around the eyes. The simple, easy solution to tackling these symptoms is a high-quality eye cream.

Eye cream comparison

On brand with their keen focus on hydration & reparation of skin, both CeraVe and Cetaphil offer incredibly popular eye creams to restore your under-eye area: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream vs Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream.

Containing Hyaluronic Acid (hydrating), Licorice Extract (brightening, soothing), and a Vitamin E+B3 Complex (protecting, calming), the Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream is clearly formulated with intense hydration in-mind, but perhaps more importantly: it is specifically for those with sensitive skin, and claims to "brighten and smooth for a well-rested look".

CeraVe's Eye Repair Cream, on the other hand, is formulated for all skin types and claims to "reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness". It also includes Hyaluronic Acid for hydration, as well as their trademark trio of essential Ceramides to support the skin's moisture barrier.

In practice, they both feel extremely hydrating and there is a noticeable, immediate difference in the appearance of the surrounding eye area upon application. The gel-cream texture of Cetaphil's eye cream serves to enhance its refreshing, awakening effect (perfect for those early morning routines), whereas CeraVe's thicker creamy texture makes for a nourishing, replenishing experience.

Fundamentally, the Cetaphil eye cream works best as a brightening solution thanks to the inclusion of Licorice Extract. CeraVe's eye cream is instead best for those of us struggling with puffiness, dryness, and other dehydration-related concerns.

Conclusion

Cetaphil and CeraVe are leading beauty brands and their line of products are both known to be of top quality. Hopefully, over the course of this review you arrived at the same conclusions we did, in that they are almost impossible to split in any regard. One overarching theme, however, is that Cetaphil does seem to be more targeted towards those with sensitive skin, whereas CeraVe is targeted more generally at all skin types.

All in all, you really can’t go wrong with either brand, as is exemplified by their mountains of rave reviews and seriously large cult-followings. We're definitely fans of both, and we're excited to see what other innovations they will bring to the skin-conscious community over the coming years.

Work in progress

You have been reading a post that we are constantly updating. Be sure to bookmark this page, subscribe, and come back later to see additions to the definitive CeraVe vs Cetaphil guide!

This post was originally published on 24th June 2022. Last updated 28th February 2023.