CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion for dry skin
Hydro-Urea
3 Essential Ceramides
Shea Butter
Hyaluronic Acid
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your dry skin, this formula leverages high concentrations of glycerin and hyaluronic acid to provide excellent moisturization and enhance barrier resilience, while ceramides and cholesterol actively support barrier repair.
- The absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients ensures a safe experience, making it a well-tolerated option for your dry or flaky skin.
- This product is safe for your skin as it contains no prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis lotion is highly praised by users with dry, itchy, or flaky skin for its ability to provide deep, long-lasting hydration without the heavy grease associated with traditional intensive creams. The inclusion of 5% Hydro-Urea is frequently highlighted as a key differentiator that helps smooth rough texture and relieve itchiness, though it can cause temporary stinging on broken or sensitive skin.
Highlights
Fast Absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “Sinks in quickly”
- “Non-greasy finish”
- “Dries down faster than expected”
Deep Hydration Often Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized all day”
- “Effective for winter dryness”
- “Restores moisture barrier”
Lightweight Feel Often Mentioned
- “Richer than daily lotion but feels light”
- “Breathable”
- “Not sticky”
Itch Relief Sometimes Noted
- “Soothes itchy skin”
- “Comfortable on tight skin”
Texture Improvement Sometimes Noted
- “Smooths rough patches”
- “Reduces flakiness”
- “Softens "alligator skin"”
Stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
- “Burns on open sores”
- “Stings broken skin”
- “Temporary tingling”
Price/Value Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for size”
- “Small bottle”
- “Higher cost than standard lotion”
Residue Rarely Noted
- “Can feel tacky initially”
- “Slightly shiny finish”
- “Greasy if over-applied”
Scent Rarely Noted
- “Faint "chemical" smell”
- “Medicinal odor”
Sources: lovi.care, hometesterclub.com, reddit.com, ulta.com, target.com, staples.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion a great fit for dry skin?
CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion is a great fit for dry skin because it combines high levels of glycerin and hyaluronic acid to deliver deep moisturization while ceramides and cholesterol help repair the skin barrier. The formula also avoids harsh ingredients, making it a safe and well-tolerated choice that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this lotion a good fit for dry skin?
This lotion is a great fit for dry skin because it combines hyaluronic acid and glycerin to boost hydration, alongside ceramides, cholesterol, and shea butter to help repair and protect the skin barrier. These ingredients work together to keep dry skin feeling soft, smooth, and well-moisturized throughout the day.
What does Hydroxyethyl Urea do for dry skin?
Hydroxyethyl urea helps dry skin by greatly boosting hydration and making rough skin feel much smoother and softer. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is often paired with other soothing oils and exfoliants to keep skin calm and flake-free.
What do Ceramides do for dry skin?
Ceramides help lock in moisture and strengthen the protective barrier of dry skin, which reduces water loss and keeps the surface feeling smooth and comfortable. Using a moisturizer with ceramides improves skin hydration and helps protect against irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2022Dermatologic Therapy, 2019
Where does this lotion go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
Apply this lotion in the morning after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen, and in the evening as the final step after any treatments. Using a daily moisturizer helps improve skin hydration and supports your skin barrier.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this lotion with retinol, and in what order?
You can safely use this lotion with retinol by applying your retinol treatment first, letting it absorb, and then smoothing on the moisturizer. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce the dryness and irritation often caused by retinol.
How often should I use this lotion?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day to keep your dry skin deeply hydrated and comfortable. Regular daily application helps improve skin barrier strength and dryness over time.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Can this lotion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This lotion is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as it avoids harsh ingredients and is well-tolerated. It helps keep skin soft and smooth while supporting the skin barrier without heavy buildup.
Can I use this lotion around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this lotion on your body and around the eyes because its gentle formula is well-tolerated and safe for dry skin. It helps keep skin soft and supports your natural moisture barrier using glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides without harsh ingredients.
Is this lotion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022A facial cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP, and panthenol reduced mean SS-10 scores by 66% and 76% after 2 and 4 weeks in Chinese females with sensitive skin, providing effective soothing and barrier-repairing properties with mild adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 40% urea cream achieved improvement in less time and showed superiority over 12% ammonium lactate lotion in skin roughness, fissure reduction, thickness, and dryness at day 14 in patients treated for moderate to severe xerosis.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical treatment with K101 achieved a significantly higher mycological cure rate compared to placebo in patients with ≤50% nail involvement (27.2% vs 10.4%), while showing early visible improvements in nail appearance and no safety issues.
Mycoses, 2012A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Petrolatum, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.