Is CeraVe clean? Ingredient check of 76 products
Updated · Based on 4158 screened products
Short answer: 61 of the 76 CeraVe products we checked are clean: their listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups. 15 are flagged: titanium dioxide (11), parabens (4).
Clean CeraVe products (buttons are affiliate links, disclosure)
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream Buy at Amazon (brand store)
- CeraVe Acne Control Gel Buy at Amazon (brand store)
- CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water Buy at Amazon (brand store)
Order: core everyday product types first (moisturizers and face creams, serums, cleansers, sunscreens, foundations, concealers, then hair care, other makeup, toners, masks, body, lip and hand care); accessories, removers, styling sprays and brow, lash, eye, body, spot-treatment, setting and shaving products come after them. Within that, our data score (methodology), with products from different categories shown where possible. This is not a rating.
We checked 76 of CeraVe's products, the current US range on cerave.com on 18 October 2026, plus a few EU and Brazil formulas already in our database from Open Beauty Facts (marked "EU formula" or "Brazil formula"). This is a factual check of ingredient lists against our definition of clean. It is not a verdict on the brand and says nothing about how well any product works.
For the flagged types, see clean alternatives to CeraVe (matched by type). Other drugstore brand checks: is Vanicream clean, is La Roche-Posay clean and is Neutrogena clean. Category picks: best fragrance-free moisturizers and best clean face cleansers.
What "clean" means here
On CleanGlow, a product is clean if its listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups, based on the IARC Monographs – List of Classifications and on bans and restrictions under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. A product is flagged if at least one listed ingredient matches a watchlist group. The rules are the same for every brand (see the methodology). We do not judge fragrance, essential oils, performance or any marketing claim the brand makes.
Why CeraVe products get flagged
Titanium dioxide (11 CeraVe products)
IARC classifies titanium dioxide as Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans"), based on evidence from inhaling the powder. We flag every product that lists it, including where it is only a pigment, an opacifier or a "may contain" shade pigment, and including mineral sunscreens that use it as a UV filter. A flag means the ingredient is on the list. It is not a measured risk for that product. Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 93. See Titanium dioxide for every product we flag for it.
Parabens (4 CeraVe products)
The EU bans isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl- and pentylparaben in cosmetics and caps propyl- and butylparaben. We flag every listed paraben, including methyl- and ethylparaben, which the EU still allows within limits. Source: EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 Annex II & V; Reg. (EU) 358/2014. See Parabens for every product we flag for it.
Every CeraVe product we checked
Ingredient lists come from cerave.com (US) (fetched 18 October 2026) unless the source column says otherwise. Formulas change and can differ by country, so always check the pack.
US over-the-counter products (sunscreens, acne, itch and psoriasis treatments) list their active ingredients first. We check actives and inactives together. The products marked "EU formula" or "Brazil formula" are versions sold outside the US, whose ingredient lists differ from the US products. Their source is Open Beauty Facts. Comparing with Neutrogena? See CeraVe vs Neutrogena, compared on the US formulas. Comparing with First Aid Beauty? See First Aid Beauty vs CeraVe, compared on the US formulas. Comparing with Nivea? See Nivea vs CeraVe, compared on the US formulas. Comparing with Dove? See Dove vs CeraVe, compared on the US formulas. Looking for the same product types as the flagged CeraVe products from other brands? See clean alternatives to CeraVe products, matched by type.
Not included
- Refill pouches of listed products (Moisturizing Cream, Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser).
- Blemish Barrier Patches (hydrocolloid patches).
- Separate shade pages of the Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Sheer Tint: we list it once, with its three shades.
Clean alternatives by product type
For each product category where a CeraVe product is flagged, these are clean products from other brands in the same category of our database, ordered by our data score (methodology). We match on product category only. They are not presented as equivalents: we have not tested them and make no claim that they look, feel or work like the CeraVe product.
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.
Clean body lotion from other brands
Same product category as SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin, SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA + AHA | First Aid Beauty | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Retexturizing Body Pads | Murad | ✓ | 9/9 | Murad |
| 3 | Deep Comfort Body Moisture | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 4 | Moisture Surge Body Hydrator | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
First Aid BeautyIngrown Hair Pads with BHA + AHABody Lotion✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at First Aid Beauty Sephora Ulta
Clean cleansers from other brands
Same product category as Foaming Cleanser Bar, Foaming Facial Cleanser, Hydrating Cleanser Bar, Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser and 2 more.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm | Glow Recipe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Gentle Gel Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser | Skinfix | ✓ | 9/9 | Skinfix |
| 4 | Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
Glow RecipePapaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing BalmCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Glow Recipe Sephora
Full ingredient check: Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm →
CliniqueRinse-Off Eye Makeup SolventCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Clean hand care from other brands
Same product category as Therapeutic Hand Cream.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Cicaplast Hand Cream for Dry Hands & Damaged Hands | La Roche-Posay | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Brazilian Touch Hand Cream | Sol de Janeiro | – | 8/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 4 | Hand Lotion | OUAI | – | 8/9 | OUAI |
CliniqueDeep Comfort Hand and Cuticle CreamHand Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Full ingredient check: Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream →
La Roche-PosayCicaplast Hand Cream for Dry Hands & Damaged HandsHand Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at La Roche-Posay Ulta
Full ingredient check: Cicaplast Hand Cream for Dry Hands & Damaged Hands →
Clean sunscreen (mineral filters) from other brands
Same product category as Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Body Lotion, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint, Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion and 2 more.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 | Tatcha | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | (Re)setting Mineral Powder SPF 35 | Supergoop! | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30 | Tower 28 | ✓ | 9/9 | Tower 28 |
| 4 | PLAY Mineral Lotion SPF 30 | Supergoop! | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
TatchaThe Silk Sunscreen SPF 50Sunscreen (Mineral Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Supergoop!(Re)setting Mineral Powder SPF 35Sunscreen (Mineral Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Supergoop! Sephora (search) Ulta
FAQ
Is CeraVe clean?
By our definition, 61 of the 76 CeraVe products we checked are clean: their listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups. 15 are flagged. This is a check of ingredient lists, not a verdict on the brand, and it says nothing about how well any product works.
Why are some CeraVe products flagged?
The flags are due to titanium dioxide (11), parabens (4). The most common reason is titanium dioxide (11 products): IARC classifies titanium dioxide as Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans"), based on evidence from inhaling the powder. We flag every product that lists it, including where it is only a pigment, an opacifier or a "may contain" shade pigment, and including mineral sunscreens that use it as a UV filter. A flag means the ingredient is on the list. It is not a measured risk for that product. Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 93.
Which CeraVe product types pass our check?
Clean products by category (clean of checked): cleansers 20 of 26, face creams 12 of 12, body lotion 9 of 11, serums 8 of 8, sunscreen (mineral filters) 0 of 6, baby care 5 of 5, sunscreen (chemical filters) 5 of 5, hand care 0 of 1, lip care 1 of 1, toners 1 of 1.
Where do the ingredient lists come from?
From cerave.com (fetched 18 October 2026), unless the source column in the table says otherwise. 7 of the 76 products use another source, all of them Open Beauty Facts; 7 are versions sold outside the US, marked with their market (for example "EU formula"). Formulas change and can differ by country, so always check the pack.
Are there clean alternatives to the flagged CeraVe products?
For each product category where a CeraVe product is flagged, the "Clean alternatives by product type" section on this page lists clean products from other brands in the same category, and our guide Clean alternatives to CeraVe (matched by type) matches them by product type. They are not presented as equivalents: we have not tested them and make no claim that they look, feel or work like the CeraVe product.
Related
- All CeraVe products
- CeraVe vs La Roche-Posay
- CeraVe vs Vanicream
- The Ordinary vs CeraVe
- CeraVe vs Neutrogena
- First Aid Beauty vs CeraVe
- Nivea vs CeraVe
- Dove vs CeraVe
- Clean alternatives to CeraVe (matched by type)
- Best clean eye cream
- Best clean moisturizer for dry skin
- Best clean mineral sunscreen
- Methodology
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.