🇬🇧United Kingdom

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion for dry skin

High

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for dry skin; a few sunscreens 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

  • Offers high moisturizing and UV protection for your dry skin, as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide essential hydration while avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene ensure broad-spectrum sun defense.
  • Ceramides and cholesterol further support your skin barrier function, enhancing overall skin health and comfort.
  • The formula is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like ceramides and sodium hyaluronate.

How to apply

  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen daily in your AM routine. Use it every morning as the final step of your skincare routine.
  • Apply after your moisturizer and before putting on makeup. This ensures proper sun protection for your skin.
  • Gently spread an even layer over your face and neck. Avoid rubbing too hard to keep your dry skin happy.
  • Apply on completely dry skin for the best coverage and protection. Make sure your face is clean before application.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.3k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this lotion is highly recommended for oily and combination skin types due to its lightweight, non-greasy formula that provides a matte finish without clogging pores. It is also frequently noted for not leaving a white cast and serving as an effective makeup primer. However, users with dry skin report it may not be hydrating enough, and a small number of users experience eye irritation.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs very fast”
    • “feels like nothing on my skin”
    • “doesn't leave me looking oily”
    • “perfect for humid weather”
  • Matte finish Often Mentioned
    • “leaves a soft matte finish”
    • “keeps my T-zone in check”
    • “dries down completely matte”
    • “no greasy shine”
  • No white cast Often Mentioned
    • “leaves no cast on my skin”
    • “completely clear”
    • “great for darker skin tones”
    • “invisible once rubbed in”
  • Non-irritating Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't cause me any irritation”
    • “perfect for sensitive skin”
    • “no breakouts ever”
    • “gentle and fragrance-free”
  • Works under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “makeup goes on nicely over top”
    • “doesn't pill under foundation”
    • “doubles as a makeup primer”
    • “smooth base for concealer”
  • Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight after a few hours”
    • “need a separate moisturizer underneath”
    • “too drying for winter”
    • “not enough for dry patches”
  • Eye stinging Rarely Noted
    • “stings my eyes badly”
    • “makes my eyes water”
    • “burns if I sweat”
    • “have to avoid eye area completely”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump stopped working”
    • “hard to get the last bit out”
    • “pump broke after a week”
    • “tube design is wasteful”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like strong chemicals”
    • “has a weird sunscreen scent”
    • “smell lingers for a while”
    • “unpleasant odor”

Sources: lovi.care, target.com, ulta.com, cerave.com, walmart.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion a great fit for dry skin?

This lotion is a great fit because it provides deep hydration and sun protection using sodium hyaluronate and glycerin alongside broad-spectrum UV filters. It also helps support your skin barrier and keep your skin comfortable with essential ceramides and cholesterol.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022

Which ingredients make this lotion a good fit for dry skin?

Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this lotion a great fit by providing essential hydration for dry skin, while ceramides and cholesterol help support your skin barrier. These ingredients work together to leave your skin feeling comfortable and well-moisturized while offering broad-spectrum sun defense.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022

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

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?

Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does this lotion go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This lotion goes in the morning routine as your moisturizer and spf step, after cleansing and applying a hydrating toner. Daily use of a gentle moisturizer helps significantly improve skin hydration and overall comfort for dry skin.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

You can use this moisturizing spf with retinol in the morning before your sun protection step, or at night after your treatment. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce dryness and irritation while you use retinol.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this lotion?

You can use this moisturizing spf every morning to keep your dry skin hydrated and protected from the sun. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports a healthy skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this lotion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This lotion is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as its lightweight formula focuses on hydration and sun protection without heavy oils. It does not contain active ingredients that speed up skin shedding, so it will not cause purging.

Is this lotion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

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, 2017
  • A 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, 2022
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
  • Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.

    Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011
  • Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008
  • Dermal application of a sunscreen containing 10% homosalate in four volunteers resulted in delayed elimination with terminal half-times around 24 h and a bioavailability of cis-homosalate a factor of 2 lower than trans-homosalate, while metabolite ratios supported using oral-route urinary excretion fractions for dermal exposure assessments.

    Archives of Toxicology, 2024
  • Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
  • Homosalate exhibited the highest permeation among tested filters with a relative permeability rate of 4.2% and a depth of 60 um, and specific thickeners and emulsifiers successfully reduced its permeation without inhibiting the skin permeation of niacinamide.

    Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2026
  • Simulated real-life dermal sunscreen exposure in twenty human volunteers leads to the systemic bioavailability and urinary excretion of the UV filter 2-ethylhexyl salicylate and its metabolite, reaching concentration peaks at 7 to 8 hours with 70-80% of overall excretion within 24 hours.

    Archives of Toxicology, 2019
  • The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
  • Controlled single dermal exposure to an EHS-containing sunscreen in three volunteers resulted in delayed systemic resorption with elimination half-lives between 6.6 and 9.7 hours, where the parent compound EHS occurred as the dominant urinary parameter.

    Archives of Toxicology, 2024

Ingredients

Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate, Vp Crosspolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthum Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, 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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