CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream — Efficacy 4.0/5.0, Safety 4.3/5.0 | DemythSkin
++++
[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream
CeraVe

CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream

MoisturizerBarrier Repair
Efficacy
Strong
4.0 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.3 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a solid oil-control barrier moisturizer with one big caveat: it leans on a known pore-clogger for texture, so it’s not universally acne-friendly. Efficacy-wise, it does the basics well for oily skin: meaningful niacinamide high in the list, decent humectant support (glycerin, sodium hyaluronate), and a proper ceramide–cholesterol–phytosphingosine system for barrier repair, plus silica and starch for genuine mattifying/oil-absorbing effects. However, there are no gold-standard treatment actives beyond niacinamide, and the presence of isopropyl myristate in the top third of the INCI means a non-trivial comedogenic burden for clog-prone users, which keeps the score in the competent-but-cautious range.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
NiacinamideGlycerinCeramide NPCeramide APCeramide EOPSodium HyaluronateCholesterolPhytosphingosine
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Cetearyl IsononanoateC14-22 AlcoholsZea Mays Starch / Corn StarchBehentrimonium MethosulfateTriethyl CitrateSodium Lauroyl LactylateTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
What Each Ingredient Does
Aqua / Water / Eau
Solvent base
Niacinamide
Barrier-support and brightening active
Glycerin
Humectant for hydration
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient texture enhancer
C14-22 Alcohols
Fatty alcohol, structure and emollience
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient, slip agent
Zea Mays Starch / Corn Starch
Oil-absorbing, texture control
Ceramide NP
Barrier lipid
Ceramide AP
Barrier lipid
Ceramide EOP
Barrier lipid
Carbomer
Gel thickener
Cetearyl Alcohol
Fatty alcohol, emollient, stabilizer
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cationic emulsifier
Triethyl Citrate
Solvent, deodorant/oil-control helper
Silica
Oil-absorbing mattifier
Sodium Hydroxide
pH adjuster
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic acid humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Emulsifier and skin-conditioning
Cholesterol
Barrier-support lipid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
pH adjuster, chelator
Caprylyl Glycol
Humectant, preservative booster
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chelating agent
Xanthan Gum
Natural thickener, stabilizer
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Aqua / Water / Eau, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetearyl Isononanoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Isopropyl Myristate, Zea Mays Starch / Corn Starch, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Benzoic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside

Frequently Asked

Is CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream worth it?

CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream scores 4.0 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Strong) and 4.3 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a solid oil-control barrier moisturizer with one big caveat: it leans on a known pore-clogger for texture, so it’s not universally acne-friendly. Efficacy-wise, it does the basics well for oily skin: meaningful n

What are the key active ingredients in CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream?

CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream. It scores 4.3 out of 5.0 for safety.

How is CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-05. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.