Versus

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Versus Paula's Choice Probiotic Nutrient Moisturizer

Night Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on February 03, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain ceramides and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances or parabens

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Probiotic Nutrient Moisturizer

Water

Skin Conditioning

Isoamyl Laurate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Polyacrylate Starch

Absorbent

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Lauroyl Lysine

Skin Conditioning

Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Lactobacillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glucomannan

Skin Conditioning

Saccharomyces Lysate

Skin Conditioning

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Antimicrobial
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Acetyl Hexapeptide-1

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Ceramide Ng

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil

Emollient
1 / 0 Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Proline

Skin Conditioning

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Serine

Masking

Threonine

Alanine

Masking

Valine

Masking

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Proline

Skin Conditioning

Lysine Hcl

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Good for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Lecithin

Emollient

Phytic Acid

AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Yeast Extract

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

PCA

Humectant

Magnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate

Cleansing

Isopropyl Palmitate

Emollient
3-4 / 1 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glutamic Acid

Humectant

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Ceteth-20

Cleansing

Steareth-20

Cleansing
2 / 1

Polysorbate 20

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-75 Stearate

Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Propylene Glycol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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
Smoothing

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol
Skin Conditioning

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.

When to use

2,380 Routines
24% use in am
76% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion 24 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 32 ratings
Light (9) No Scent (8) Absorbs Well (8)
sword's avatar

sword

1 year ago
Review

Comedogenic. This product contains cetearyl alcohol and polyglyeryl-3 diisostearate, both of which are comedogenic ingredients. When I used this product it gave me the worst breakout I've ever had. Definitely not for oily and/or clog-prone skin.

#broke me out
#light
#doesn't work
pasta1's avatar

Pasta 박

7 months ago
Review

Did not give my combo skin a break out however it just doesn’t improve skin that much.

#hydrating
#absorbs well
#light scent
#doesn't work

Paula's Choice Probiotic Nutrient Moisturizer 56 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating
sameteamdwight's avatar

sameteamdwight

4 years ago
Review

On the Fence
I'm a little on the fence about this product. It goes on smoothly although it has a gooey, sticky texture and it doesn't interfere with any of the serums or oils I put on before it. It smells like wet cardboard (although my toddler told me it smelled like donut so I guess YMMV) but it does dissipate soon enough. It has a lot of sexy ingredients that made me fall for it in the first Show more