The market is full of options in the case of moisturizers. Because of how saturated the market is, the competition is pretty fierce. Many of the brands are offering their take for the shelves. And among all of the brands trying to claim the number one spot, the two that are leading the charge are Cerave and Vanicream.
However, if these brands are relatively new to you and have not used any of the products they are offering, you might be in a bit of a predicament. In fact, you are not the only one because Cerave vs Vanicream are one of the hot topics when it comes to moisturizers.
Also, there is a high chance that you are in the same dilemma as most of the other people talking about the same topic. But worry not because we are here to take you out of the predicament that you are in at the moment.
Cerave
One of the leading companies that are offering moisturizers in the market is Cerave. Their offerings are considered to be in the high-end realm of moisturizers. Now, you might be wondering why we are stating such a big claim. Well, you will know exactly why after going through this review.
- Ingredients
To start with, Cerave uses some of the sophisticated ingredients that are found in the beauty product realm. While some of the ingredients are generic ones, there are some that you will only find in the offerings of Cerave.
Aside from the common ingredients used for moisturizers, you will find some exclusive to Cerave only. The first one would be ceramides. These are basically lipids that will play a significant role in regulating the moisture of the skin. It will also create a barrier that will protect the moisture from drying out quickly.
Other than that, you will notice that the Cerave will have Hyaluronic acid. It is a carbohydrate molecule that is naturally found on the skin itself. However, for these types of products, it will act as a humectant. And if you are not really familiar with the term, it is a fancy way of saying that it will attract and retain the moisture.
- Consistency
Consistency-wise, Cerave is always referred to as a beauty yogurt, which is true to some extent because the moisturizer looks more like Greek yogurt. And as you would expect with something of that consistency, it is a bit thick but slightly runny.
For that reason, when you are applying this to the skin, it will spread smoothly. Also, because of its consistency, your skin will not have a tough time trying to absorb it. However, there is one problem with it. As it is exceptionally absorbent and has special ingredients to it, it will burn if you apply it to compromised skins.
By compromised skins, we are basically referring to the skins that have been in the boiling hot shower for a bit of a time. So you might feel a bit uncomfortable upon application of the product to your skin.
Highlights
- Uses sophisticated ingredients
- Has a unny consistency
- Highly absorbent
- Protects the skin from drying out quickly
Also check: Best Korean Cleanser For Your Skin
Vanicream
Another manufacturer that is dominating the moisturizer market is Vanicream. Their offering is not that far behind in claiming the top-selling spot. And you should get a proper idea of their offering by going through this review.
- Ingredients
Even though the ingredients in Vanicream not that fancy as the Cerave, it does have one dedicated ingredient. And that ingredient is Sorbitol. It is a sugar alcohol that has the same function as a humectant.
However, in terms of efficiency, this one is not that efficient when it comes to retaining and attracting moisture. Nevertheless, it gets that job done.
- Consistency
When consistency is factored in, the Vanicream is not that spreadable. It is a bit thicker than other moisturizers and is not that runny. For which, the spreadability factor degrades a lot. So you might struggle a bit when you are trying to apply this to the skin. And if your skin is too dry, you would have to do a good amount of work to apply it.
It does not end here. Vanicream is not that absorbent either. It will take a whole lot of time to sink in the skin. For that reason, you will need to be around with shiny skin for a good amount of time.
However, the only bright side that we can conclude for Vanicream in this factor is that it does burn or sting that much. So you will not have to feel that uncomfortable when you are applying Vanicream on compromised skin.
- Cruelty-Free
When comparing the ingredients, you will find that all of the ingredients that are in the Vanicream are vegan. Also, they are one of the beauty companies that does not test their products on animals. For that reason, if you are a bit reluctant to use products that are tested on animals, then Vanicream is the one for you!
Highlights
- Does not burn or sting
- Ideal for sensitive skins
- The ingredients are all natural
- Cruelty-free
What Are The Common Ingredients In Between Cerave and Vanicream?
The Petrolatum, commonly known as petroleum jelly, is found in both units. This jelly is a semi-solid hydrocarbon that is from petroleum. On its own, it will act as occlusive. It will seal the moisture and prevent evaporation from occurring, which is what you would want from a moisturizer.
On the other hand, you will find Cetearyl Alcohol, which is also common for both of the units. This one is a fatty type of alcohol. It acts as an emollient on the skin. And other than these, there are plenty of other common ingredients in both of them.
Is Cerave a Vegan And Cruelty-Free brand?
If you take a closer look at the ingredients, you will find some of the ingredients on the Cerave cleanser are animal-based. Alongside that, they did not clearly state whether their products are tested on the animals or not. Considering that, it would be safe for us to conclude that they are not an entirely cruelty-free brand.
Which Containers Do Vanicream And Cerave Come in?
Generally, you will have two options when it comes to the container. One would be the tub version, and the other one is the tub with a pump. Both of the brands are offering two of the options for the case of the container. Nevertheless, the ones that we would recommend you to pick up will be the container that comes with a pump.
They are more hygienic as you are not touching any of the moisturizers that are on the inside. For that reason alone, we would suggest you lean towards the pump version.
Are There Any Cost Differences In Between Vanicream and Cerave?
Money can be one of the main factors to lead you towards a product of a certain brand. However, functionality is something that you need to consider as well. Nevertheless, both of the units are on the costlier side compared to the average quality moisturizers that are out in the market.
The price of both of them is a bit high because both are from the higher ends of drugstore brands. That being said, the pumpless version of the moisturizers goes at the same price point. You will find hardly a dollar or two difference in between them.
On the other hand, the tubs that come with pumps have a few dollars difference. Usually, the Cerave one tends to be a bit on the expensive side. However, if you order Cerave from their official site, you may find 2$ coupons, which will enable you to lower down the price difference a bit.
Which One Is Better Between Cerave and Vanicream?
It would not be possible for us to dictate any of the two moisturizers give the holy grail crown because what might work better on one skin type might not work at all on the other ones. And considering that there are plenty of skin types in the market, it will not be accurate for us to recommend one over the other.
However, we do have some personal preferences. And according to that, we believe that Cerave should work better on most skin types. The reasons for making such a claim would be:
- It is highly absorbent, which means that you will not have to wait for that much amount of time to make it sink into your skin.
- The ingredients that are used for the formula are high in grade, allowing it to be highly efficient in protecting and moisturizing the skin.
- It has a better consistency, enabling you to easily spread it on your skin On the other hand, many might pick Vanicream over the Cerave, which is totally understandable. And these might be the factors that would make them think like that:
- The ingredients that are used in it are all vegan
- It is cruelty-free, which indicates that no animal was harmed to test the product
- Better for the sensitive skin as it does not sting like a bee if your skin is compromised
Final Words
With all things aside, you are not going to go wrong by picking any of these up.
However, if you are still in a dilemma between cerave vs vanicream, we would urge you to consider the skin type. If you have sensitive skin, go for Vanicream. On the other hand, if you want something that is highly absorbent, then Cerave is the one for you!