Head to head
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream vs CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Same comparison whichever way you searched it: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
The bottom lineCeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion if you want the actives; CeraVe Moisturizing Cream if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Answer nine questions and the app picks between them for your skin.
Cost per use
€0.05 an applicationabout 270 uses from 340 ml
measured: 2.5 fingertip units for face and neck, about 1.25 g; from €14 as read in September 2026 and a 340 ml pack.
how this is counted
About €0.05 an application, about 270 uses from 340 ml.
- Long & Finlay 1991, Clin Exp Dermatol: face and neck 2.5 fingertip units (PMID 1806320, abstract read)
- Long, Finlay & Averill 1992, Arch Dermatol: 4 hand areas = 2 FTU = 1 g (PMID 1497374)
- Finlay, Edwards & Harding 1989, Lancet: the fingertip unit defined (PMID 2567912, a letter)
- density taken as 1 g per ml: assumed, as on the sunscreen calculator
- Measured or assumed: the rule, and the dose table
€0.36 an applicationabout 40 uses from 52 ml
measured: 2.5 fingertip units for face and neck, about 1.25 g; from €15 as read in September 2026 and a 52 ml pack.
how this is counted
About €0.36 an application, about 40 uses from 52 ml.
- Long & Finlay 1991, Clin Exp Dermatol: face and neck 2.5 fingertip units (PMID 1806320, abstract read)
- Long, Finlay & Averill 1992, Arch Dermatol: 4 hand areas = 2 FTU = 1 g (PMID 1497374)
- Finlay, Edwards & Harding 1989, Lancet: the fingertip unit defined (PMID 2567912, a letter)
- density taken as 1 g per ml: assumed, as on the sunscreen calculator
- Measured or assumed: the rule, and the dose table
Per application, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the cheaper: €0.05 against €0.36.
Which should you pick?
Pick Moisturizing Cream if
- you want the more affordable option
Pick PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion if
- dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
What each delivers
Side by side
| Moisturizing Cream | PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Moisturizer | Moisturizer |
| Key actives | Glycerin, Petrolatum, Ceramide 3 | Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ceramide 3 |
| Texture | A rich, cushiony cream that sinks in slowly. | A smooth, silky lotion that spreads easily and leaves a soft, near-blurred finish. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Feeds Malassezia | 2 measured / 2 inferred | 1 measured / 1 inferred |
| Pregnancy | No flagged actives | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 24 listed | 24 listed |
| Price | ~€14 | ~€15 |
What's in one but not the other
The two labels share 21 of the 27 ingredients between them. The actives are where they part company.
What each one adds acts on On top of the skin for CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and The living epidermis for CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. That is the layer each is understood to act on, not how deep it travels.
Only in CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Only in CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is a different bottle only for: niacinamide.
Where each label stops telling you the dose
Ingredients are listed in order of how much is inside, but only down to 1%. Below that the brand may list them in any order it likes, so the bottom of a label is a set, not a ranking. These two stop being a ranking in very different places.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
ordered for its first 33%
- 1Aqua/Water
- 2Glycerin
- 3Cetearyl Alcohol
- 4Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- 5Cetyl Alcohol
- 6Ceteareth-20
- 7Petrolatum
- 8Dimethicone
- 9Phenoxyethanol
- 10Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- 11Potassium Phosphate
- 12Ethylhexylglycerin
- 13Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
- 14Disodium EDTA
- 15Dipotassium Phosphate
- 16Ceramide NP
- 17Ceramide AP
- 18Phytosphingosine
- 19Cholesterol
- 20Xanthan Gum
- 21Carbomer
- 22Sodium Hyaluronate
- 23Tocopherol
- 24Ceramide EOP
16 of 24 sit below the line, marked by Phenoxyethanol. Including what it is sold on: Cholesterol.
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
ordered for its first 25%
- 1Aqua/Water
- 2Glycerin
- 3Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- 4Niacinamide
- 5Cetearyl Alcohol
- 6Dimethicone
- 7Phenoxyethanol
- 8Ceteareth-20
- 9Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- 10Caprylyl Glycol
- 11Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
- 12Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
- 13Potassium Phosphate
- 14Disodium EDTA
- 15Dipotassium Phosphate
- 16Ceramide NP
- 17Ceramide AP
- 18Phytosphingosine
- 19Cholesterol
- 20Xanthan Gum
- 21Carbomer
- 22Ethylhexylglycerin
- 23Sodium Hyaluronate
- 24Ceramide EOP
18 of 24 sit below the line, marked by Phenoxyethanol. Including what it is sold on: Cholesterol.
Below the line is not too little to work: ceramides, retinoids and peptides all act far under a percent. It means the position stops carrying information. Where the line falls is inferred from the first ingredient whose whole job is done at a fraction of a percent, so it is a close read of the label rather than a number from the formula sheet.
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Dark spots & uneven tonePM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
- Breakouts & congestionPM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
- Dryness & dehydrationEither works
Who each suits
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- dry, sensitive, normal · avoid with acne-prone skin (in thick layers) and oily skin
- CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
- dry, sensitive, normal · avoid with very sensitive skin (at high strength)
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the cheaper of the two (~€14 vs ~€15).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion better for dark spots & uneven tone?
For dark spots & uneven tone, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion if you want the actives; CeraVe Moisturizing Cream if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Which is cheaper, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion?
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the cheaper of the two (~€14 vs ~€15).
Can I use CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion together?
They are both moisturizers, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.
Compare it with…
36 duels are built for this moisturizer, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream and CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion among them: type a name, or pick one below.