We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. When it comes to skincare, sometimes basic is better. Think about it: When you experience any sort of skin flare up, the best thing to do is to remove all actives and prioritize simple hydration and barrier restoration.
Ask any dermatologist what brands are the best for this, and they’ll tell you CeraVe or Cetaphil (or both!). These drugstore skincare brands have amassed a cult-like following for their simple and affordable formulas that are gentle enough for even the most reactive skin types. But how do you possibly choose one?
Is one better than the other? To settle this debate, I consulted dermatologists and conducted my own little experiment to come up with a definitive answer. I completely swapped out my skincare routine, exclusively using CeraVe for one week and Cetaphil for the next (then switching things up and using both on half of my face for *funsies*).
I tried a cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen from each line to compare the formulas, textures, and packaging, as well as how each product made my skin look and feel. Let me tell ya, my skin needed a refresh and going back to the basics has me looking extra radiant. Soooooo... does that mean we have a clear winner?
Keep reading to find out which drugstore brand is the best option for your skin. While I’m sure you’ve seen CeraVe while perusing your local CVS, I bet you discovered it on TikTok—or maybe your dermatologist recommended it to you. CeraVe is still a relatively fresh brand (especially when compared to Cetaphil).
It launched in 2005 with just three products—the Moisturizing Cream, Moisturizing Lotion, and Hydrating Cleanser. Dermatologists helped develop CeraVe because they noticed many skin issues (like acne, eczema, psoriasis, dryness, etc.) were caused by a compromised skin barrier. So, to restore said barrier—and remedy these issues—CeraVe formulas feature three essential ceramides that mimic the ones naturally found in your skin.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
