Moisturizers & Barrier Repair
Vanicream vs CeraVe for rosacea
Eleven ingredients against three ceramides. Two different arguments.
By Michael W. · Last updated
The short answer
Choose CeraVe if you want your cream to supply barrier lipids - three ceramides plus cholesterol. Choose Vanicream if you are trying to work out what you react to, because eleven ingredients means eleven suspects instead of twenty-four. Both are fragrance-free.
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These two get recommended in the same breath and they represent genuinely different philosophies. CeraVe adds material your barrier is missing. Vanicream removes everything that might be the problem. Which is right depends entirely on which question you are trying to answer.
The lists, side by side
| CeraVe Moisturizing Cream | Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient count | 24 | 11 |
| Added fragrance | None | None |
| Essential oils | None | None |
| Botanical extracts | None | None |
| Ceramides | NP, AP, EOP | None |
| Cholesterol | Yes | No |
| Occlusive | Petrolatum | Petrolatum |
| Humectants | Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate | Sorbitol |
| Preservative | Phenoxyethanol | Sorbic acid |
| Texture | Thick cream | Thick, slightly waxy |
The case for CeraVe
Three ceramide types plus cholesterol is close to replacing the actual lipid mixture in your barrier rather than one component of it. Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin bring water in, petrolatum keeps it there, and phytosphingosine is a ceramide precursor. It is a properly built formula and it is inexpensive.
If your barrier is compromised and you want a cream that supplies material rather than only sealing, this is the more sophisticated answer.
The case for Vanicream
Eleven ingredients, and not one of them is a botanical, an extract or a fragrance of any kind. Petrolatum is second on the list, so the occlusion is doing real work. There is nothing in it that might be the problem, which is exactly what you want when you cannot work out what the problem is.
Occlusion alone lets skin rebuild its own lipids, so a cream with no ceramides is not the compromise it sounds like. It is slower and it is more certain.
The picks, in order
1. Barrier repair on a budget
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Illustrative photo - not the product.
Three ceramides plus cholesterol and petrolatum, no fragrance, in a tub big enough to use on your body too. This is the cream most dermatology offices hand out, and the formula earns it.
What is in it
- Ceramide NP, AP and EOP
- Petrolatum
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Cholesterol
Best for
Barrier repair on a budget
Strengths
- Ceramides NP, AP and EOP with cholesterol - a complete lipid set
- Petrolatum for occlusion plus hyaluronic acid for water
- No added fragrance
- Very low cost per ounce in the large tub
Trade-offs
- Thick - it needs warming between your palms in winter
- The tub invites fingers into the product; the pump version is more hygienic
Who should skip it: Oily or acne-prone skin may find the richness too much for daytime; use the lotion version instead.
Ingredient list read at INCIDecoder - CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
2. A barrier rebuild with nothing else in the way
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
Illustrative photo - not the product.
Eleven ingredients, petrolatum second on the list, and no fragrance, essential oils or botanicals anywhere. It is an occlusive that seals water in. It is not elegant and it is not trying to be.
What is in it
- Petrolatum
- Sorbitol
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Simethicone
Best for
A barrier rebuild with nothing else in the way
Strengths
- Eleven ingredients total
- Petrolatum-led - the most reliable occlusive there is
- No fragrance, essential oils or botanical extracts
- Sold in a large tub; cost per ounce is very low
Trade-offs
- Heavy and slightly waxy - it sits on skin rather than sinking in
- No soothing or barrier actives beyond the occlusion itself
Who should skip it: If you wear makeup daily or your skin is oily, this will feel like too much - use it at night only, or pick a lighter cream.
Ingredient list read at INCIDecoder - Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream.
Things that are not the deciding factor
- Price. Both are inexpensive and both come in large tubs. The per-ounce difference is not worth deciding on.
- Availability. CeraVe is more widely stocked; Vanicream is in most US pharmacies and easy to order.
- Texture. Both are thick. Vanicream is slightly waxier, CeraVe slightly richer. Neither is elegant, and neither is trying to be.
- Brand reputation. Both are recommended constantly. That tells you they are good starting points, not which one suits you.
Can you use both?
You can, and there is a sensible version of it: Vanicream while you are troubleshooting, CeraVe once things are stable and you want the ceramides. What is not sensible is alternating them day to day - that is two variables changing on a schedule, and it makes any reaction impossible to attribute.
How we compared them
By reading both published ingredient lists and setting them against each other, then against what each ingredient is understood to do. We have not run a controlled comparison on skin and do not claim to have. Method at how we choose.
Questions people ask
Is Vanicream or CeraVe better for rosacea?
CeraVe if you want ceramides and cholesterol supplying barrier lipids. Vanicream if you are trying to identify a trigger, because eleven ingredients gives you far fewer suspects. Both are fragrance-free and both work; they answer different questions.
Does Vanicream have ceramides?
No. The Moisturizing Skin Cream has eleven ingredients and none of them is a ceramide. It works by occlusion - petrolatum sealing water in so skin can rebuild its own lipids. Slower than supplying them directly, and very reliable.
Is CeraVe or Vanicream better for sensitive skin?
Vanicream, marginally, on the strict reading: no botanicals, no extracts and the shortest list. CeraVe is close behind and adds barrier lipids. Neither contains fragrance or essential oils, which is the main thing.
Which one is thicker?
They are similar. Vanicream is slightly waxier and sits on the surface more; CeraVe is slightly richer and sinks in marginally better. Both are heavy enough that most people prefer them at night.
Should I switch from one to the other?
Only for a reason. If your current cream is working, switching introduces a variable for no benefit. Switch if you are reacting and want fewer ingredients, or if occlusion alone is not repairing your barrier fast enough.