Kat, does this happen with any cream or just CeraVe? If it happens with any cream, it’s because your skin’s protective barrier is broken and needs repairing. In this case, keep using the cream.

If it’s only the CeraVe cream, then there must be something in it that your skin doesn’t like, especially now that it’s this sensitive. Maybe an oil like jojoba or squalene would work best?

Do you know what could be wrong with my skin? I want to repair the skin barrier.

Volcanicrash, ingredient-wise, there’s not really much of a difference. Both will work well for you.

Thanks for the blog. Finally, someone who reads the science!

I have a question about the Cereve cleanser, i have noticed that the ingredients list for the ‘Hydrating Celaners’ is different from the ‘Hydrating Facial Cleanser’. When i go to purchase them, the photos are used interchangeably between the two products. Does it really matter if you want to use it on your face but end up getting the one thats simply called ‘hydrating cleanser’ delivered?

Hydrating Cleanser Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Ceramide EOP

Hydrating Facial Cleanser Ingredients: Water (Purified), Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methylsulfate/Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 11, Ceramide 1, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Polyoxyl 40 Stearate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phytosphingosine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum

Thanks for your expert eye !

Kristina, it’s hard to compare as we don’t have the % of retinol in Cerave. What I can tell you is that the CeraVe cream is fairly moisturising too so there may be a slight chance it can feel too heavy for you in summer. You won’t know until you try it. Having said that, the moisturising base makes your skin better able to tolerate retinol.

I personally don’t use peptides in my skincare routine. 90% of the research on them was done by manufacturers in vitro. It’s promising, but until more independent research on real people comes out, I’d rather stick to tried and tested ingredients like retinol and vitamin C. If you have the money to spare and are curious to try them go ahead. But they’re by no means a must.