CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is the night moisturiser I recommend the most during my skincare consultations. Here’s why:
It strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, keeping your skin healthy and soft under the worst weather condition – think harsh winter winds and scalding summer heat.
It’s suitable for all skin types, including dry, oily and sensitive.
It’s super cheap (why pay more if you don’t have to?).
How does it accomplish all this? Let’s find out:
Key Ingredients In CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion: What Makes It Work?
NIACINAMIDE TO HYDRATE, SOOTHE, AND TREAT
Niacinamide is the joker of skincare. It does everything:
It doesn’t matter what skin type or problem you’re dealing with. Niacinamide can help you treat it. If it’s not currently part of your skincare routine, a moisturiser like CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is the easiest way to get your fix.
Related: The Complete Guide To Niacinamide In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, & How To Use It
CERAMIDES TO STRENGTHEN THE SKIN’S PROTECTIVE BARRIER
Ceramides are oily waxes (“cera” means wax in Latin) that make up the glue that holds skin cells together (together with fatty acids, cholesterol etc). Their job is to waterproof skin. The barrier they create:
Ceramides make it harder for harsh weather & other skin enemies to break down your skin’s protective barrier. But if that happens, anyway, they can heal it, too. When the barrier that keeps skin healthy breaks down in places, ceramides come along and fill in the gaps, stopping moisture from getting out and germs from getting in. CeraVe PM Facial Moistuizing Lotion uses 3 types of ceramides. They’re not skimping on this!
Related: Are Ceramides The Key To Healthy Skin?
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
The key to glowing skin? Moisture, moisture, and more moisture. This is where Hyaluronic Acid comes in. It’s a moisture magnet that attracts moisture from the environment into your skin. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! Can you imagine how happy your skin is with all that extra moisture? It plumps up so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. It glows as if lit-from-within. And it gets softer to the touch.
Related: Why You Need To Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
Water: The main solvent, it dissolves other ingredients in the formula. Oh, and it’s hydrating too.
Glycerin: A humectant that attracts and binds water to the skin, helping it to stay softer and hydrated for longer.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Derived from coconut, it provides all its super moisturising power without clogging pores.
Cetearyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol that deeply hydrates skin, leaving it softer and smoother.
Potassium Phosphate: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
Carbomer: It’s used to create gel-like formulations.
Dimethicone: A silicones that gives slip to a product and makes the texture easier to spread. It also fills in fine lines and wrinkles, so they look smaller to the naked eye. Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn’t clog pores or suffocates skin.
Ceteareth-20: An emulsifier that allows the water-based and oil-based ingredients in a product to blend together, so the formula doesn’t separate into two layers.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate: Another emulsifier that allows the water-based and oil-based ingredients in a product to blend together.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate: Another emulsifier that helps ingredients blend together. It’s also a thickener.
Cholesterol: A natural component of your skin’s protective barrier, it makes skin softer and smoother.
Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your skincare products.
Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent. In plain English, it neutralises the metal ions in the water that would otherwise spoil the formula.
Dipotassium Phosphate: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
Caprylyl Glycol: It hydrates skin and has mild preservative properties to boot.
Phytosphingosine: A complex fatty alcohol naturally found in your skin. It’s part of your skin’s natural moisturising factor and keeps it softer and suppler.
Xanthan Gum: It thickens the texture of skincare products.
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate: An emollient with emulsifying properties.
Ethylhexylglycerin: It has mild hydrating and preservative properties.
Texture
The texture is a little thick for a lotion, but it sinks in quickly and it creates a moisturising base for makeup.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free. It may be a disappointment to those of you who love fragrances in skincare products. But, fragrance is the most irritating ingredient in skincare, so when a brand leaves it out, I know they know what skin needs – and doesn’t.
How To Use It
At night, it’s the last step of your skincare routine. If you’re using an oil, use it after this cream. If you want to use it at night, use it in between serum and sunscreen.
Packaging
This lotion comes in a white tube with blue accents. It dispenses just the right amount of product you need – no waste. It’s not the prettiest, but it’s practical and gets the job done.
Performance & Personal Opinion
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion doesn’t have any antioxidants or fancy extracts. It’s just a basic moisturizer that does a fantastic job at keeping your skin soft, supple and safe from environmental harm – no matter your skin type:
Dry skin: It repairs your broken protective barrier, so moisture can finally stay in and moisturise from within.
Oily skin: It moisturises skin without adding more oil to it – no breakouts!
Sensitive skin: It’s free of fragrance and anything else that can irritate it.
FYI, don’t let the name fool you. You can totally use CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion in the AM, too. For now, a moisturising sunscreen is all I need in the AM, but as the weather turns for the worse (it’s been non-stop rain for a month here in London 🙁 ), I definitely plan to make it a part of my morning routine, too.
The lotion does a wonderful job at moisturizing my skin. I apply it after retinol/exfoliation, two treatments that can be harsh and drying for your skin – especially if you’re new to them. The next morning, I wake up with super soft skin that’s better able to withstand the colder temperatures.
Instead than getting all dry and red as soon I step foot outside the house, my face stays supple and hydrated all day. Phew! If you don’t mind supplementing with a separate antioxidant serum, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is well worth a try.
How Does CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion Compare To The Other CeraVe Moisturisers?
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is my absolute favourite of all CeraVe moisturisers. But the brand has other options too. Here’s a quick lowdown so you can see how they compare and decide which is best for your skin:
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($20.99): Not a huge fan. It’s lightweight, but not super hydrating and only provides enough sun protection if you apply it as a sunscreen, i.e. generously. Available at Dermstore, Target and UIta.
Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($17.99): A lighter, oil-free version of CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion minus the niacinamide. If you’re one of those few people who can’t tolerate niacinamide (I’ve only had one client like that in years), this is a good option. Available at Dermstore, Target, Ulta, and Walmart.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($17.99): A basic formula without niacinamide, it has a richer texture. The jar is huge, so I love this for my body, not so much for my face. Available at Target, Ulta, and Walmart.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream ($27.99): A silicone-based, lightweight moisturiser with retinol to fight wrinkles and reduce dark spots. Retinol degrades when exposed to light, so it shouldn’t be used during the day. CeraVe fixed that by adding UV filters here, but it only gives you sun protection if you apply it as generously as sunscreen. If you’re only gonna apply a thin layer, don’t bother. Available at Target, Ulta, and Walmart.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil ($26.99): A lightweight, oil-like formula that hydrates skin, plumps up fine lines and wrinkles, and has a sprinkle of antioxidants to fight wrinkles. Best for dry skin. Available at Ulta.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream ($23.99): A rich cream with shea butter and ceramides that deeply moisturises skin and restores your skin barrier. But it can’t renew skin. Only exfoliants can do that and this isn’t one. Available at Ulta.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Gel Moisturizer ($20.99): It has all the same active ingredients as CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion, but in a lighter texture. It’s most suitable for oily and acne-prone skin. Available at Target and Ulta.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion ($20.99): A very lightweight cream that provides a little extra hydration without clogging pores. It’s only moisturising enough for oily skin and provides adequate sun protection only if you apply a thick layer. Available at Target, Ulta, and Walmart.
What I Like About CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion
Creamy texture, absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind
Moisturising, makes skin softer and smoother
Plumps up fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller
Soothing, reduces irritations
Suitable for all skin types
Fragrance-free
Practical packaging
Affordable
What I DON’T Like About CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion
Doesn’t have any antioxidant or anti-aging ingredients
Who Should Use This?
This is one of those rare moisturisers that literally everyone can use. It moisturises every skin type without clogging pores or irritating skin.
Does CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion Live Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM
TRUE?
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer, formulated with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and three essential ceramides, uses our MVE Technology to deliver a steady stream of much-needed moisture for continuous hydration throughout the night while helping restore the skin barrier.
True.
Lightweight & Oil Free. Non-comedogenic, won’t clog pores.
True.
Made For: All Skin Types.
True.
Price & Availability
$20.99 at Boots, Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Target, and Ulta
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Yes, yes, yes! If you’re looking for a moisturiser that does an excellent job without side effects or breaking the bank, this is so it – no matter what your skin type is.
Dupes & Alternatives
Just get this one. Really.
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate,Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
