Opened the new bottle and knew instantly. The texture’s different — and not in a good way.
The real betrayal? That signature slip is gone. It now rinses off like a cheap body wash, stripping the whole “hydrating” promise.
It’s still the drugstore staple from CeraVe — about $16. Claims to be “gentle” and “non-foaming” for dry skin. The marketing is identical, which is the problem.
New Pump
Feels cheaper, like it might snap off in a month.
Non-Foaming Formula
Still true, but now it’s just…slimy.
Fragrance-Free
Thankfully, they kept this one sacred.
Photo: Natallia Photo / Unsplash
They kept the big three ceramides and hyaluronic acid. But the base formula changed — the first five ingredients tell a story of cost-cutting.
- Ceramide NP: Still there to support skin barrier
- Glycerin: Moved down the list, so less humectant power
- Cetearyl Alcohol: Now higher up — explains the waxy feel
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate: The new surfactant that makes it rinse too clean
Photo: Valeriia Miller / Unsplash
It’s thinner. Spreads like a diluted lotion and loses its milky density halfway through massaging it in. Leaves a faint, almost squeaky film.
After two weeks, my dry patches were angrier. Not “breakout” angry, but tight. Like it’s doing the bare minimum and calling it a day.
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
My skin felt less plump by noon. Zero improvement in barrier strength — if anything, I needed more moisturizer. It cleanses, but that’s it. The magic’s gone.
Photo: Andres Herrera / Unsplash
It’s a pass from me. They fixed what wasn’t broken and diluted a classic. Time to find a new staple.