CeraVe vs Cetaphil Body Washes

Usually during a morning shower, I use SheaMosture soaps to wash from face to toe, and at night I use Noxema Cleansing Cream to wash my face. They both work for me so I've never bothered to buy separate cleansers. I buy all the varieties of SheaMoisture soap and they are all equally as moisturizing. Since I was 14 years old, Noxema has been (and will always be) a staple in my bathroom.

But, recently I received samples of CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash and Cetaphil's Gentle Skin Cleanser and was surprised by how much I like them! 

Photo: HealthJade

Both are super moisturizing and worth buying to treat dry or sensitive skin. If push comes to shove, I think CevaVe is the most moisturizing cleanser followed by Cetaphil although it's like asking who is the better Broadway singer, Kristin Chenoweth or Audra Mcdonald? Either one could be called THE VOICE on Broadway, so it really boils down to personal preference.

Both CeraVe and Cetaphil cleansing washes are formulated by dermatologists. CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash has the benefit of containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid which are moisturizers present in our skin while Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser has humectant propylene glycol (a liquid added to increase water retention) to hydrate the stratum corneum (the outer layer of the skin). Also, both companies make formulas to wash just the face, but I think the majority of people can use the body cleansers for both face and body as they are super gentle and hydrating.

 Additionally, CeraVe and Cetaphil offer cleansers to treat specific skin issues like acne or bumpy skin. {Of course, each also has moisturizing creams, which I compared here.}

So the question is will I go out of my way to add a new cleanser to my skincare routine? NO, as long as what I already buy works. But if we have a harsh winter that dries out my skin, YES. For dry, flaky skin, I'll have my line-of-defense remedies ready for when I head to the drugstore. With drugstore brands like CereVe and Cetaphil, there's no reason to buy expensive alternatives. Two fabulous finds!!

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4 Anti-Aging Face Serums Dermatologists Like

1) Qure is on the top of many dermatologists' lists including YouTube's Doctorly as a spectacular skin serum. The all-in-one serum is packed with clinically proven ingredients, such as Argireline® Peptides, Retinol, Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid that does everything for the skin -- meaning it treats a bundle of anti-aging issues such as brightening the skin, increasing the production of collagen and softening lines and wrinkles. Cheap, it isn't, but perhaps you can justify paying more because it is an all-in-one formula so you won't have to buy the ingredients as separate serums. Despite its price point, Qure's multi-functional serum is so popular with skincare enthusiasts, it's often out of stock.

Qure is a 1st rate brand to know about but since it's hard to get plus relatively expensive (as opposed to plum crazy expensive) I've found a far more affordable option by Eclat Skincare, a small Australian beauty brand sold on Amazon with the highest quality and clean ingredients that although not identical, are on par with Qure's multi-purpose serum. So listen up ...

2) Ecalat's Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid serums each have the same leading clinical, dermatologist-approved ingredients as Qure and also contain those ingredients in science-based recommended amounts. Costing much less than Qure even if you buy all 3 Ecalat serums together. Missing in this brand's serums are the 2 newly praised ingredients in the skincare world, namely Argireline® and Bakuchiol ... and yet Ecalat's serums have retinol; one of the most effective forms of vitamin C; and other peptides that do much the same thing as Argireline® and Bakuchiol to brighten the skin, promote the growth of collagen and treat fine lines and wrinkles. IMHO, it's a budget-friendly compromise without sacrificing clean ingredients or their benefits. Interestingly enough, Argireline® and Matrizyl-3000 are peptides in the company's $12 Youth Cream.

3) The Inky List is a brand I previously featured here on THE SAVVY SHOPPER as an affordable and highly effective skincare line. Recently it was also recommended by the Budget Dermatologist on YouTube. A real and practicing skin doctor, she suggested using 4 products from the beauty manufacturer: (a) 1% Retinol Serum, (b) Retinol Eye Cream, (c) Bakuchiol {here in place of Vitamin C serum because it brightens the skin. Likewise, Bakuchiol has similar and gentler anti-aging benefits as retinol}, and (d) Collagen Peptide Serum.

4) CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is mentioned by every dermatologist named here, plus Dr. Daniel Sugai and others on YouTube as one of the best drugstore retinols to buy. It contains 0.3% retinol, the same as Paula's Choice which is also good at about the same price minus a drugstore sale. Drugstore brands go on sale, sometimes as 2 for 1!

There are two nearly identical formulas. The left has dipotassium glycyrrhizate, an ingredient from the licorice plant, which is an additional brightener. The right has cholesterol an ingredient in skincare that locks in moisture. Don't sweat the difference.

The more skincare brands on the market the merrier. Choice of products, ingredients, and price is a consumer's best friend to find deals and steals.

Zooey Deschanel is lovely to look at for the purpose of good skincare. :) 

Extra tip - How to use retinol: Start by applying retinol once a week, twice a week on week 2, 3 times a week on week 3, and 4 times a week on week 4. After your skin builds up a tolerance, you can use retinol every night of the week before bed, but never in the morning (unless an all-in-one serum with retinol is formulated for daytime use). The sun destroys retinol. What makes retinol effective is not its strength as much as using it consistently. You won't be able to use retinol that is too strong for your skin 7 nights a week.

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Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum

What's a good treatment for crow's feet and fine lines around the eyes? The Korean beauty market has the answer with real science behind it, and it's not ultra-expensive.

 Beauty of Revive Joseon Eye Serum is created to treat wrinkles in the sensitive area around the eyes. It combines 10% ginseng root extract and retinal (like retinol, a vitamin A derivative) for its efficiency. Multiple studies show ginseng improves wrinkles because it contains a high level of saponins (ginsenosides -- plant compounds with a long history of use in traditional medicine). Retinal works 11 times faster than retinol. Although retinal has a higher exfoliation rate than retinol, Revive Eye Serum is formulated to work without irritation. The serum contains 2% stable retinal in the form of liposomes (a minute spherical sac of phospholipid molecules enclosing a water droplet).

Here's the science explained --

retinol -> retinal -> retinoic acid

 

Retinal converts into retinoic acid in one step while retinol takes 2 steps, but usually retinal is too harsh to use. However this eye cream uses retinal liposome that is stabilized by breaking the retinal into smaller parts and enclosing it in liposomes, as well as, adding more lipids (fatty acid molecules) and oils to it. It's also blended with beneficial glycerin, niacinamide (B3), and cholesterol to make the formula even more effective.

Unless you have sensitive under eye skin, a separate eye serum is a waste of money. But Revive Eye Serum is formulated to be gentle to use under your eyes and you could use it on your face. The serum is less than (not the same as cheap) many other face and eye serums for the strength and blend you're getting. Costs $11.50 - $15 for 1.01 ounce depending on the seller. 

This is a stellar formula at a reasonable price to fight the crows' feet forming around your eyes!👀

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Equate Walmart's Private Store Brand For Savings

The cost of skincare -- from cleansers to moisturizers to treatments and sunscreens -- can really add up! You save a ton of money by finding store house brands, which are nearly identical to the national brands we love. So low priced they are worth taking a risk to try them out.

Equate, Walmart's private store brand, has mirrowed many beauty remedies selling for half the price or less of their name brand counterparts. CVS has it's own version of Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair, but I couldn't find an Equate equivalent, so readers if it exists, please let me know as Equate tends to cost less than the house brands of CVS, Walgreens or Target. Yet CVS, Walgreens and Target house brands are welcome fallbacks, giving us more choices. House brands go on sale too.

Posted are several awesome knockoffs for much less moola:

Compare the above to Olay: Regenerist; Moisturizing Lotion for Sensitive Skin with SPF 15 (also available in SPF 30); and Night of Olay Firming Cream.

Compare to Neutrogena: Oil-Free Facial Moistururer; Rapid Wrinkle Repair Cream; and Rapid Wrinkle Repair Lotion. (Beauty 360 is CVS' house brand.)

Compare to L'Oreal Collagen Moisture Filler; ROC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum; and Neutrogena Triple Age Repair.    

Compare to L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream; Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer; and Olay Eye Lifting For Firming Skin Serum.

Compare to Cetaphil Moisture Cream; CeraVe Moisture Cream; and Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

The knockoffs are so numerous I've only posted some of the available skin creams and treatments, and I didn't list the cleansing creams or toners. Ok, I'll list one cleansing cream below:

Frequently there's little to no difference between the name and store house brands, yet the savings are great. Finding and using the latter is an easy way to beat inflation or live on a budget without compromise! Paying much less counts when using products daily! I've linked you up to Walmart and CVS -- where I've pulled all these dupes -- so you can start comparing prices. You're welcome!

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Exfoliation In Skincare

The Ordinary has a wealth of skincare information on its website, as well as, inexpensive skincare products to help fight acne and the effects of aging along with helpful tips on how to keep skin healthy. One of the things I neglect to do is exfoliate my skin. I rarely do so, but multiple dermatologists recommend it as having a beneficial role in our skincare routines. So let's discuss exfoliation in today's blog. My source of knowledge begins with The Ordinary:

"Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface layer of the skin. Physical exfoliation uses a product or tool to buff away dead skin cells," while "chemical exfoliation uses direct acids (AHAs and BHAs) which have the ability to weaken bonds between surface skin components, allowing the acids to slough away dead skin cells at the surface." Exfoliation helps to unclog pores, promote even tone and texture, and bring new skin cells to the surface.

AHAs are alpha hydroxy acids a/k/a fruit acids. BHAs are beta-hydroxy acids, which are also organic acids. Both act to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the face. BHAs such as salicylic acid mildly loosen the glue that holds skin cells together. Salicylic acid is often in formulas targeting acne, rough, and bumpy skin.

Many dermatologists [like the creators of Doctorly] recommend chemical exfoliation over physical exfoliation because the tools we buy in retail shops are subpar to what dermatologists use in their offices, plus we lack the medical training to use them like doctors. Physical exfoliation can therefore do more damage to the skin, making chemical exfoliation safer, an awareness that may surprise you! Scrubbing gloves, cleansing brushes, exfoliation salts, and home microdermabrasion devices can be too abrasive harming instead of helping our skin, or in the case of devices just not strong enough to be effective. Also, the gloves and brushes might become a breeding ground for bacteria.

The Ordinary’s Direct Acid family offers both AHAs and BHAs of varying strengths and formats making it simple to find the right one for you. You will rarely find a cheaper, backed-by-science brand. Here are 5 choices:

1) Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - An exfoliating toner for targeting dullness, texture, and signs of aging.

2) Latic Acid 5% + HA - A milder exfoliator that works to reveal smoother skin. (A stronger strength is available.)

3) Mandelic Acid 10% + HA - A leave-on serum that helps improve skin clarity, balance uneven skin tone, and correct skin texture gently yet effectively.

4) Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution - A gentler water-free solution for blemish-prone skin and uneven texture. (A stronger strength is available.)

5) AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution - An advanced-level exfoliating peel.

So now we know a bit more about the role of exfoliation in skincare, plus several types and strengths offered by a super affordable brand! The next step is to put our knowledge into practice.😉 Because readers, I'm not perfect either.

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Moisturizing Creams: CeraVe Versus Cetaphil

Every year we battle Old Man Winter, and during the season I slatter on moisturizers from head to toe every single day. My two favorite moisturizers are dermatologists-approved drugstore brands: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream (body for very dry, sensitive skin) and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (with 3 essential ceramides). Both are fragrance-free. Each absorbs completely into the skin and is non-greasy. 

I'll cut to the chase: Both are super moisturizing, and you can't go wrong with either brand. But, there are a few differences ...

CeraVe

- Has 3 essential ceramides (lipids - Ceramide NP, Ceramide

Wamart's brand

AP, and Ceramide EOP) to restore and protect the skin barrier.  

- Contains hyaluronic acid to help the skin retain its moisture.

- It's non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores.

- I have no problems applying it on my face periodically.

- The cream is thinner and wetter than Cetaphil.

- Leaves a slight residue on the skin after application although you have to touch your face to feel it, and it isn't greasy or uncomfortable.

- It usually comes in 16 ounces.

Cetaphil 

- Contains glycerin, niacinamide (vitamin B3), panthenol (vitamin B5), sunflower seed oil, and almond oil.

Walmart's brand

- It's non-comedogenic and non-irritating.

- As with CeraVe, you can apply it on the face without clogging pores.

- The formula is richer than CeraVe making it terrific to use as a body cream after a shower to lock in water to stay hydrated.

- It moisturizes elbows, knees, and all other areas of very dry skin.

- Cetaphil is a more beneficial hand and cuticle cream than CeraVe.

- Plus it moisturizes lips. CeraVe is a tad too thin to treat dry lips with lasting power although to be fair neither cream claims to treat dry lips.

- Cetaphil disappears 100% into the skin while leaving it moist and smooth. Although richer than CevaVe, it doesn't leave a film of any kind. 

- Comes in 20 ounces.

Conclusions:

To treat battered or dry flaky skin, I like CeraVe as it's wetter and contains ceramides to bring the skin barrier back into balance, but for skin that is not flaky and already hydrated, such as, after a shower or after washing my hands, I prefer the richness of Cetaphil to lock in the moisture. Cetaphil keeps your skin barrier healthy so it won't get dry and flaky, then you won't need to repair it.

Amazon's brand equivalent here.

I also like Cetaphil's bigger 20-ounce size making it the better value, and it moisturizes with staying power over more areas -- body, face, hands, lips, and heels. CeraVe's thinner formula + ceramides with hydromantic acid makes it a better face cream, especially for an oily complexion. If you already apply face serums you can use either brand to seal the serum in if you wish.

Buying a jar of each brand isn't wasteful or too extravagant. You'll end up using both at various times. There is no more effective moisturizing cream than these two drugstore brands on the market, and neither brand will break the bank! But if you wish to only buy one cream, Cetaphil's richness works on more body parts during the dry winter months. For spring, summer, and fall CereVe's richness is sufficient -- and both are great.

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Know The Minimalist Skincare

Photo: Minimalist

A savvy shopper needs to have a selection of brands to get the best value on skincare. Feel free to enter the words "skincare," "serum," and "anti-aging" in the blog's search box on the upper left to learn about some amazing brands that like today's featured line focus on efficacy, transparency, and affordability.

The Mininalist is a high-performance skincare brand with an array of cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen based on science to address a range of skin concerns. The company was launched by 2 brothers (one a scientist, the other with a business background) in October 2020 to make low-cost skincare available in India because, at the time, The Ordinary (launched in August 2016) wasn't on shelves in India. Today both brands sell in both India and the USA, so everybody wins! The consumer has choices galore! Mohit Yadav is the CEO and co-founder with Unilever as an investor.

Although the Minimalist is not The Ordinary and The Ordinary is not the Mininalist, here's what they have in common: Clean packaging, transparent information, and ingredients that are scientifically formulated at rock-bottom prices -- all fantastic! While many consumers can get all their skincare needs met with products developed solely by The Ordinary or solely by the Minimalist, the Mininalist is especially good at offering a wide range of chemical peels and sun protection. If you have acne or rosacea, you'll have a greater selection of treatments from the Mininalist. An emphasis on treating acne explains why the Minimalist offers more chemical peels than The Ordinary. There's also better sunscreen at the Mininalist possibly because the company started in India, a continent where the population needs good sun protection.

The more knowledgeable you become about skincare ingredients and what you want your skincare to do, your appreciation for companies like the Mininalist and The Ordinary grows. Initially, it might seem confusing and like lots of work to learn about what ingredients to buy, but after you do the research to know, you know.

Moreover, sometimes the two companies pair or combine ingredients differently, and I think this also gives customers a greater chance to personalize their skincare. So for consumers, it's awesome to have not one, but two companies with stellar ingredients for less on the market! Hats off to The Ordinary for changing the skin suspension game, as well as, to the Mininalist for expanding it!🎩

2 Conversions: Retinol --> Retinaldehyde --> Retinoic Acid

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LED Light Therapy Mask

There are a ton of pricey and gimmicky anti-aging gadgets on the market, but dermatologists say the following innovative LED Light Therapy Mask, is not a gimmick, it really works!

LED Light Therapy was developed 30 years ago by NASA and adopted by the skincare profession when its ability to heal wounds and ease inflammation was discovered. If shooting lights at your face frightens you, know that there are no ultraviolet rays in the device, and dermatologists tell us it's safe for the majority of people. 

The LED Light Therapy Mask uses non-invasive light energy which your skin absorbs at various depths to trigger beneficial reactions to improve your skin. Depending on the setting that controls the wavelength and type of light used, light therapy will do more to treat your skin than any of the known tropicals you apply to the skin's surface. 

On most of the devices, Blue Light (at 445 to 490 nm) repairs acne. Red Light (at 620 to 780 nm) treats rosacea and reduces inflammation. Near-infrared Light (at 700 - 1000 nm) fights aging by stimulating the skin to produce collagen, smooth fine lines, and wrinkles, as well as, tighten the skin.

Prices and length of the treatment vary, and you can pay from $25 - $100 at facial bars or spas.

Or you can invest in an FDA-approved LED Light Therapy Mask to use at home. Hopefully, prices for home devices will drop as more manufacturers enter the market. The average price of a Light Therapy Mask tends to be $300 although some brands are lower while others run into the $1,000s. Artemis, Cleopatra, Regealight, and Qures are known names. Make sure the device you consider buying is FDA-approved.

LED Masks by Artemis, Cleopatra, and Regenalight - all are linked.

So why would consumers wait to buy one? Well, in life there are always risks vs benefits to consider. According to the Cleveland Clinic: 1) In-office LED Light Therapy devices are more powerful making them more effective, so you may not see the dramatic results you hope for using a home device. 2) At-home devices may take more time also -- 30 - 60 minutes and up to twice-a-day treatments to see subtle skin enhancements. Are possible underwhelming results worth a time suck? 3) Home devices won't help acne cysts, blackheads, or whiteheads. 4) The blue light ''may contribute to aging by causing free radical damage to the skin." 5) People with a history of skin cancer or genetic eye diseases shouldn't use it. And finally, 6) People taking isotretinoin and lithium medicines should avoid LED light therapy. It "increases their sensitivity to sunlight."

Consulting a dermatologist to weigh the risks and benefits before buying a home device is wise. You'll get a correct diagnosis and prescription to address your specific skin concerns which ultimately could save you time, money, and disappointment. 

Although I'm curious about light therapy, what stops me from buying pricey anti-aging treatments is the lack of dramatic or lasting results. We should always strive to look our best, yet it's impossible to truly turn back the hands of time. You'll never look like your 20-year-old self and could go broke and waste your time trying to do so.⏰ 

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