CeraVe in Singapore: Which Cleanser, Moisturiser and SA Product Should You Buy?
CeraVe's blue-and-white bottles all mention ceramides, so how do you choose? Here is a plain guide to the cleansers, the Lotion vs Cream question, SA Smoothing and the rest.
CeraVe became a cult brand by being unexciting in the best way: fragrance-free basics, sensible prices and a clear story about ceramides. In Singapore it is now a familiar name on pharmacy shelves, and the range has grown well beyond the original cleanser and cream.
Every CeraVe product is built around the same three essential ceramides, the fats that help hold skin cells together and keep water in. What changes from bottle to bottle is the texture, the cleansing strength and the extra active ingredient. Choose by those, not by the word "ceramide" on the front.
Here is how the main products differ and who each one suits, with a few notes on making them work in humid weather.
The cleansers: Hydrating or Foaming?
This is the first decision, and it mostly comes down to how oily your skin is.
Hydrating Cleanser: for normal to dry skin
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
CeraVeCerave Hydrating Cleanser Face & Body 88mlCleanses and moisturizes the skin (face and body) without altering the protective barrier of the skin.S$13.79 is a creamy, non-foaming lotion wash for face and body. It cleans without leaving that tight, squeaky feeling, so it suits dry, sensitive and mature skin, and anyone using a retinoid or exfoliating acid that already makes their skin feel fragile.
If you like a little lather but still have dry skin, the range also has a Hydrating Cream-to-Foam cleanser that starts creamy and turns into a light foam.
Foaming Cleanser: for normal to oily skin
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
CeraVeCeraVe Foaming Cleanser 1000mlCeraVe Foaming Cleanser 1000ml is a large-format gel cleanser for normal-to-oily face and body routines.S$56.80 is a gel that lathers into a foam. It removes excess oil and light makeup better than the Hydrating version, which is why it is the more popular pick in Singapore's heat. It suits oily, combination and acne-prone skin.
How to tell if you picked wrong: if your face feels tight within ten minutes of washing, you need the Hydrating Cleanser. If it feels filmy or still oily, you need the Foaming one. For more, see our guide to a gentle cleanser that does not leave skin tight.
Neither is a dedicated makeup remover. If you wear water-resistant sunscreen or long-wear foundation, use the CeraVe Micellar Water or another first cleanse before either one.
Moisturising Lotion vs Moisturising Cream
The second big decision, and the one people most often get wrong.
Daily Moisturising Lotion: light, for face and body
CeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion
CeraVeCeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion 1000mlCeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion 1000ml is a lightweight face-and-body lotion for frequent moisturising and family-sized use.S$56.80 is a light, oil-free lotion with hyaluronic acid. It spreads easily and absorbs quickly, so it works well as an everyday body lotion in Singapore and as a face moisturiser for normal to combination skin.
Moisturising Cream: rich, for dry to very dry skin
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
CeraVeCeraVe Moisturising Cream 177mlCeraVe Moisturising Cream 177ml is a rich cream for dry-to-very-dry face and body moisturising.S$27.43 is the thick cream in the tub. It is noticeably richer and suits dry, very dry and eczema-prone skin, particularly on the body. Many people in Singapore find it too heavy for the face in the daytime but very comfortable at night in air-con.
A simple way to choose: if you live in an air-conditioned office and your skin feels only a bit dry, start with the Lotion. If you have rough patches, flaking or itch, use the Cream on those areas. There is no rule against owning both. Our explainer on lotion, cream and balm covers the textures in more depth.
For very dry legs and arms that the Lotion does not fix, CeraVe also makes an Intensive Moisturising Lotion for very dry skin, which adds urea and shea butter.
Face moisturisers: the dedicated options
If the body products feel wrong on your face, CeraVe has face-specific versions.
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion
CeraVeCeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion 52mlCeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion 52ml is a lightweight daily face moisturiser for normal-to-dry or sensitive-feeling skin.S$26.29 is a light face lotion that comes without SPF or in versions with SPF. Check the exact SPF on the version you choose, and remember that a moisturiser with sunscreen still needs to be applied generously to give the protection on the label.
CeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream
CeraVeCeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream 52mlCeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream 52ml is a lightweight face moisturiser for oily or combination skin routines.S$28.75 is aimed at skin with excess shine. Its gel-cream texture feels lighter than the facial lotion, which makes it a sensible daytime choice for oily skin in humid weather. Our guide to moisturiser for oily skin explains why oily skin still benefits from one.
For sunscreen, CeraVe Invisible Dry Touch Fluid Sunscreen SPF50+
CeraVeCeraVe Invisible Dry Touch Fluid Sunscreen SPF50+ For Normal To Oily Skin 50mlWith 3 essential ceramides & niacinamide.S$34.21 is the normal-to-oily option, with ceramides and niacinamide. There is also a Hydrating version for normal to dry skin.
SA Smoothing: for rough, bumpy skin
The SA in SA Smoothing stands for salicylic acid, an exfoliating acid that loosens dead skin and helps clear clogged pores. CeraVe SA Smoothing
CeraVeCeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser - 236mlCeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 236ml is a salicylic-acid cleanser for rough or bumpy-feeling face and body skin.S$22.44 includes a cleanser and smoothing creams, and the SA line also has a separate CeraVe SA Renewing Foot Cream
CeraVeCeraVe SA Renewing Foot Cream - 88mlCeraVe SA Renewing Foot Cream 88ml is a salicylic-acid foot cream for dry, rough, or bumpy-feeling feet.S$22.59.
This is the CeraVe line that people with keratosis pilaris, the small rough bumps often seen on the upper arms and thighs, tend to reach for. The SA Smoothing Cream combines salicylic acid with ceramides so that the exfoliation comes with some moisture. Use it consistently for several weeks; rough bumps improve slowly, and stopping usually means they return. Our guide to keratosis pilaris covers realistic expectations.
On the face, the SA Smoothing Cleanser suits oily skin with rough texture or blackheads. Start a few times a week rather than daily, especially if you also use a retinoid. Our article on salicylic acid and when it is too much has more.
Repair products: ointment, hand cream and eye cream
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment
CeraVeCeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment 50mlCeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment 50ml is a rich occlusive balm for dry, rough, or chapped areas that need extra moisture sealing.S$22.59 is a protective ointment for very dry, rough or chapped skin. It is greasy by design. Use it in small amounts on cracked heels, knuckles, chapped lips or the edge of the nostrils after a cold, not all over in daytime heat.
The range also includes a Reparative Hand Cream for dry hands and eye creams. These are useful extras, not essentials.
Retinol serums: when you are ready for more
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
CeraVeCeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 30mlCeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 30ml is a facial serum in a 30ml pack.S$36.85 contains encapsulated retinol and is aimed at uneven texture and the marks left after spots. CeraVe also makes a Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.
Retinol is the one CeraVe product that needs care. Use it at night, two or three times a week at first, follow with a moisturiser, and wear sunscreen daily. Avoid retinol if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Our guide to retinol mistakes to avoid walks through a sensible start.
Sample CeraVe routines
Oily or acne-prone: Foaming Cleanser, Oil Control Gel-Cream, Dry Touch sunscreen in the morning. Add SA Smoothing Cleanser a few evenings a week.
Dry or sensitive: Hydrating Cleanser, Moisturising Cream at night, a hydrating sunscreen in the morning.
Rough arms and legs: SA Smoothing Cream on bumpy areas, Daily Moisturising Lotion elsewhere.
Very dry patches: Moisturising Cream daily, Advanced Repair Ointment on cracks.
FAQ
Is CeraVe fragrance-free?
Most of the core CeraVe cleansers and moisturisers are made without added fragrance, which is part of their appeal for sensitive skin. Always check the ingredient list on the specific product, as formulas differ between markets.
Can I use CeraVe Moisturising Cream on my face in Singapore?
You can, but most people with normal to oily skin find it too heavy for daytime. Use it at night in air-con, or choose the Facial Moisturising Lotion or Oil Control Gel-Cream for the day.
Why does the Foaming Cleanser leave my cheeks tight?
Your cheeks may be drier than your T-zone. Try the Hydrating Cleanser in the morning and the Foaming Cleanser only at night, after sunscreen.
Bottom line
Choose the Hydrating Cleanser for dry skin and the Foaming Cleanser for oily skin. Use the Lotion for everyday moisture and the Cream for real dryness. Reach for SA Smoothing for rough, bumpy skin and the Oil Control Gel-Cream if shine is your main complaint. If a rash or patch is not improving after a few weeks of consistent use, have a doctor look at it.