Founded in 2005, CeraVe is a dermatologist-developed skin care brand that started off with just three products — a cleanser, a moisturizing lotion, and a moisturizing cream — formulated to repair and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. A healthy skin barrier is crucial for soft, smooth, healthy skin. Unfortunately, there are many factors in our modern environment that can weaken the skin’s barrier, including pollution, environmental toxins, harsh cleansers, and more. A damaged or weak skin barrier allows things like bacteria, pollutants, or other irritants to pass through the top layers of your skin and cause damage. Plus, a weak barrier also allows moisture to escape from the skin. Ultimately, this leads to common skin concerns such as dryness, acne, rashes, and sensitive skin.
Understanding the importance of the skin barrier, the dermatologists at CeraVe formulated the CeraVe skin care products with specific ingredients that help to repair and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. Over the years, CeraVe has expanded to offer much more than just those three initial products. Today, the brand has a complete line of moisturizing face and body products, including the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. In this review, we’ll focus specifically on the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, including the key ingredients, reviews from real customers, an alternative for you to consider, and more.
Is CeraVe Skincare Worth The Money?
A common question about this brand is if the products are worth the cost.
In our opinion, CeraVe products deliver value for money, but take a look at other brands that don’t require you to sacrifice your precious money.
We recommend brands that are committed to developing clean yet effective products.
One brand is Carrot & Stick, a clean skincare brand that perfectly balances the gentle nurturing of plants with the powerful results of innovative science.
Carrot & Stick intro bundles deliver great value for money because you can bundle 3 full-size products worth up to $240 for $88.
What’s Inside CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion?
Of course, the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion formula includes ceramides (as do all CeraVe skin care products). But what exactly are ceramides and how can they benefit your skin? Let’s take a closer look at how topical application of ceramides may benefit your skin.
Ceramides
Ceramides are a family of waxy lipid molecules that are naturally produced by the skin and are vital in supporting the skin’s barrier (the stratum corneum). A properly functioning stratum corneum is essential for healthy skin as it maintains epidermal hydration and serves as a barrier that responds to environmental stressors, infections, irritants, and allergens.
Without ceramides, the skin’s barrier is weakened, which can lead to dryness, itchiness, and even signs of aging. Topical application of ceramides can help to replenish ceramide levels, thus restoring the skin’s natural barrier.
We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Cream for dry skin because it combines ceramides with probiotics and soothing plant extracts to keep the microbiome balanced and skin looking hydrated.
Niacinamide
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion also includes niacinamide as a key ingredient. Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that functions as a potent antioxidant.
Antioxidants help the skin combat free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
In addition to functioning as an antioxidant, niacinamide provides many more benefits to the skin. For example, a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, acne, and wrinkling.
We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum because it combines niacinamide with seven plant-based neuropeptides and soothing, brightening botanicals to promote a youthful glow.
Hyaluronic Acid
The final key ingredient in CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion that we’d like to discuss is hyaluronic acid, which is an excellent ingredient to use for increasing skin hydration. That’s because hyaluronic acid is able to absorb and hold more water than any other natural substance—up to 1,000 times its weight in water!
Furthermore, according to the scholarly journal DermatoEndocrinology, hyaluronic acid helps to reduce signs of aging by protecting collagen and decreasing epidermal water loss associated with sun exposure, low humidity, and other external factors associated with skin dryness.
What is CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion?
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is a moisturizing, soothing facial lotion that is said to help calm the skin, increase moisture retention, and restore the skin’s barrier while you sleep. It is recommended for all skin types, including acne-prone skin since it is non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores or cause acne flare-ups).
Related: Best Night Creams
How to Use CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Apply CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion liberally to the face and neck at night, or as directed by a physician.
Where is CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Sold?
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and other CeraVe skin care products are not sold on the brand’s website. You must buy CeraVe skin care products on third party ecommerce websites such as Amazon, eBay, Ulta, and more. CeraVe skin care products are also sold in physical retail locations throughout the United States, such as Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc. CeraVe has a store locator on their website so you can find a location near you.
What is The CeraVe Return Policy?
CeraVe does not have a return policy on their website since they do not sell products on their website and, therefore, don’t accept returns.
Is CeraVe Cruelty Free?
CeraVe is not cruelty free. CeraVe is owned by L’Oréal, a company that tests on animals. L’Oréal does not conduct animal testing on their products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. Since L’Oréal products are sold in China, they must test their products on animals by law. The good news is that L’Oreal has invested more than $1 billion over the last 25 years to develop innovative, alternative methods to animal testing, particularly in the area of reconstructed tissue development. L’Oreal and CeraVe are committed to a future without tests on animals.
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Reviews
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion reviews on the brand’s website are mostly very positive, with the product receiving an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars after more than 1,000 customer reviews.
Positive reviews for the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion mention that it is very gentle, soothing, and helps to keep the skin moisturized and soft. For example, one review says, “I have been using this moisturizer for about a year now and have really enjoyed this as an introduction to a diligent skincare routine. I love that not only is this a gentle effective moisturizer but also contains actives like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid which I have been hearing a lot about online recently. I love that this is fragrance free and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.”
The negative reviews for the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion mention that it feels sticky on the skin and pills. For example, one review says, “I heard a lot about this brand and decided to try something new, as I have been using the same skincare line for years. I bought the face wash and pm moisturizer. I am fairly disappointed in the moisturizer- I find it sticky on my face and quite unpleasant. I am not overly happy with it- especially given the price.”
What Are Some Alternatives to CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion?
If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend this cream.
References:
J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010 Feb; 3(2): 22–41
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 30 Nov 2016, 9(12):26-32
Am J Clin Dermatol 2003;4(2):107-29.
Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1; 4(3): 253–258
