One of the biggest brands that has been on the market for over 70 years and a ‘newcomer’ that came out in the last 15. Aveeno vs CeraVe, which is the better moisturizing lotion? CeraVe is highly regarded in the Eczema communities on Reddit but Aveeno is more widely accessible.
Who are Aveeno and CeraVe?
Aveeno is a brand of skin care and hair care products founded by Albert and Sidney Musher in 1945. It was purchased by Johnson & Johnson in 1999 with the brand expanding into baby care and body wash in 2001.
CeraVe was founded in 2005 and launched their three core products, Moisturizing Cream, Moisturizing Lotion, and Hydrating Cleanser. A relatively new brand on the block that has received more Seal of Acceptance awards from the National Eczema Association than any other brand in the market.
Aveeno vs CeraVe: Product Descriptions
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
This nourishing lotion is clinically proven to improve the health of dry skin in 1 day with significant improvement in 2 weeks. Formulated with Active Naturals Colloidal Oatmeal and rich emollients, it helps prevent and protect dry skin for a full 24 hours. This lotion leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and naturally healthy looking and is gentle enough for everyday use. It’s also fragrance free, nongreasy and noncomedogenic.
Reference: Aveeno
Cerave Moisturizing Lotion
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that helps hydrate the skin and restore its natural barrier. Formulated with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, this moisturizing lotion features patented MVE Technology for long-lasting hydration and a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula that won’t clog pores. Hypoallergenic and non-irritating, this daily moisturizer is gentle on the skin as it provides a steady stream of 24-hour hydration.
Reference: CeraVe
Aveeno vs CeraVe: Different Ingredients
To make things short, CeraVe is a better product. Both do have their problematic ingredients however.
Aveeno uses a key ingredient called Avena Sativa (Oats) which is one of their unique selling points. Petrolatum is another which is an emollient that soften and soothes skin by preventing moisture loss from the skin. Although it sounds like a good function, it does have the possibility of causing skin irritation. It is a prohibited substance in cosmetic products in the European Union.
The damaging ingredient in the Aveeno moisturizing lotion is Benzyl Alcohol. It is an ingredient used in skin lotions due its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is quite common in moisturizing creams for Eczema.
CeraVe has one single ingredient that stands out and can be problematic, Phenoxyethanol. It has been reported as harmful if absorbed through skin, causing irritation and blistering. This makes Phenoxyethanol a potential health concern for Eczema sufferers like ourselves. Another ingredient in some versions of the moisturizing lotion that needs to be highlighted is Methylparaben. It can cause serious skin irritation, especially for the eyes!
Phenoxyethanol is an interesting ingredient as it is now banned in Palau due to the damages it can cause to coral reefs. If it can cause long lasting damages to the aquatic wildlife, the question is, what kind of damage can do to our skin?
Aveeno vs CeraVe: EWG Rating
EWG is a highly reputable site for verifying the safety of ingredients in a product. The lower the rating number, the safer the product is. The moisturizing lotion for Aveeno scored a 2 while CeraVe scored a 4. So according to EWG, Aveeno is safer to use.
If you compare the data provided by EWG, there is more concern with the development and reproductive toxicity of the CeraVe moisturizing lotion. Allergies are ranked the same due the high amount of ingredients.
Aveeno vs CeraVe: Ingredient Comparison
If we look at the ingredients from both products, which one poses more safety hazard risks?
Aveeno has two alarming ingredients that poses as a risk, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, an antioxidant, and Chlorhexidine Gluconate, a disinfectant. CeraVe has Phenoxyethanol, but based on the ingredients alone, which of the products is the better choice?
Aveeno: Ingredient Concerns
| Ingredient | Safety Hazards | Potential Health Concerns |
| Butylated Hydroxytoluene | 5 | 34 |
| Chlorhexidine Gluconate | 11 | 13 |
| Benzyl Alcohol | 5 | 5 |
CeraVe: Ingredient Concerns
| Ingredient | Safety Hazards | Potential Health Concerns |
| Phenoxyethanol | 4 | 1 |
| Methylparaben | 7 | 10 |
According to the information gathered from 1Source.com on the potential safety hazards and health concerns, there is far less in the ingredients in CeraVe. The Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion has far too many potential health concerns that can cause a huge problem to us Eczema sufferers. Do note that these are potential problems, so results may vary for different users.
Aveeno vs CeraVe: Which is better?
Based on ingredients alone, CeraVe is a better option because it doesn’t have Benzyl Alcohol. Aveeno has been used for years and is well acclaimed, so it is still worthwhile to try. There are a lot less potential concerns with CeraVe than Aveeno. This can be justified from the ingredients alone.
The Eczema community on Reddit, including myself, have had better experiences with CeraVe. I personally recommend it as the consistency of Aveeno wasn’t to my liking. Despite EWG deeming Aveeno a safer product, you have to go with the feedback of the community!
References
- 1Source.com: Ingredient Decoder
- PubChem
- EWG