Eucerin vs CeraVe 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

If you're on the hunt for highly effective skincare products that are affordable, Eucerin and CeraVe are two brands you should definitely consider checking out.

This comparison guide will explore the wide assortment of moisturizers and cleansers that both brands offer, and hopefully by the end of it you will have found your next holy grail!

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Eucerin vs CeraVe Cleanser

As the first step in a skincare routine, cleanser holds an important job of ridding your skin of oils, makeup, bacteria, and environmental pollutants it collects on its surface throughout the day or evening (gross, I know). It preps your skin so that the next products in your skincare line up can be properly absorbed, and therefore be more effective.

Eucerin DermatoClean Cleansing Gel vs CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

We will be comparing Eucerin’s DermatoClean Cleansing Gel and CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser. Both cleansers claim to be suitable for everyday use while balancing the skin’s moisture levels and skin barrier. However, there are a few key differences to keep in mind.

Both brands’ cleansers have similar ingredients. Both contain Glycerin as the second ingredient. Glycerin is a fantastic humectant that will attract and draw moisture from the atmosphere and into the skin. Both also contain hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, skin-replenishing Ceramides, and are completely fragrance-free.

There’s a distinct difference in the texture of both cleansers. Eucerin’s cleanser is a gel consistency that will foam up. In comparison, CeraVe’s cleanser is a cream cleanser that won’t lather yet still effectively cleanses the skin.

If we take a deeper dive into the formulas, you'll notice major disparity in the length of their ingredients lists. Eucerin’s cleanser has a much shorter ingredients list (which typically means there's less chance of irritation or potential allergic reaction), and is alcohol-free.

However, don’t panic when you look at CeraVe’s slightly longer ingredients list. It *does* contain alcohol derivatives, but not the irritating, drying types immediately come to mind. CeraVe’s formula contains Cetearyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol; these are fatty alcohols that will soften the skin and work together to stabilize formulas.

Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash vs CeraVe Soothing Body Wash

While CeraVe and Eucerin each offer a whole range of popular body washes (such as CeraVe's Hydrating Body Wash, CeraVe's SA Body Wash, and Eucerin's Urea Repair Body Wash), today we'll be focusing on their soothing/calming body washes, as they are by far the most popular.

Unlike typical body washes, neither of these products contain soap or fragrance (common irritants). Without even needing to delve deeper into their formulas, we can already infer that they are intended for those with sensitive or compromised skin.

Another trait of skincare products intended to be hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin types is when their formulas contain very few ingredients, and this is exactly the case with Eucerin's Skin Calming Body Wash. In fact, it contains only 10 ingredients, most of which being surfactants and emulsifiers. 20% of the list is dedicated to Omega Oils, known for their smoothing emollient properties and soothing anti-inflammatory properties.

CeraVe's Soothing Body Wash also contains Omega Oils, but their formula can hardly be called 'minimal' with 24 ingredients on the list. This is forgivable, though, given that the lengthier ingredients list means the inclusion of Ceramides, Urea, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin E—all possessing skin-nourishing qualities that are rare to find in your typical body wash.

When it comes to choosing between the two, it's worth noting that CeraVe's Soothing Body Wash has the National Eczema Association's seal of approval, so you know that what you're getting has been put through the wringer, and you can be fairly certain that your skin won't negatively react to it. Eucerin's Skin Calming Body Wash doesn't have the same seal of approval, though its minimal ingredients list renders it a lot cheaper if you're not too interested in the bonuses inside CeraVe's.

Before purchasing either, though, you need to understand that you won't be getting the usual body wash experience out of either product. By design, they have extremely thin, runny, oily consistencies, and they don't lather. The majority of their negative reviews are because customers are unfortunately unaware that this isn't a defect (though the brands should definitely provide more clarity so as not to mislead anyone).

Eucerin vs CeraVe 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.

Eucerin Daily Hydration Lotion vs CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

While it’s essential to take care of our face, it's also necessary to look after the rest of our body, too, as it can often be overlooked and neglected. Our epidermis is our body’s largest organ, and it protects us from environmental stressors such as pollution, bacteria, and even viruses. When your skin is dehydrated, it can lead to cracking and peeling, allowing bacteria to enter the body.

Today we will be comparing Eucerin’s Daily Hydration Lotion and CeraVe’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion, each promising to ward off dryness and dehydration.

Both formulas contain ingredients that will deeply nourish and hydrate the skin (as you would hope!). But, if we take a deeper dive into the ingredient lists, there are some key differences to be explored.

The second ingredient (after water) in Eucerin’s Daily Hydration Lotion is Sunflower Oil, a soothing, hydrating, and protective ingredient rich in antioxidants. It also contains Petrolatum, commonly referred to as petroleum jelly, which is a petroleum derivative. When used in skincare products, it helps trap moisture in the skin due to its occlusive properties. However, it is worth noting that it renders the product as non-eco-friendly since petroleum jelly is a by-product of oil refining.

CeraVe’s formula does not contain any petroleum or oils. Instead, it relies on a blend of essential Ceramides, fatty alcohols, and humectants such as Hyaluronic Acid to support the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream vs CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Creams tend to be slightly thicker than their lotion counterparts, and are a necessity when skin becomes too dry and cracked. Not only can dryness make you feel self-conscious about the way you look, but it can also be really rather painful. Plus, when you leave cracks in the skin exposed, it allows bacteria to waltz right in, potentially leading to infections and other skin problems.

By choosing the best body cream for your skin, you can head down the road to recovery. We will be comparing two of the best: Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Cream and CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream.

Both formulas are packed with hydrating ingredients such as humectants, emollients, and natural moisturizing factors. Both formulas contain ceramides, an essential lipid that makes up 40% of the epidermis. Ceramides protect the skin by strengthening the moisture barrier and preventing water from escaping the skin too quickly.

While both formulas are super hydrating and made with excellent ingredients, there is a distinct difference in the formulas and their intended use.

Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Cream is designed for use on the body and not on the face. It also contains an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (specifically: Lactic Acid), a chemical exfoliant which can make your skin more susceptible to sunburns and sensitization, but also helps to slough away dead skin cells to reveal smoother, more hydrated skin. It is designed to be used only on the body.

CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream is designed to be used on both the body and the face. It is non-comedogenic, so it will not clog your pores if you use it on your face. It also doesn’t contain any acids, so while it won't provide the benefits of exfoliation, it won't subject you to the downsides of exfoliation either.

Eucerin Daily Protection Face Lotion vs CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

The daily use of sun protection is essential! It doesn’t matter if you live in a hot sunny environment or a cloudy gray area. Unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays can have devastating consequences over time; it can increase your chances of developing harmful skin conditions and age your skin.

Today we will be comparing Eucerin’s Daily Protection Face Lotion and CeraVe’s AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, both of which contain SPF to help mitigate the harmful effects of daily sun exposure.

The formulas are similar, but there is a big difference in the moisturizing factors used (especially since one is a moisturizer first, sunscreen second—CeraVe—and the other is a sunscreen first, moisturizer second—Eucerin).

Eucerin’s Daily Protection Face Lotion contains Castor Oil. Castor oil is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for severely dry skin. However, it can be heavy! CeraVe’s formula is oil-free, and most of the moisture will come from the brand’s patented blend of Ceramides and humectants (such as Hyaluronic Acid).

What really sets CeraVe's day cream apart from Eucerin's is its incorporation of Niacinamide. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B that is an excellent anti-inflammatory ingredient for individuals with sensitive skin, it is also reported to boost hydration, reduce the appearance of pores, treat dark spots, and even offer some anti-aging benefits.

Returning to the point on sun protection. While CeraVe's contains chemical sunscreen ingredients as well as a physical sunscreen ingredient: Zinc Oxide. Eucerin's contains similar chemical sunscreen ingredients, Zinc Oxide, *and* another physical sun protectant Titanium Dioxide.

The concentrations of all these sun protectants yield the same, broad-spectrum SPF 30 in each, but generally speaking, Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide sun protection trumps just Zinc Oxide sun protection (though the inclusion of chemical sun protection complicates the equation a bit).

Ultimately, if you are looking for something more akin to a sunscreen than a moisturizer, Eucerin’s Daily Protection Face Lotion is for you. However, if you have skin that is susceptible to breaking out, or you're just looking for something more like a regular face cream, CeraVe’s AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is a better fit.

Eucerin UreaRepair Rich Replenishing Face Cream vs CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

If your skin needs some serious TLC and an intense shot of moisturization, you should consider adding an intensive night moisturizer into your routine. These creams typically have a heavier texture and have a more intense concentration of humectants and oils.

Both Eucerin and CeraVe boast their own takes of the 'ideal' night cream, but there are several distinctions to take note of before deciding which is best.

Eucerin’s UreaRepair Rich Replenishing Face Cream is a dream for individuals with dehydrated, flaky skin that feels tight and uncomfortable. The formula contains Lactate and Urea, two naturally occurring humectants that bind moisture into the skin. Urea is an incredibly fascinating ingredient because it encourages the loosening and shedding of dead skin cells.

On that note, it also contains Lactic Acid, another fantastic ingredient lauded for its ability to gentle slough away dead skin cells. Clearly this product has an emphasis on delivering smoother skin while you sleep.

A good night cream doesn’t have to be thick or crammed with actives to be effective, though. CeraVe’s PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is lightweight in texture and absorbs quickly. It’s formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Ceramides to help the skin retain its moisture levels.

While both night moisturizers will provide your skin with the intense hydration it needs, it’s essential to consider your skin concerns. If your skin is dry, tight, and rough/scaly/flaky, we recommend Eucerin’s UreaRepair Rich Replenishing Face Cream. However, if your skin is simply dehydrated or you have sensitive skin that clogs easily, CeraVe’s lighter formula may be a better fit.

Eucerin vs CeraVe for Eczema

For those struggling with eczema, both Eucerin and CeraVe can offer some respite from the madness-inducing itchiness and flakiness. In particular, Eucerin's Eczema Relief Cream and CeraVe's Eczema Relief Creamy Oil are clinically proven and even lauded for their ability to relieve eczema symptoms.

If it's not your first time browsing eczema products, you probably won't be shocked to find out that at the heart of both formulas is Colloidal Oatmeal (which protects and helps relieve irritation) and Ceramides (which supports your skin's moisture barrier).

Eucerin's Eczema Relief Cream additionally contains another eczema-treatment staple: Licochalcone, renowned for its soothing properties. CeraVe's Eczema Relief Creamy Oil instead contains Niacinamide for a similar purpose. They're both obviously also free from fragrance, parabens, and dye.

Given that they have similar active ingredients, you would've thought it'd be quite tricky to separate the two. (Un)fortunately, CeraVe has actually made it quite easy for us: customers hate the new formula, as is evident from the bombardment of 1-star reviews recently.

In fact, the CeraVe 'consumer care center' is actively recommending the Daily Moisturizing Lotion instead (which, to be fair, is accepted by the National Eczema Association, and adored by most that try it). But it just doesn't have the same oomph as the original Eczema Relief Creamy Oil when it comes to relieving eczema symptoms other than dryness.

If you're seeking actual irritation relief, the uncontroversial Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream is clearly the way to go.

Eucerin vs CeraVe for KP

Keratosis Pilaris (or KP for short) is a common condition that causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps to form on the skin. While it is completely harmless, it can often be rather unsightly, so wanting rid of the roughness/bumpiness is completely understandable.

Fortunately, both Eucerin and CeraVe offer treatments that will help restore smooth skin: Eucerin's Roughness Relief Lotion and CeraVe's SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin.

While both lotions contain Lactic Acid—which on its own typically constitutes a full-blown treatment for roughness and bumpiness due to its gentle exfoliating effect—they both contain other keratolytics which ultimately set them apart.

The Eucerin Roughness Relief Lotion contains Urea, which boasts a unique combination as a natural moisturizing factor as well as an exfoliator. The CeraVe SA Lotion instead contains Salicylic Acid, which is absolutely an exfoliating agent first and foremost (and certainly isn't moisturizing—if anything, it's drying).

Both lotions also contain a slew of emollients and humectants such as Ceramides and Glycerin to address dryness. We could argue all day about which lotion is more nourishing, but without understanding the exact concentrations it's impossible to objectively say one way or another.

Likewise for the topic of Urea vs Salicylic Acid for KP (which is ultimately what this comparison has boiled down to since *both* contain Lactic Acid), without knowing the percentages of each in each lotion, we're left purely speculating about their potencies. Turning to the reviews as a course of last resort, one finds that both are equally as popular (so there's no winner by default unlike with the previous comparison!).

Ergo, the lotions are inseparable, and both will provide the remedy you're seeking. If you want to be thrifty, you might find Eucerin's Roughness Relief Lotion to be preferable, but if you're a fan of CeraVe and already have other products of theirs then a slightly higher price tag shouldn't put you off (since you just *know* it'll work for you).

Conclusion

Both brands create fantastic products and are amongst the most popular brands in the world (with some serious cult-followings), due to their affordability, reputation, and accessibility.

However, we do want to make it known that neither of these brands are strictly cruelty-free (despite their best efforts), so if animal testing is an important factor to you, it might be the case that neither brand is for you.

CeraVe

At this point, CeraVe almost needs no introduction; they are one of the single most popular brands around at the moment, and this is in no small part due to their proclivity for simple, affordable skincare.

As you explore CeraVe’s products, you will notice that most bottles, if not all, will advertise that CeraVe is the “#1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand” based on IQVIA’s ProVoice Survey in November 2021. All its products were developed in collaboration with dermatologists, and all of its formulations and ingredients are rooted in scientifically-backed research and evidence.

Eucerin

Eucerin, another famous skincare brand, works to deliver a holistic-cosmetic approach by combining research from both dermatologists and pharmacists. So it is not surprising that the Eucerin range is dedicated to improving your skin condition; with over 100 years of research and product innovation, they are a leading skincare brand.

Eucerin has an extensive range of products to treat a wide array of skincare needs, including redness, dryness, dark spots, acne, skin texture, and an acute care range for complex skin concerns such as Atopic Dermatitis and Atopic Eczema

Suppose you require soothing skincare products such as a repair lotion, gentle cleanser, or replenishing cream. In that case, you may be experiencing dry skin, redness, irritation, or even allergies to commonly used ingredients. Understandably, finding a product based on research and science in treating complex skin concerns is significant

This article was originally published on February 18th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 31st 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.