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CeraVe Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream for acne-prone skin

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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

  • Offers moderate moisturizing and gentle exfoliation for your combination skin, as urea and salicylic acid provide hydration and keratolytic action, while niacinamide calms inflammation and supports the skin barrier.
  • While beneficial for general skin health, the formula lacks targeted ingredients at concentrations sufficient to actively treat your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
  • Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
  • Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
  • Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

While many praise its texture and absorption, some users with sensitive skin experienced stinging, and others found the price high for the quantity.

Highlights

  • Non-greasy texture Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “non-greasy finish”
    • “rich but sinks in”
    • “doesn't stain clothes”
  • Reduces scaling Often Mentioned
    • “removes scales”
    • “less flaky”
    • “smooths rough patches”
    • “cleared up flakes”
  • Relieves itching Often Mentioned
    • “stopped itching immediately”
    • “calms the skin”
    • “best itch relief”
    • “soothes irritation”
  • Effective ingredients Sometimes Noted
    • “salicylic acid works”
    • “ceramides help barrier”
    • “niacinamide calms redness”
    • “gentle exfoliation”
  • Expensive for size Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive for small jar”
    • “small amount”
    • “pricey”
    • “wish it came bigger”
  • Burning sensation Rarely Noted
    • “burned my skin”
    • “stinging sensation”
    • “irritation at first”
    • “too harsh for me”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump malfunctioned”
    • “lid issues”
    • “hard to get out”
    • “pump broke”
  • Variable effectiveness Rarely Noted
    • “didn't work for me”
    • “made it redder”
    • “not strong enough”

Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, dermstore.com, target.com, walmart.com, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid and urea help smooth the skin through gentle exfoliation, while niacinamide calms inflammation. This treatment works for acne-prone skin, though products of this type for this skin need targeted ingredients at concentrations that actively treat breakouts and blemishes.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Urea do for acne-prone skin?

Urea is unlikely to help acne-prone skin on its own and may not be the right choice for breakouts. Skin of this type needs ingredients that clear pores and calm redness, such as salicylic acid or soothing plant extracts.

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cream goes as a moisturizer in your routine, fitting in after your cleanser and hydrating toner in the morning, and after your treatment step at night. It offers moderate hydration and gentle exfoliation, but acne-prone skin needs targeted acne-fighting ingredients at higher concentrations to actively clear breakouts.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream alongside retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. Using a gentle moisturizer with ceramides alongside active treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and may support your skin barrier while it adjusts.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your routine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but a product of this type needs targeted ingredients like retinoids or higher-strength actives to actively clear breakouts on acne-prone skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause harsh irritation, but it lacks targeted ingredients strong enough to actively clear breakouts on acne-prone skin. A product of this type needs specialized acne-fighting actives and lightweight, non-greasy hydrators to properly manage and prevent blemishes.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

This cream works safely on the body, though the thin skin around the eyes requires extra care and specialized products. While it is safe for the skin, this type of product needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and lighter hydration to effectively treat acne-prone areas.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
  • Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.

    Antioxidants, 2021
  • Urea is a safe and effective dermatologic therapy with wide-ranging clinical utility for various skin conditions and minimal, non-systemic side effects based on a review of the clinical literature.

    Dermatology Online Journal, 2013
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
  • Topical 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, 2002
  • Topical 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, 2012
  • 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, 2017
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Salicylic Acid, Water, Urea, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Laureth-9, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, 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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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