Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on September 18, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe night moisturizers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances 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.
Night Moisturizer
Night Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin overnight.
Night Moisturizer
Night Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin overnight.
Price
Ingredient Info
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream 28 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 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 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
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:
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:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
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
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream 28 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 4 ingredients 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:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient 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:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 7 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 4 ingredients 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.
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream 28 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • Ethylhexyl Palmitate • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Glycerin • Cetearyl Olivate • Sorbitan Olivate • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Cetearyl Alcohol • Stearic Acid • Dimethiconol • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Hyaluronate • Triethanolamine • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium Dehydroacetate • Saccharum Officinarum Extract • Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract • Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract • Citrus Limon Fruit Extract • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Cyclopentasiloxane • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Cetyl Alcohol • Dimethicone • Saccharide Isomerate • Stearic Acid • Palmitic Acid • Glycine Soja Sterols • Allantoin • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Niacinamide • Cetearyl Alcohol • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Sodium Hydroxide • Myristic Acid • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Tocopherol • Tripeptide-1 • Laureth-9 • Citric Acid • Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3 • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • Dextran • Ethylhexylglycerin • Butylene Glycol
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 Watere.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.
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.
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 9.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 40.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii Buttere.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 Glycerine.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohole.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 13.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 20.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic Acide.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 14.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 11.
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 Gume.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 16.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 37.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronatee.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 27.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream contains this as ingredient number 28.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin contains this as ingredient number 29.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream 28 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream 28 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream 28 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
NurseMeg
Simple, very hydrating night time moisturizer. My skin loves this stuff. Bonus points for being affordable
Clover
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
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to e.l.f. cosmetics Nourishing Night Cream.
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