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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on December 30, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain ceramides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any oils or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Day Moisturizer American Brand United States
Night Moisturizer Canadian Brand Canada

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

Night Moisturizer

Night Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin overnight.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
30
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators (2)
Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (7)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (6)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 6.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 14.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 39.

4
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 37.

5
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 21.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 33.

6
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 25.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 9.

7
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.

Learn more about Sodium Citrate

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 32.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 26.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.

Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP

Learn more about Ceramide NP

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 36.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

14% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
51% are disliked or very disliked
27% have no rating yet
40% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 37 ingredients

Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients

4.8 /5
from 6 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
NurseMeg's avatar

NurseMeg

2 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Simple, very hydrating night time moisturizer. My skin loves this stuff. Bonus points for being affordable

Clover's avatar

Clover

11 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Favorite for buffering or sandwiching retinoids!
When I first started my strong retinoid journey to help deal with my acne I was on the hunt for a...

Favorite for buffering or sandwiching retinoids!
When I first started my strong retinoid journey to help deal with my acne I was on the hunt for a thick moisturizer to help act as a buffer to my adapalene gel and to ease me through the retinization process. However I didn’t want anything too occlusive either, so I wanted to avoid petrolatum and oils (not all oils are super occlusive, but I wanted something oil free just to be safe). Something with ceramides was also a must as I knew that I needed to keep my skin barrier strong through retinization. That’s when I found this night cream! It met all my requirements and needs! This is THICC, like, I can turn the jar upside down and shake it and it’s not going anywhere kind of thick <3. BUT it’s not greasy; in fact it almost has a matte finish to it (velvety finish? satin finish? IDK). Despite how thick it is though, it still let enough of my adapalene through to be effective. In the beginning I was flakey and a little red, but NOT irritated. Having said that that however, after about 6-7 months of using .1% adapalene, I moved up to using .05% tretinoin (AKA a stronger retinoid) and and using this cream as a buffer wasn’t quite enough for the areas on my face where it creases, so I recommend using plain petrolatum as a buffer on places such as the corners of the mouth, smile lines, around the nose, etc, if you find you are experiencing irritation. However for those starting out their retinoid journey, this is a perfect option to help ease you into it. But even if you are not using retinoids in your routine, this is still a fantastic night cream. My skin tends to lean dry, and this cream makes it feel protected, soft, and soooo smooth. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Alternatives

We haven't detected any alternatives for Aveeno Ultra-Calming Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30.

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