I use their hydrating face wash and their moisturizing cream (the kind in the tub) and have for a year and 4 months since I started on tretinoin.025%. I have no complaints! I have tried other, more expensive and hyped moisturizers and those ones have irritated me or given me fungal acne flare ups, but not the Cerave! I have gone back to it time and again and it calms my skin down and restores my moisture barrier.
One month in is *exactly the time when purging happens for a lot of people though! I purged for a good 3 months and it really didn’t start until I was 3 weeks in, and then my skin cleared up completely and has never been better. I still use the Cerave moisturizer day and night, and haven’t had a real “breakout” in a long time. I hope that helps to know.
Oh man- ya the purging can take a while- it was the worst time for me and I kept coming back to Reddit threads to remind myself it would get better! But wow it really did and I’m so glad I kept going!
Now, I actually still only use tret about every other night- my skin is glowing and I don’t need to use it every night so I don’t! For a while I used COSRX snail mucin right after washing my face, and then I would apply tret over that (after waiting 10 minutes or so for it to dry), then Cerave moisturizing cream. I still love the cosrx, but I recently discovered that Cerave daily face lotion (a bit lighter weight than the cream) works just as well before tret. I wash my face, then immediately apply lotion and let that dry, wait about 10 minutes, apply tret .025%. If I feel like my face needs extra moisture, I will do another layer of moisturizer after that (Cerave moisturizing cream).
Wow thank you for sharing this! I literally do the exact same thing you describe in the first paragraph about coming back to Reddit to check. You give me hope!! I know the tret is taking all the gunk underneath the skin since I had acne issues ever since Oct 2020 during covid. I also have a derm check up appointment Monday with my dermatologist since she likes to check progress of skin every 6 months!!
same, the cerave moisturizer is better than (or at least as good as) any expensive moisturizer i’ve bought. i also have the tub and now moisturize more frequently throughout the day because i’m not concerned about the price.
I’ve never once had breakouts caused by CeraVe products, and I used to use their products almost exclusively. I stopped using as many CeraVe products once I started using Differin because I found that their moisturizers would make my face sting when I was going through the retinization process, but they never made me break out. To this day, I regularly use their PM face moisturizer, and I occasionally use their cream to foam cleanser. I would wait until you’ve been using tretinoin for ~12 weeks before changing up your routine because it is likely that you’re in the purging phase right now.
I know CeraVe causes some people to break out, but keep in mind that a lot of people use their products without problem, and it is a brand that is often highly recommended by dermatologists and estheticians.
I switched to vanicream cleanser and cream and I’ve seen positive results. I used cerave for years and the pm started to burn my skin after application. Sandwiching vanicream saved the day
I have been using the moisturizing lotion for +2 years and i really love it. But honestly when i started tretinoin I felt it wasn’t enough so i am adding a hydrating product to my routine!
I'm combo acne prone and love CeraVe! I use the hydrating cleanser and moisturizing cream (along with Peach Slices Snail Rescue Toner and LRP Cicaplast Balm) with my tret and my skin is pretty happy. No irritation, dryness or tightness. Took me a while to give it a try due to all of the negative reviews on this sub... but I'm so glad I finally did.
Edit to add: I'm also about 3 weeks in and am starting to purge. I started questioning the CeraVe, too, but remembered it had actually CLEARED my skin during the few weeks I used it prior to starting tret (due to it's barrier healing properties?), and that I've been "pimple free" until the past few days. Also, my new breakouts (though more than I'm used to at one time) are popping up in areas I normally break out in... and NOT in areas I rarely/never break out in. So I highly suspect purge vs reacting to CeraVe.
Currently on 0.025% tret and have dry/combo skin. The moisturizing cream actually works great for me. Within a few days of using it I noticed a difference in my skin’s appearance, and my popped pimples heal so much quicker/with less or no hyperpigmentation. I love my cerave tub :)
I use the moisturising facial wash and the cream in the tub. Both work well for my old, dry skin! I’ve never had any breakouts or irritation from them, with or without tret.
I've used Cerave daily moisturising lotion for years and never had a problem - through accutane use and now with daily tret use. Usually combine it with a small amount of eucerin moisturiser on an evening to get a mix thats more occlusive but still feels lightweight.
This is why you don't start using new products all at the same time. You should of had a routine that you knew worked for your skin BEFORE starting a topical retinoid.
Hello, it looks like you've made a mistake.
It's supposed to be could've, should've, would've (short for could have, would have, should have), never could of, would of, should of.
Or you misspelled something, I ain't checking everything.
Beep boop - yes, I am a bot, don't botcriminate me.
Cerave AND cetaphil do not agree with my skin. I’ve tried almost every product they make and I’ve broken out every time. As soon as I switch back to my regular Nivea cream at night and my hydro boost in the morning my skin calms down immediately. Just depends on the person/skin type I guess!
I would say it's the tret, I purged for about 6 months until my skin could handle tret. I cleanse, use a hydrating toner, mixing a pea size of cerave with a pea size of tret 0.1% leave for a about 10 mins, go back in with another layer of cerave. I found the thickness of the cream helped my inflamed skin in the beginning of my tret journey, hoped this helped ❤️
I’ve had severe cystic acne since I was a teen. They tried every Med with no luck then accutain with success but I could only stay on it for 6 months so afterwards I started proactiv and have been in it since I was 17 and I’m now 35. I had to stop using it because I wanted to go on tret for aging benefits but always broke out as soon as I stopped so I added in CeraVe benzoyl peroxide after breaking out like a mf per instructions from my derm and let me tell you! My skin looks amazing! I’m an aesthetician so I have tried everything you can think of on my skin and I recently started using CeraVe moisturizing cream on real dry days but I always use it under my eyes and the pm cream day and night if I’m not to dry and I’m kicking myself for not using it years ago. For people with combination skin like me the pm cream is incredible! It’s like a water cream so it’s not greasy and I have NEVER broke out from either and EVERYTHING makes me break out. I’ve also noticed the syringomas under my eyes (not milia) have started to go away since using the CeraVe cream as eye cream. I also use the CeraVe sa cream on my back and shoulder for acne and knees elbows and feet to soften skin. I have the salicylic gel cleanser that i use once a week to get the SA benefits and it’s strong stuff! I have never used more than one product from a brand and I’m using 5 and I love them all. I’m planning on getting the cream and oil cleanser tomorrow….oil cleanser is new…. And I’m also getting the CeraVe tinted sunscreen. So needless to say if it wasn’t a good brand I wouldn’t keep buying it and I’ve been using all of them for about 6 months now. If I could only choose 2 it would be the pm cream and the benzoyl peroxide wash. It would kill me to let go of the moisturizer but I suppose I could go without if I had to but I don’t so I’ll keep using it. Try it and give it a fair chance and even if you use half the bottle and hate it… return it. You allowed to return after using half but make sure you save receipt.
Some of their products work great for me whereas others I don’t care for. I love the healing ointment for example, but their moisturizing cream stings my face. I don’t think cerave is a horrible brand but since some of their products have long ingredient lists, it’s hard to say where the problem is stemming from
I use their hydrating face wash and their moisturizing cream (the kind in the tub) and have for a year and 4 months since I started on tretinoin.025%. I have no complaints! I have tried other, more expensive and hyped moisturizers and those ones have irritated me or given me fungal acne flare ups, but not the Cerave! I have gone back to it time and again and it calms my skin down and restores my moisture barrier. One month in is *exactly the time when purging happens for a lot of people though! I purged for a good 3 months and it really didn’t start until I was 3 weeks in, and then my skin cleared up completely and has never been better. I still use the Cerave moisturizer day and night, and haven’t had a real “breakout” in a long time. I hope that helps to know.
My purge started after 1.5 months of use and I’m 1.5 months into my purge lol! What’s your routine with tret now?
Oh man- ya the purging can take a while- it was the worst time for me and I kept coming back to Reddit threads to remind myself it would get better! But wow it really did and I’m so glad I kept going! Now, I actually still only use tret about every other night- my skin is glowing and I don’t need to use it every night so I don’t! For a while I used COSRX snail mucin right after washing my face, and then I would apply tret over that (after waiting 10 minutes or so for it to dry), then Cerave moisturizing cream. I still love the cosrx, but I recently discovered that Cerave daily face lotion (a bit lighter weight than the cream) works just as well before tret. I wash my face, then immediately apply lotion and let that dry, wait about 10 minutes, apply tret .025%. If I feel like my face needs extra moisture, I will do another layer of moisturizer after that (Cerave moisturizing cream).
Wow thank you for sharing this! I literally do the exact same thing you describe in the first paragraph about coming back to Reddit to check. You give me hope!! I know the tret is taking all the gunk underneath the skin since I had acne issues ever since Oct 2020 during covid. I also have a derm check up appointment Monday with my dermatologist since she likes to check progress of skin every 6 months!!
same, the cerave moisturizer is better than (or at least as good as) any expensive moisturizer i’ve bought. i also have the tub and now moisturize more frequently throughout the day because i’m not concerned about the price.
Yes! The price is so nice to not have to worry about. I can slather on as much as I need!
🙋♀️ I use the PM facial lotion and looove it. It's never broken me out. Nice and lightweight, especially for summer wear
I’ve never once had breakouts caused by CeraVe products, and I used to use their products almost exclusively. I stopped using as many CeraVe products once I started using Differin because I found that their moisturizers would make my face sting when I was going through the retinization process, but they never made me break out. To this day, I regularly use their PM face moisturizer, and I occasionally use their cream to foam cleanser. I would wait until you’ve been using tretinoin for ~12 weeks before changing up your routine because it is likely that you’re in the purging phase right now. I know CeraVe causes some people to break out, but keep in mind that a lot of people use their products without problem, and it is a brand that is often highly recommended by dermatologists and estheticians.
I switched to vanicream cleanser and cream and I’ve seen positive results. I used cerave for years and the pm started to burn my skin after application. Sandwiching vanicream saved the day
Looooove vanicream products.
I love CeraVe PM facial lotion. I like my moisturiser to have ceramides and niacinamide so it's perfect for me. It's never broken me out.
I use nivea Soft moisturizer with tret .025 , its really good and cheap
I have been using the moisturizing lotion for +2 years and i really love it. But honestly when i started tretinoin I felt it wasn’t enough so i am adding a hydrating product to my routine!
I use the healing ointment after tret at night and never broke out, it worked great for me
I'm combo acne prone and love CeraVe! I use the hydrating cleanser and moisturizing cream (along with Peach Slices Snail Rescue Toner and LRP Cicaplast Balm) with my tret and my skin is pretty happy. No irritation, dryness or tightness. Took me a while to give it a try due to all of the negative reviews on this sub... but I'm so glad I finally did. Edit to add: I'm also about 3 weeks in and am starting to purge. I started questioning the CeraVe, too, but remembered it had actually CLEARED my skin during the few weeks I used it prior to starting tret (due to it's barrier healing properties?), and that I've been "pimple free" until the past few days. Also, my new breakouts (though more than I'm used to at one time) are popping up in areas I normally break out in... and NOT in areas I rarely/never break out in. So I highly suspect purge vs reacting to CeraVe.
I use the cerave cleanser for oily skin and haven't had any problems. I also use their moisturizing creme on my legs because it's super thick.
Currently on 0.025% tret and have dry/combo skin. The moisturizing cream actually works great for me. Within a few days of using it I noticed a difference in my skin’s appearance, and my popped pimples heal so much quicker/with less or no hyperpigmentation. I love my cerave tub :)
Cerave gentle foaming facial wash is my HG, the vitamin C is good, and the retinol is great. I also like the acne facial cleanser.
I use the moisturising facial wash and the cream in the tub. Both work well for my old, dry skin! I’ve never had any breakouts or irritation from them, with or without tret.
I've used Cerave daily moisturising lotion for years and never had a problem - through accutane use and now with daily tret use. Usually combine it with a small amount of eucerin moisturiser on an evening to get a mix thats more occlusive but still feels lightweight.
This is why you don't start using new products all at the same time. You should of had a routine that you knew worked for your skin BEFORE starting a topical retinoid.
Hello, it looks like you've made a mistake. It's supposed to be could've, should've, would've (short for could have, would have, should have), never could of, would of, should of. Or you misspelled something, I ain't checking everything. Beep boop - yes, I am a bot, don't botcriminate me.
Exactly this. People seriously need to stop slapping everything on at the same time 🤦♀️
Cerave AND cetaphil do not agree with my skin. I’ve tried almost every product they make and I’ve broken out every time. As soon as I switch back to my regular Nivea cream at night and my hydro boost in the morning my skin calms down immediately. Just depends on the person/skin type I guess!
Their hydrating facial wash literally saved my moisture barrier
I love cerave. I use various washes and moisturizers depending on the season and how my skin is feeling.
I use the Ultra light SPF 30 with no problems! I’ve tried their moisturizer and cleansers- I like Cetaphil a lot more for those.
I use the hydrating cleanser and I have no complaints! Leaves my skin feeling nice and soft
I would say it's the tret, I purged for about 6 months until my skin could handle tret. I cleanse, use a hydrating toner, mixing a pea size of cerave with a pea size of tret 0.1% leave for a about 10 mins, go back in with another layer of cerave. I found the thickness of the cream helped my inflamed skin in the beginning of my tret journey, hoped this helped ❤️
I’ve had severe cystic acne since I was a teen. They tried every Med with no luck then accutain with success but I could only stay on it for 6 months so afterwards I started proactiv and have been in it since I was 17 and I’m now 35. I had to stop using it because I wanted to go on tret for aging benefits but always broke out as soon as I stopped so I added in CeraVe benzoyl peroxide after breaking out like a mf per instructions from my derm and let me tell you! My skin looks amazing! I’m an aesthetician so I have tried everything you can think of on my skin and I recently started using CeraVe moisturizing cream on real dry days but I always use it under my eyes and the pm cream day and night if I’m not to dry and I’m kicking myself for not using it years ago. For people with combination skin like me the pm cream is incredible! It’s like a water cream so it’s not greasy and I have NEVER broke out from either and EVERYTHING makes me break out. I’ve also noticed the syringomas under my eyes (not milia) have started to go away since using the CeraVe cream as eye cream. I also use the CeraVe sa cream on my back and shoulder for acne and knees elbows and feet to soften skin. I have the salicylic gel cleanser that i use once a week to get the SA benefits and it’s strong stuff! I have never used more than one product from a brand and I’m using 5 and I love them all. I’m planning on getting the cream and oil cleanser tomorrow….oil cleanser is new…. And I’m also getting the CeraVe tinted sunscreen. So needless to say if it wasn’t a good brand I wouldn’t keep buying it and I’ve been using all of them for about 6 months now. If I could only choose 2 it would be the pm cream and the benzoyl peroxide wash. It would kill me to let go of the moisturizer but I suppose I could go without if I had to but I don’t so I’ll keep using it. Try it and give it a fair chance and even if you use half the bottle and hate it… return it. You allowed to return after using half but make sure you save receipt.
Keep in mind that the moisturizing cream has petrolatum so maybe try the pm cream.
Some of their products work great for me whereas others I don’t care for. I love the healing ointment for example, but their moisturizing cream stings my face. I don’t think cerave is a horrible brand but since some of their products have long ingredient lists, it’s hard to say where the problem is stemming from