When it comes to building a good skincare routine, there are certain ingredients I view as non-negotiable building blocks, namely ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Not only are these two fantastic hydrators for my dry and dehydrated skin, but they even have benefits for those with acne-prone and combination skin, which is why Cerave is a brand that I recommend to everyone.
Wanting to invest in the brand for yourself but not sure where to start? Consider this my ultimate guide – and, lucky for you, it’s all on sale as part of Amazon Prime Day. Happy shopping!
What makes CeraVe so special?
CeraVe, a dermatologist-developed skincare brand, formulates all of its products with a triple ceramide complex, meaning its products were fighting the skin-barrier-friendly fight long before it became such a huge skincare trend.
Ceramides make up 50% of our skin barrier, so keeping them at a healthy level helps to ensure our skin retains as much moisture as possible. While people with dry and dehydrated skin types will often look for ceramide-packed ingredient lists, those with acne-prone skin may overlook it.
PSA: Don’t! Chances are you’ll be using a lot of active ingredients such as retinol and acids that can be harsh on the skin and damage your skin barrier, so including ceramides elsewhere in your routine is a must. Your skin will thank you for it.
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So, to sum things up: CeraVe should be a no-brainer in your routine. The whole range, from its Blemish Control line to its ultra-hydrating products will help to moisturise and protect your skin barrier, so you can slot it into your current regime with ease. I’ve tried almost everything from the brand, and these are the products I think everyone should try.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, £14.98 in the Amazon Prime Day sale
Whereas a lot of retinol serums focus on achieving younger, fresher-looking skin, this resurfacing serum hones in on the hyperpigmentation and scarring left behind by acne.
It’s also a great intro to retinol for those looking to dip their toe into the active ingredient for the first time or for anybody who has sensitive skin, with the encapsulated retinol and ceramide formula helping to buffer against any irritation. Niacinamide also makes an appearance, helping to brighten and even skin tone over time.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid, £13.60 in the Amazon Prime Day sale
You’d think an everyday cleanser would be easy to find, but as I’ve often discovered, a lot of formulations can be too stripping to use every day and can end up upsetting your skin barrier more.
This has been my everyday morning cleanser for at least a couple of years now: it’s gentle and moisturising for my skin (thanks to that triple whammy of ceramides and hyaluronic acid) but leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed for the day – and this giant 1L bottle lasts forever.
CeraVe Blemish Control Gel Moisturiser with 2% Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide, £8.98 in the Amazon Prime Day sale
It used to be that when a spot struck, I just had to wait for it to come to a head and squeeze the life out of it (not recommended), or let it live out its life until it disappeared (also not ideal). Then I discovered this blemish gel and took back control.
This powerful spot treatment is made up of salicylic acid, glycolic acid and niacinamide, which helps to dry out and unclog pores in the applied area. When a spot is brewing, I’ll apply this before I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning, the blemish in question will have reduced in size.
Plus, this tube is huge, so you’re getting a lot of zit-busting bang for your buck.
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £14.48 in the Amazon Prime Day sale
If the summer heat is wreaking havoc on your skin, add this to your skincare routine stat. This silky formula has a texture that’s more like a lightweight gel-cream, but it’s a dream for hydrating skin and provides nourishment to your skin barrier due to the hyaluronic and triple ceramide duo.
I find this has a lot less of a tacky finish than other hyaluronic serums I’ve tried, so if that’s a bugbear for you, definitely give it a whirl. What’s more, this serum continues to deliver hydration for 24 hours, so you can say goodbye to those annoying dehydration lines that end up forming by the end of the day.
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser with Salicylic Acid, £11.20 in the Amazon Prime Day sale
If you’ve got oily or acne-prone skin and are looking for a daily cleanser, this is the one I recommend to everyone. The gel wash is ideal for removing everyday pollution and grime build-up, as well as smoothing skin and refining texture.
Salicylic acid and niacinamide are the key players here, with salicylic acid helping to dissolve the bacteria in active blemishes and niacinamide working to fade scarring and pigmentation over time. It’s also fragrance-free, so a nice alternative if you’ve grown tired of medicinal-smelling acne cleansers.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream, £12 in the Amazon Prime Day sale
Sometimes you just need a no-frills, long-lasting, straightforward moisturiser that’s going to keep your skin in check. This one from CeraVe ticks all of those boxes; it’s non-greasy, fragrance-free and melts quickly into the skin to hydrate the skin immediately and over time and of course, protect that all-important skin barrier.
You can apply this to the face and body, so stock up and stay moisturised out there!
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