CeraVe vs Vanicream: ingredient comparison (our data only)
Updated · Based on 4158 screened products
Short answer: in our directory, 61 of 76 CeraVe products (80%) and 13 of 17 Vanicream products (76%) list none of our watchlist ingredients. This page compares only facts from our data: ingredient lists, flags, fragrance-free status, sunscreen filter type, the range we have screened and buy links. It says nothing about how well any product works, and our coverage of each range is incomplete.
Affiliate disclosure: buy buttons and "View on Amazon" cards on this page may be affiliate links (rel="sponsored"). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never affect which products pass our ingredient screen or their order. As an Amazon Associate, CleanGlow earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Checking one brand at a time? See is Vanicream clean? (all Vanicream products we checked, with the flagged ones explained) and is CeraVe clean?. For clean swaps from other brands, see clean alternatives to CeraVe.
At a glance
| CeraVe | Vanicream | |
|---|---|---|
| Products screened | 76 | 17 |
| Clean (no watchlist ingredients) | 61 | 13 |
| Flagged | 15 | 4 |
| Fragrance-free by our INCI check (all / clean) | 76 / 61 | 17 / 13 |
| Clean products with a verified brand link | 55 | 13 |
| Categories screened | 10 | 7 |
| Sunscreens (filter type) | AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 (chemical filters, clean); AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50 (chemical filters, clean); Skin Renewing Brightening Lotion with SPF 30 (chemical filters, clean); Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 (chemical filters, clean); Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Body Lotion (mineral filters, flagged); Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion (mineral filters, flagged); Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion (mineral filters, flagged); Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint (mineral filters, flagged); Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body (chemical filters, clean); Invisible Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 (mineral filters, flagged); Mineral Sunscreen Stick (mineral filters, flagged) | none in our data |
Range by category
| Category | CeraVe clean / screened (fragrance-free) | Vanicream clean / screened (fragrance-free) |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Care | 5 / 5 (5) | 2 / 2 (2) |
| Body Lotion | 9 / 11 (11) | – |
| Cleansers | 20 / 26 (26) | 1 / 4 (4) |
| Deodorant | – | 1 / 1 (1) |
| Face Creams | 12 / 12 (12) | 4 / 5 (5) |
| Hair Care | – | 3 / 3 (3) |
| Hand Care | 0 / 1 (1) | – |
| Lip Care | 1 / 1 (1) | – |
| Serums | 8 / 8 (8) | 1 / 1 (1) |
| Shampoo | – | 1 / 1 (1) |
| Sunscreen (Chemical Filters) | 5 / 5 (5) | – |
| Sunscreen (Mineral Filters) | 0 / 6 (6) | – |
| Toners | 1 / 1 (1) | – |
Ingredient-list differences
Share of each brand's screened products whose INCI list contains the ingredient (ingredients present in at least 40% of either brand's products, largest differences first). This describes formulas; it is not a judgement of any ingredient.
| INCI ingredient | CeraVe | Vanicream |
|---|---|---|
| cholesterol | 99% | 0% |
| carbomer | 96% | 0% |
| phytosphingosine | 96% | 0% |
| sodium lauroyl lactylate | 95% | 0% |
| xanthan gum | 95% | 0% |
| ceramide eop | 97% | 18% |
| ceramide np | 99% | 24% |
| ceramide ap | 97% | 24% |
| phenoxyethanol | 70% | 0% |
| 1,2-hexanediol | 1% | 65% |
| niacinamide | 58% | 0% |
| sodium hyaluronate | 64% | 6% |
Flagged ingredients
CeraVe
- Parabens: 4 product(s) (SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin, Foaming Facial Cleanser, SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin, Therapeutic Hand Cream)
- Titanium dioxide: 11 product(s) (Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser (EU formula), Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, Foaming Cleanser Bar, Hydrating Cleanser Bar, SA Cleanser Bar for Rough & Bumpy Skin, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Body Lotion, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint, Invisible Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, Mineral Sunscreen Stick)
Vanicream
- Titanium dioxide: 4 product(s) (Gentle Body Wash, Cleansing Bar, Gentle Facial Cleanser, Shave Cream)
Sources: IARC Monographs – List of Classifications; EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009; our methodology.
Clean picks where both brands compete
Up to 2 clean products per brand and category, ordered by our data score (see how guide scores work); the score measures data completeness, not performance.
Baby Care
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Details
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baby Healing Ointment | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Baby Moisturizing Cream | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Foaming Wash for Baby | Vanicream | ✓ | 9/9 | Vanicream |
| 4 | Moisturizing Cream for Baby | Vanicream | ✓ | 9/9 | Vanicream |
CeraVeBaby Healing OintmentBaby Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
CeraVeBaby Moisturizing CreamBaby Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Cleansers
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydrating Micellar Water | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Comforting Eye Makeup Remover | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Free & Clear Liquid Cleanser | Vanicream | ✓ | 9/9 | Vanicream |
CeraVeHydrating Micellar WaterCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Face Creams
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moisturizing Cream | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Moisturizing Cream | Vanicream | ✓ | 9/9 | Vanicream |
| 4 | Moisturizing Lotion | Vanicream | ✓ | 9/9 | Vanicream |
CeraVeMoisturizing CreamFace Creams✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
CeraVePM Facial Moisturizing LotionFace Creams✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Serums
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acne Control Gel | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum | CeraVe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Vitamin C Serum | Vanicream | ✓ | 9/9 | Vanicream |
CeraVeAcne Control GelSerums✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Which to choose: facts mapped to needs
- If you want fragrance-free (by our INCI check): CeraVe has 61 clean fragrance-free products in our data, Vanicream has 13.
- If you need body lotion, lip care, sunscreen (chemical filters), toners: only CeraVe has clean products in these categories in our data (9 body lotion, 1 lip care, 5 sunscreen (chemical filters), 1 toners).
- If you need deodorant, hair care, shampoo: only Vanicream has clean products in these categories in our data (1 deodorant, 3 hair care, 1 shampoo).
- If you want to buy from the brand's own product page: we have verified brand links for 55 clean CeraVe and 13 clean Vanicream products.
- If you want to avoid every watchlist flag: 15 of 76 CeraVe and 4 of 17 Vanicream products we screened are flagged; the flagged ones are listed above.
None of this is a verdict on performance; patch-test new products and ask a dermatologist about skin conditions.
Full brand pages: CeraVe products: ingredient check · Vanicream products: ingredient check
Related
- Is Vanicream clean?
- Is CeraVe clean?
- Clean alternatives to CeraVe
- CeraVe vs La Roche-Posay
- CeraVe vs Neutrogena
- Best fragrance-free moisturizer
- Best clean face wash for sensitive skin
- Best clean face wash for acne-prone skin
Hazard is not risk. An IARC classification says whether a substance can cause cancer under some conditions (e.g. titanium dioxide is classified for inhaled powder), not that a cosmetic containing it is harmful at normal use. EU restrictions set use limits. This page is informational, not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist about your own skin.