CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment for dry skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Licorice Root Extract
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other products fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry skin due to the presence of glycolic acid and lactic acid, which help smooth texture and even skin tone. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide some hydration, but the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal moisture retention on dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin as it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients.
- The combination of ceramides and cholesterol supports the skin barrier, contributing to overall skin health.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
- Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis treatment is frequently praised for its gentle yet effective exfoliation, making it suitable for sensitive or dry skin. Many users report waking up to smoother, softer skin with a brighter complexion and minimized pores, without experiencing redness or peeling. Some users noted that results may take time, and a few experienced mild tingling or disliked the texture or scent.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “gentle yet effective”
- “no redness or flaking”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother”
- “soft and hydrated”
- “pores look smaller”
Brightening effects Sometimes Noted
- “looks more radiant”
- “brighter complexion”
- “even skin tone”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight formula”
- “no greasy residue”
Hydrating feel Sometimes Noted
- “creamy and hydrating”
- “intensely hydrated”
- “doesn't dry skin”
Daily use caution Rarely Noted
- “daily is too much”
- “better every other day”
- “potential irritation”
Mild tingling Rarely Noted
- “tingling sensation”
- “prickly feeling”
- “slight sting”
Scent Rarely Noted
- “slight acidic smell”
- “chemical scent”
- “unpleasant odor”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “slower working”
- “not as visible”
- “takes time”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “siliconey feel”
- “thick gel-cream”
- “slightly sticky”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, amazon.com, ulta.com, skincare.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe Nightly Exfoliating Treatment work for dry skin?
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment works moderately well for dry skin, as its glycolic and lactic acids smooth texture while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide some hydration. However, it lacks sufficient moisturizing and sealing ingredients for optimal moisture retention on flaky skin. A product for this skin needs rich hydrating and soothing ingredients, along with heavy moisturizers and skin-repairing agents like ceramides and niacinamide.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry skin?
Glycolic acid and lactic acid help smooth texture, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration, and ceramides support the skin barrier. However, dry skin needs an exfoliant treatment with richer moisturizing ingredients and skin-softening oils to properly lock in moisture.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.
What does Lactic Acid do for dry skin?
Lactic acid helps relieve dry skin by drawing in moisture and strengthening the skin's barrier so it stays soft and smooth. This ingredient gently sheds dead cells and supports natural moisturizing factors, making it very useful for improving rough or flaky areas.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2013
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliant goes in the evening routine after cleansing. Dry skin needs an exfoliant of this type to be paired with rich moisturizing ingredients that lock in hydration and prevent flakiness.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
Using this exfoliant with retinol may easily irritate dry skin, so it is safer to use them on different nights rather than together. When you do use both in your routine, apply the exfoliant first on clean skin, let it absorb, and then follow with a rich moisturizer containing extra oils and butters to lock in hydration.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant treatment once a week in the evening, and if your dry skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. It is safe for your skin and helps smooth texture and even skin tone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin since it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients. However, because it smooths texture with glycolic acid and lactic acid, it may cause mild initial purging or tingling while your skin adjusts.
Is this exfoliant 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, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022A 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, 2022Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Why other products fit dry skin better
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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