CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Ceramide Np
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
DimethiconeHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin, this moisturizer effectively addresses redness and irritation with niacinamide and ceramides that soothe and strengthen your skin barrier.
- The inclusion of glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid provides excellent hydration, plumping your skin and enhancing its overall comfort.
- The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily as the final step of your morning routine. Always reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply after your regular moisturizer and before makeup. This product combines hydration and sun protection in one easy step.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount evenly across your face and neck. Avoid rubbing harshly to keep sensitive skin calm.
- Apply the moisturizing sunscreen to clean , dry skin for the best protection. Let it absorb ⏱ fully before stepping outside.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes. Do a patch test before your first use since your skin is sensitive.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 85.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lotion is a popular choice for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin, appreciated for its hydrating properties and beneficial ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide. Many users find it gentle and effective for daily use. However, a significant number of reviews mention issues with the product pilling, especially under makeup, and a noticeable white cast, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones. Some users also report difficulty with the texture and occasional eye irritation.
Highlights
Gentle and non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't sting my sensitive skin”
- “no breakouts since using this”
- “fragrance-free is a huge plus”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
Product pilling Mostly Mentioned
- “pills like crazy”
- “rolls off my face in little balls”
- “cannot wear under foundation”
- “flakes off if you rub it”
Beneficial ingredients Often Mentioned
- “helped repair my skin barrier”
- “niacinamide calmed my redness”
- “great for acne-prone skin”
- “ingredients are top tier”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump and healthy”
- “moisturizes throughout the entire day”
- “leaves face feeling soft”
- “good balance for combination skin”
Visible white cast Often Mentioned
- “leaves a ghostly white layer”
- “takes forever to rub in”
- “looks purple on my skin”
- “very noticeable white cast”
Convenient sun protection Sometimes Noted
- “saves time in the morning”
- “easy way to get daily SPF”
- “good protection for everyday wear”
- “one step routine”
Difficult texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels like glue”
- “hard to spread evenly”
- “takes too much work to blend”
- “feels heavy and sticky”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “burns my eyes badly”
- “makes my eyes water all day”
- “stings if I sweat”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, cerave.com, target.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion a great fit for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit because it uses niacinamide and ceramides to calm redness and strengthen your skin, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid keep your skin soft and hydrated. It is safe for sensitive skin because it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide, glycerin, ceramides, and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid make this moisturizer a great fit for sensitive skin because they calm redness, strengthen the skin barrier, and provide lasting hydration without harsh ingredients. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid help keep skin soft and comfortable by drawing in moisture, which is supported by clinical studies showing significant improvements in skin hydration.
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer goes in the morning step of your routine as a moisturizing spf after cleansing and a soothing toner. It is safe for your sensitive skin and helps calm redness while keeping your skin hydrated and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it before your retinol treatment to help protect and calm your skin. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer like this may make your skin more comfortable and help it better tolerate the retinol.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
Use this moisturizing spf every morning as part of your daily routine to protect and hydrate your skin. Daily application is unlikely to irritate your sensitive skin and helps keep it soft and comfortable all day.
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your sensitive skin because its formula avoids heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. It helps keep your skin calm and comfortable with a safe mix of hydrating and barrier-strengthening ingredients.
Is this moisturizer 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 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical 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, 2019Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dimethicone, Bht, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methylparaben, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Disodium Edta, Propylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum
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
How does it fit your skin?
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