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CeraVe vs Principia

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

CeraVe and Principia are two popular skincare lines known for their thoughtful cleansers and precise formulas. The American brand CeraVe, founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017, is universally loved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. While its products suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best because of their hydrating and gentle properties, the offerings from Principia suit balanced to oily skin best to help maintain a healthy, balanced complexion. Both brands differ in their formulations and focus, offering standout solutions such as the Foaming Facial Cleanser, Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment, and Skin Renewing Night Cream from the former, and the Gel de Limpeza GL-01 from the latter.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

This page compares some of the most popular CeraVe and Principia products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Principia products

CeraVe vs Principia cleansers

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Principia: which is better?

CeraVe is better on this page as it features a wide range of products with superior and high fit levels for dry, acne-prone, and sensitive skin, whereas Principia offers only a single cleanser with limited suitability.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Principia?

CeraVe offers a broad range of fragrance-free products on this page that fit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, while Principia features only a single cleanser. Reviewers often mention CeraVe for gentle, non-stripping cleansers and lightweight moisturizers.

CeraVe or Principia: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers a much wider variety of cleansers on this page with high Lovi fit levels for different skin types, whereas Principia lists only one cleanser, the Gel de Limpeza GL-01, which has average to low fit levels across most skin types.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Principia?

The products on this page do not list pricing information, so a comparison of affordability cannot be made between CeraVe and Principia.

Which causes fewer breakouts, CeraVe or Principia?

CeraVe has products on this page with high or superior fit levels for acne-prone skin, while Principia has a low fit level for acne-prone skin. However, reviewers sometimes note that CeraVe products can cause breakouts.

When were CeraVe and Principia founded and who owns them?

CeraVe was founded in the United States in 2005 and has been owned by L'Oréal since 2017. Principia was founded in 2020 and is owned by Viziera Participações Ltda.

How do the fragrance-free formulations compare between CeraVe and Principia?

Both CeraVe and Principia offer fragrance-free formulations across the products on this page, with CeraVe featuring a wide range of options while Principia lists a single cleanser, Gel de Limpeza GL-01.

Which key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid are found across CeraVe products?

CeraVe features key ingredients across the products on this page such as ceramide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, ceramide AP, dimethicone, and salicylic acid. These ingredients help support skin hydration and barrier repair.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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