Best CeraVe Products: 6 Picks by Skincare Step

Six CeraVe products matched to each step of a routine: cleanser, toner, retinol serum, two moisturizers and an eye cream, with CeraVe's own directions.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Short answerFor a simple CeraVe routine, start with the Hydrating Facial Cleanser and the Moisturizing Cream. Add the Hydrating Toner, PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, Resurfacing Retinol Serum or Eye Repair Cream only if you want that step. CeraVe describes all six as fragrance-free.

Compare the 6 picks

Best CeraVe Products: 6 Picks by Skincare Step: products and who they suit
PickBest forAmazon
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, 16 ozSomeone with normal to dry skin who wants a gentle daily cleanser.Check price on Amazon
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, 19 ozSomeone with normal to dry skin who wants one rich cream for face and body.Check price on Amazon
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, 3 ozSomeone who wants a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer for night.Check price on Amazon
CeraVe Hydrating Toner, 6.8 fl ozSomeone with dry or sensitive skin who likes a toner step after cleansing.Check price on Amazon
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, 1 ozSomeone who wants a retinol step in a night routine and can use sun protection daily.Check price on Amazon
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, 0.5 ozSomeone who wants a fragrance-free eye cream that can sit under makeup.Check price on Amazon

Amazon links open in a new tab. We may earn a small referral fee.

On this page
  1. Compare the picks
  2. How to choose among CeraVe products
  3. A simple CeraVe routine order
  4. Picks
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. How we chose
  7. Related guides

How to choose among CeraVe products

  • Start with the step you are missing. CeraVe's product pages list a routine order of cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize and protect, so a cleanser and a moisturizer are the core pair and the toner, serum and eye cream are add-ons.
  • Check the skin type on each label. CeraVe lists the Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Moisturizing Cream and Hydrating Toner for normal to dry skin (the toner adds sensitive skin), and the PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and Eye Repair Cream for all skin types.
  • Look at the shared ingredients. CeraVe says all six contain ceramides, and most add hyaluronic acid; the PM lotion, toner, eye cream and retinol serum also list niacinamide.
  • Treat the retinol serum as the optional active. CeraVe directs it for night use only, away from the eyes and lips, with sun protection, and says to space out applications if there is discomfort the first time. Ask a dermatologist or doctor if you are unsure retinol suits your skin.
  • Expect the label to change. CeraVe says its ingredient lists are updated regularly and tells shoppers to check the list on the package, so treat this page as a starting point and read your bottle.
  • Know what is left out. This page sticks to everyday cleansing and moisturizing products plus one retinol serum, so it skips CeraVe's sun-protection, exfoliating-acid and ointment products.

A simple CeraVe routine order

  1. Cleanse with the Hydrating Facial Cleanser: CeraVe says to wet skin with lukewarm water, lather it between your palms, massage it on in gentle circles, rinse well and pat dry.
  2. Tone, if you use a toner, by saturating a cotton pad with the Hydrating Toner and wiping it over skin until the pad comes away clean, after cleansing in the morning and evening.
  3. Treat at night with the Resurfacing Retinol Serum if you want it: apply evenly to the face and avoid the eyes and lips.
  4. Moisturize with the Moisturizing Cream (face and body, day or night) or the PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (face and neck, night), and add the Eye Repair Cream once or twice a day around the eyes if you want it.

Get the whole routine (3 items)Cleanser, toner and moisturizing cream only. The retinol serum and eye cream are optional in the routine above, so they are not added.

6 picks and who each one suits

  1. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, 16 oz

    Best for: Someone with normal to dry skin who wants a gentle daily cleanser.

    CeraVe says this cleanser washes away dirt, excess oil and impurities without stripping skin's natural oils or leaving it feeling tight and dry. It contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, is non-comedogenic and free of added fragrance, and carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. CeraVe says it also removes makeup. The brand suggests following it with a moisturizer such as its Moisturizing Cream.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  2. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, 19 oz

    Best for: Someone with normal to dry skin who wants one rich cream for face and body.

    CeraVe describes a rich, non-greasy cream that absorbs quickly, with three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and petrolatum. It says the cream suits the face and body and the whole family, ages 3 years and up, to be applied as often as needed, day or night. It is non-comedogenic and carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, and CeraVe's own page says the formula is fragrance-free.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  3. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, 3 oz

    Best for: Someone who wants a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer for night.

    CeraVe says this oil-free night lotion combines niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides, using its MVE technology for a steady release of moisture through the night. The brand lists it for all skin types, non-comedogenic and free of added fragrance, to be applied liberally to the face and neck at night. CeraVe's tip is to twist the pump to unlock it and press down several times the first time.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  4. CeraVe Hydrating Toner, 6.8 fl oz

    Best for: Someone with dry or sensitive skin who likes a toner step after cleansing.

    CeraVe calls it its first pH-balanced, non-drying toner for the face: alcohol-free, oil-free, astringent-free and fragrance-free, with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. It says to saturate a cotton pad and wipe it over skin after cleansing, morning and evening, until the pad picks up no more residue. CeraVe lists it for normal to dry skin, including sensitive skin.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  5. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, 1 oz

    Best for: Someone who wants a retinol step in a night routine and can use sun protection daily.

    CeraVe says its serum helps smooth skin's texture and minimize the look of pores, using encapsulated retinol, licorice root extract, niacinamide and three ceramides. It is a night-only product that is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. CeraVe says to apply evenly to the face, keep it away from the eyes and lips, space out applications if you feel discomfort at first, and wear sun protection while using it. These are brand claims, and this is a cosmetic product, not a treatment.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  6. CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, 0.5 oz

    Best for: Someone who wants a fragrance-free eye cream that can sit under makeup.

    CeraVe describes an ophthalmologist-tested, non-greasy, fast-absorbing, fragrance-free cream that it says works to minimize the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. It lists ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and a Marine and Botanical Complex, and says it suits contact lens wearers and sensitive skin and eyes. Use it once or twice a day, alone or under makeup, in small dots smoothed around the eye area.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

Frequently asked questions

Are CeraVe products fragrance-free?

CeraVe's own pages for all six products here say fragrance-free or free of added fragrance. CeraVe also says its ingredient lists are updated regularly, so check the ingredient list on your package for the current formula.

Can I use the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream on my face and body?

CeraVe says yes. Its page describes the cream as a face and body moisturizer for normal to dry skin, suitable for the whole family from age 3 and up, applied liberally as often as needed, day or night.

Do I need the toner, serum and eye cream?

No. CeraVe's cleanser directions pair the Hydrating Facial Cleanser with a moisturizer such as the Moisturizing Cream, and those two cover the basics. The toner, retinol serum and eye cream are optional extra steps from CeraVe's routine order.

How do I use CeraVe's Resurfacing Retinol Serum?

CeraVe lists it as a night-only product applied evenly to the face, away from the eyes and lips. It says to space out applications if you feel discomfort the first time and to wear sun protection while using it. Check the label for current directions.

How we chose

This guide is desk research. We read CeraVe's own product pages for all six products and checked each Amazon listing. We chose one product for each step of a routine, from cleansing to eye care. We did not test any of these products; every claim here is CeraVe's, not a result we measured, and these are cosmetic skincare products, not medical treatments. Dermatologist and ophthalmologist wording on this page is CeraVe's own.

Listings, sellers and sizes change quickly. At time of writing (October 29, 2026), every "Check price on Amazon" button on this page went to an exact Amazon listing for the product named, new and in stock. Confirm the size, version and seller on the listing before you buy.