Brand comparison
CeraVe vs Aquaphor: Which Is Better for Men?
The goal is skin that wakes up soft instead of tight, and a raw patch that heals instead of stinging. CeraVe PM gets you the first by putting back the lipids dry skin has lost; Aquaphor gets you the second by sealing a damaged patch while it repairs. Most men want the first every night and the second within reach.
By Nate Calder · Updated
Which one is yours
CeraVe
PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
4.7Buy this one if you want a nightly moisturizer that repairs dry skin. Ceramides and niacinamide restore the barrier while you sleep, in a light, fragrance-free lotion that sinks in before your head hits the pillow.
$13.62
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Aquaphor
Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment
4.6Buy this one if your skin is cracked, raw or wind-burned and needs to heal. 41% petrolatum seals the patch so water stays in while it repairs, with almost nothing in it to react to, and a 7 oz tube lasts a very long time.
$12.97
Shop on AmazonKey differences at a glance
| CeraVePM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | AquaphorAdvanced Therapy Healing Ointment | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $13.62 | $12.97 |
| Key Ingredients | ||
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid | Petrolatum 41%, Panthenol, Glycerin |
| What It Actually Does | ||
| What It Actually Does | Replaces lost ceramides — adds material back to the barrier | Seals the surface — stops water leaving, adds nothing |
| When to Use It | ||
| When to Use It | Every night, all over the face | At night or on the patch that needs it |
| Best Skin Types | ||
| Best Skin Types | oily, normal, combination, dry | dry, normal, combination |
| Fragrance-Free | ||
| Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Rating | ||
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
marks the better value on that row only — not an overall verdict, and not a product rating. Rows where the two are equal are left unmarked.
These two do different jobs, so the price and rating rows don’t crown a winner: CeraVe puts back what dry skin lost, Aquaphor stops it leaving. Used together, moisturizer first, they cover both.
Where CeraVe excels
- Repair while you sleep. Ceramides rebuild the barrier overnight, so dry, tight skin wakes up comfortable instead of flaking by lunch.
- Calmer, more even skin. Niacinamide works on redness and uneven tone at the same time, so the one bottle does more than moisturize.
- All over, every night. Light, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, it suits oily, normal, combination and dry skin without clogging anything.
$13.62
Shop on AmazonWhere Aquaphor excels
- Heals what's actually broken. Cracked knuckles, wind-burn, a raw jawline after shaving: petrolatum covers the patch so it can repair instead of drying out.
- Almost nothing to react to. Petrolatum is one of the least irritating ingredients there is, and the ointment is fragrance-free, so it goes on skin that stings at everything else.
- The overnight seal over your moisturizer. A thin layer over CeraVe locks in what the lotion put there, and one tube also covers lips, knuckles and elbows.
$12.97
Shop on AmazonMore from each brand
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
$15.97Shop on Amazon
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
$15.97Shop on Amazon
AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
$14.97Shop on Amazon
Aquaphor
Healing Balm Stick
$9.79Shop on Amazon
Moisturizing Face and Body Cream
$12.97Shop on Amazon
Compare CeraVe with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CeraVe or Aquaphor better for dry skin?
It depends whether your skin is dry or damaged, and they're different problems. CeraVe PM at $13.62 rebuilds the barrier with ceramides, which is what ordinary dryness needs. Aquaphor at $12.97 seals — it stops water escaping but adds nothing back, which is what cracked, raw or wind-burned skin needs. Most men want the first; anyone with a split knuckle wants the second.
Can you use Aquaphor on your face every day?
On a specific patch, yes. All over, usually not. Petrolatum is one of the least irritating ingredients there is, but it's heavily occlusive, and skin that isn't damaged tends to congest underneath it. Use it where it's needed — chapped lips, a raw jawline after shaving, wind-burn — and a normal moisturizer everywhere else.
What is slugging and does it work?
Slugging is sealing your face with an occlusive like Aquaphor overnight. It does work at what it claims: transepidermal water loss drops sharply under petrolatum, so skin is measurably more hydrated by morning. It doesn't repair anything — it just stops the leak. Apply it over your actual moisturizer, never on bare skin, or you're sealing in nothing.
Is Aquaphor just Vaseline?
Close but not identical. Vaseline is essentially 100% petrolatum; Aquaphor is around 41% petrolatum with panthenol, glycerin and lanolin alcohol added. Those additions make it slightly less greasy and add some humectant action. The practical difference is small — the significant one is the lanolin, which a minority of people react to and Vaseline doesn't contain.
Should you use CeraVe and Aquaphor together?
That's the correct way to use Aquaphor. Moisturizer first to put water and lipids into the skin, Aquaphor over the top to stop them leaving. Used alone on dry skin it seals in a deficit. Used over CeraVe, it's the most effective overnight repair two drugstore products can give you.
Dry or Damaged? They Need Different Things
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