CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion: Ingredient Analysis
A lightweight lotion built on glycerin, a light ester oil and silicone, with the ceramide-cholesterol-phytosphingosine trio further down. It is designed to hydrate and seal without feeling heavy, which is why it reaches for dimethicone rather than a butter or a heavy plant oil.
1 ingredient(s) on this list carry a higher published comedogenic rating (3+) — see the "Pore-clog" column. Remember that position on the list and formulation affect real-world behavior.
Full ingredient list, explained
| Ingredient | Function | Role | Pore-clog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua / Water / Eau | Solvent | The base most water-soluble ingredients are dissolved in. | – |
| Glycerin | Humectant | The most reliable humectant in skincare; binds water to the skin. | 0 |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Emollient / Skin conditioning | Caprylic/capric triglyceride is one of the most widely used emollients in all of skincare, and if you scan almost any moisturizer, serum or cleansi… | – |
| Cetearyl Alcohol | Emollient / Emulsion stabiliser | Cetearyl alcohol is not a single molecule but a blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols, two fatty alcohols combined to give formulators the best of both. | 2 |
| Cetyl Alcohol | Emollient / Emulsion stabiliser | Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, and despite the word alcohol in its name, it is nothing like the drying, stripping ethanol or isopropyl alcohol t… | 2 |
| Dimethicone | Occlusive / Smoothing | Dimethicone is a silicone, one of the most common and most misunderstood ingredients in modern skincare and makeup. | 1 |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative | A widely used broad-spectrum preservative. | – |
| Polysorbate 20 | Emulsifier / solubilizer | Keeps oil-soluble and water-soluble parts mixed. | 0 |
| Ceteareth-20 | Emulsifier / Surfactant | Ceteareth-20 is a classic emulsifier, the kind of behind-the-scenes ingredient that makes a cream a cream. | 2 |
| Behentrimonium Methosulfate | Conditioning emulsifier | Emulsifies and leaves a soft, non-greasy finish. | – |
| Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate | Emulsifier | A plant-derived emulsifier for water-in-oil textures. | 4 |
| Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate | Emulsifier | A lactic-acid-derived emulsifier that also conditions the surface. | – |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | Humectant | The most reliable humectant in skincare; binds water to the skin. | – |
| Potassium Phosphate | Buffering agent | Holds the formula at a set pH. | – |
| Disodium EDTA | Chelating agent / Stabiliser | Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent, a type of ingredient whose job is to grab hold of metal ions in a formula and hold them inactive. | – |
| Dipotassium Phosphate | Buffering agent | Holds the formula at a set pH. | – |
| Ceramide NP | Barrier repair / Moisture retention | Ceramides are the mortar that holds your skin barrier together. | – |
| Ceramide AP | Barrier lipid | One of the ceramide classes found in the skin's own barrier. | – |
| Phytosphingosine | Barrier repair / Antimicrobial | Phytosphingosine is a lipid that punches above its weight in skincare. | – |
| Cholesterol | Barrier repair / Emollient | Cholesterol has an unfairly bad reputation from heart-health headlines, but on the skin it is essential. | 0 |
| Xanthan Gum | Thickener / stabilizer | A fermentation-derived gum that thickens and stabilizes. | – |
| Carbomer | Gelling agent / Thickener | Carbomer is the invisible scaffolding behind most clear gels in your bathroom, from aloe gels and cleansing gels to lightweight moisturizers and ha… | – |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Humectant / Hydration | Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid and the form most brands actually use when a label says hyaluronic acid. | 0 |
| Tocopherol | Antioxidant / Emollient | Vitamin E, listed on labels as tocopherol, is the skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant and one of the quiet workhorses of cosmetic formulation. | 0 |
| Ceramide EOP | Barrier lipid | A long-chain ceramide that helps hold the barrier's lipid layers together. | – |
Open this full list in the comedogenic checker
Ingredient list copied from the brand's own page on 2026-08-27. Formulations change without notice and vary by region — the brands say so themselves. Check the list on your own package before relying on this. CeraVe — Daily Moisturizing Lotion (official product page)
Who it's for
Normal to dry skin and body use, and anyone who wants a fragrance-free daily moisturiser without actives in it. On the face, oily skin often prefers a gel, and very dry skin often prefers the cream version in the same range.
How to use it
Apply to damp skin after cleansing so the glycerin has water to hold. It layers under sunscreen without pilling for most people, though the silicone can pill against certain SPF formulas — if that happens, give it two minutes to set before the next layer.
Frequently asked questions
Does anything in it carry a real comedogenic rating?
Yes, and it is worth knowing: Ceteareth-20 is rated 2 in Fulton's own Table I — borderline on his scale. Cetyl alcohol is also 2. Both sit mid-list rather than at the top, and 'borderline' is Fulton's own reading of that number, not a warning. But if you break out from rich lotions, these are the entries to notice.
Is dimethicone bad for acne-prone skin?
No. Dimethicone is a silicone that forms a breathable film; it is not occlusive in the way petrolatum is, and it does not feed the bacteria involved in acne. The reputation is mostly folklore. What can cause trouble is what the silicone is sealing in, not the silicone.
Can I use it on my body as well as my face?
Yes — the 473 ml bottle is sized for body use, and the formula is the same either way. On the face, judge it by how it feels after an hour rather than on application.
Is it non-comedogenic?
The brand labels it so. 'Non-comedogenic' is not a regulated term, and our reading of the full list is that it is low risk with two borderline entries — which is a more useful answer than the label gives you.
How does it compare to the PM lotion?
The PM version adds niacinamide fairly high in its list and drops the silicone. This one is the plainer daily option; the PM is the one to pick if you want an active doing something overnight.
Sources & further reading
- Ingredient list sourced from: CeraVe — Daily Moisturizing Lotion (official product page)
Medical disclaimer
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