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Original poster

Are Cerave products worth it? Or other budget skincare...

27 replies

Diadora30 · 03/03/2021 12:21

Hi all,

Due to trying to save money, I’m cutting back on my skincare spend.

I do spend an absolute shedload on products, so I’m hoping to swap some out for cheaper products...

Currently I use:

Skintech facial cleanser (this is generally for pre and post skin peels, but it feels so lovely I’m still using it).

Skinceuticals serum 10 (vit c serum)

Skinceuticals HA intensifier

Kiehls multi corrective cream spf30

Evening I use:

The skintech cleanser again, depending on the day it’s either Sunday Riley good genes, eve lom acid pads, dermatica tretinoin, egf bio effect serum, Estée Lauder advanced night repair or Kiehls midnight recovery oil. I tend to use certain products on different days.

My evening moisturiser is Chantecaille, which is hideously expensive and am not sure if it’s having an effect.

Now I’m coming to the end of a lot of my products.

I’ve looked at the cerave hydrating cleanser and the PM moisturiser and they seem to have good reviews.

Can anyone recommend any cheaper alternatives that deliver results?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Snowfalling · 03/03/2021 12:26

The cerave pm is my favourite skincare product, I can't imagine using anything else and I have a good ish skincare budget. The texture, feel, ability to soak in quickly is spot on.

Snowfalling · 03/03/2021 12:29

Can also vouch for the cleanser you mentioned, it's not a holy grail in the way of the moisturiser for me though. It just does what it's meant to and that's it really. Very no nonsense.

I'm looking to trying the m and s pure cleansing balm which has good reviews.

AlexaShutUp · 03/03/2021 12:29

My dd swears by cerave. However, the main reason she likes it is that it seems to have cleared up her eczema.

InglouriousBasterd · 03/03/2021 12:31

I’ve just started Cerave PM and the cleanser and they’re lovely. Skin is hydrated and not greasy, soft.

GravityFalls · 03/03/2021 12:32

I love Cerave - I use the daily moisturise with SPF and I’m in my third tube. Which might be the first time ever I’ve rebought something 3 times in a row. It just does exactly what you want it to, sinks in quickly...I can’t fault it.

I also have the big pot of cream and a bottle of lotion for general purposes and they’re great too - the lotion is miles better than the E45 lotion I had on the go before. It all just absorbs so well and works straight away.

Original poster
Diadora30 · 03/03/2021 12:32

Thank you. I’m having severe purging from the tretinoin, so am hoping for something that won’t aggravate the skin.

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 03/03/2021 12:34

I'm currently using Cerave Eye Repair Cream. I'm happy with it. Looking to buy more Cerave products.

DuchessOfDoombar · 03/03/2021 12:45

I’m a recent convert to Cerave and love it - very dry, sensitive and reactive skin and have not had any issues with the cleanser or SPF moisturiser.

I use Weleda skin food on top of tretinoin and have never purged. Gives a lovely plumping and glow effect in the morning.

If you’ve only recently started the tret I would give the other acids and retinoids a break as it may be the cumulative affect is what’s causing the purge.

Giving your skin a total break from all acids and retinoids for a week or two and focusing on rebuilding the acid mantle might help - Vaseline can help with this!

HandyBendySandy · 03/03/2021 12:50

I have the Cerave facial wash and the moisturiser, as I have a delightful combination of seborrheic dermatitis and mild rosacea - love the moisturiser, not so fond of the face wash.

Only because it gives me the weirdest "tightening" sensation around my lips when I use it, and it freaks me out! I use a sensitive gel cleanser from Garnier instead, it's nicer and doesn't make my face feel weird.

Moisturiser is great though, it makes my rough dry skin nice and soft.

LoveYourUsername · 03/03/2021 13:29

Am interested in the Cerave products and not really come across them before.

Currently using REN cleanser for sensitive skin. Got it from Amazon a lot cheaper than in other stores. But I've also had success with really cheap ones like L'Oreal for around £4.

I don't like cleansers that need washing off. I have normal skin but live in a very hard water area. Washing off cleanser always makes my skin tight and the best I can do is wet a flannel and take off excess cleasner with that.

Jellybott · 03/03/2021 13:44

Hada Labo is slightly more but very nice.

Lululu22 · 03/03/2021 14:31

I use the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser and love it.

Anotheruser02 · 03/03/2021 15:17

The PM cream broke me out quite badly, it took me quite a while to work out that it was that as it had been so highly recommended on here, I thought it was hormonal or something. I started a new day cream (bielenda vegan muesli the matte and well moisturised one) and my skin felt so nice I wanted to use it at night too, a few days into dumping the Cerave the whiteheads on my forehead all cleared.

Fispi · 03/03/2021 16:42

I love the CeraVe hydrating cleanser. Its replaced Oskia for me which I was very surprised by.

MsAnnFrope · 03/03/2021 19:27

I love the cleanser. The PM makes my lips react, almost as it I'm developing a cold sore.

LlamaofDrama · 03/03/2021 19:41

@Snowfalling, I use the M&S pure cleansing balm and I love it. After using it for a while I got the gel from the same range to use in the shower; it's also good but the balm is the bee's knees!

GuyFawkesDay · 03/03/2021 19:45

Recent convert to Cerave hydrating cleanser. I used to use glossier one, as foaming cleansers are too harsh on my skin but I like washing it.

It's fantastic. Doesn't sting eyes, takes ally make up off and doesn't leave skin tight. Well impressed.

My kids have started stealing using it too.

Member · 03/03/2021 19:58

My comment on Cerave are that is functional and non-irritant. Theoretically, improving the skin barrier via its use of ceramides should in turn stop moisture loss and improve hydration. Whilst my skin doesn’t feel tight or irritated, I do find adding hyaloronic acid is better

Serenity45 · 03/03/2021 20:56

I haven't tried the pm cream, but the Cerave hydrating cleanser is fab. I've got dry sensitive skin and think this is nearly as good as the Dermalogica special cleansing gel. I've been trying to streamline my routine too and will definitely be trying the Cerave moisturiser

Snowfalling · 03/03/2021 22:45

@LlamaofDrama
Great, look forward trying it, it's on the list!

Maxellious · 03/03/2021 23:11

I use the oily skin face wash in the morn and the gentle skin cleanser in the eve. Love both. The day moisturiser with 50spf is far to heavy for my oily skin though

Snowfalling · 03/03/2021 23:23

@LlamaofDrama
Just to clarify, is this the pure rose cleansing balm?

TheDaydreamBelievers · 03/03/2021 23:26

Another cheap cleanser that gets a good rep with dermatologist is the Simple Miscellar Gel Cleanser. I dont rate Simple in general but really like this product.

chatw00 · 04/03/2021 02:45

I use the two moisturisers (AM and PM) and have also got a couple of the cleansers (the SA one and the hydrating version) but I find they 'strip' my skin too much, even though I'm pretty oily! I might try the hydrating one again, as it's always very highly recommended around the internets.

PerveenMistry · 04/03/2021 03:41

@Diadora30

Thank you. I’m having severe purging from the tretinoin, so am hoping for something that won’t aggravate the skin.
What does purging mean in this context? Thanks!