Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin versus CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 .
Last updated on October 02, 2023. Published on December 29, 2020
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens or oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
Price
Ingredient Info
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Alcohol • Cetyl Alcohol • Potassium Phosphate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Dimethicone • Ceteareth-20 • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Methylparaben • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Cholesterol • Disodium EDTA • Dipotassium Phosphate • Propylparaben • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • Polysorbate 20 • Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% • Homosalate 10% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Octocrylene 2.7% • Water • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxyacetophenone • Citric Acid • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • T-Butyl Alcohol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 GlycerinCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.
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 NPCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 7.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 11.
Ceramide AP is a type of Ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. Having a strong skin barrier leads to more firm and hydrated skin.
They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin. 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 NP Ceramide EOP
Learn more about Ceramide APCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 8.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 12.
Ceramide EOP is a type of Ceramide. EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
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 NP
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 9.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 13.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 10.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 14.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is the lauric acid sodium salt of lactyl lactate.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is an emulsifier and surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally. Surfactants reduce surface tension, making it easier to rinse pollutants off skin.
Due to its relation to lauric acid, it may provide antimicrobial benefits.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl LactylateCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 15.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 16.
Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.
Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.
Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.
Learn more about CholesterolCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 16.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 18.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTACeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 17.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine is already present in our skin. On our skin, it is a building block for ceramides.
Phytosphingosine tells our skin to increase its natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Phytosphingosine is also abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 21.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 23.
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 GumCeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 22.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 24.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients
kawaiidesuwu_683
ok
its not very good. its like good for your body but i wouldn't put it on my face. it feels like straight grease on the face, and then the...
ok
its not very good. its like good for your body but i wouldn't put it on my face. it feels like straight grease on the face, and then the moisture doesn't last at all. i find my face feeling dry when i wake up
ZephyrRose_888
More drying?
It made me more dry. It's a good price point, and it works for some so I've heard, but when I used it I just felt more dry.
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