CeraVe and the Ceramide Question

Welcome to Issue 002.

This week we investigated CeraVe's Moisturising Cream — one of the most recommended skincare products in the world.

The ceramide story

CeraVe's entire brand identity is built on ceramides. The science is real: ceramides are a critical component of the skin's lipid barrier, comprising approximately 50% of the stratum corneum's lipid content.

But the INCI list of the Moisturising Cream tells a more complicated story.

All three ceramides — Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, and Ceramide EOP — appear after Petrolatum and Dimethicone on the ingredient list. Under INCI rules, this strongly suggests each ceramide is present at or below 1%.

The occlusive doing the heavy lifting

Petrolatum and Dimethicone appear higher on the list than the ceramides. These are the ingredients primarily responsible for the product's barrier repair and moisturisation effects. They are effective ingredients — but they are not ceramides.

The verdict

CeraVe Moisturising Cream is a well-formulated, clinically supported product. The ceramide science is real. But the marketing emphasis on ceramides is not supported by INCI positioning.

INCI Transparency Score: 5/10.

Read the full investigation on the website.

Until next week, Behind The INCI