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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 versus CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 .

Last updated on October 02, 2023. Published on June 06, 2021

Overview

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances

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

Sunscreen American Brand United States
Day Moisturizer Canadian Brand Canada

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Day Moisturizer

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

Price

Shop

Buy Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30

Starts at $11.97
Shop

Buy Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

Starts at $16.29

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
spf rating
30

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Reduces Irritation
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Anti-Aging (3)
Brightening

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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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: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.

3
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

Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 10.

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 22.

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

41% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
47% are disliked or very disliked
12% have no rating yet
38% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
4% 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

Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 17 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
SkyeReed's avatar

SkyeReed

1 month ago · Oily Skin
Review

Great for oily and acne prone skin. Doesn't cause a greasy look or feel. Been using for 5 years now and I swear by it!

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 21 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 48 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30.

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