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cerave PM Facial Moi… vs Dermalogica Skin Smo… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream

cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion scores 8.2/9.8 and Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream scores 8.0/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

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cerave

PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

moisturiserbudget

8.2

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Dermalogica

Skin Smoothing Cream

moisturiserpremium

8.0

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

Dermalogica wins 1

8.2cerave

8.0Dermalogica

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Dermalogica WINS

7.5

9.8

cerave

Dermalogica

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Dermalogica

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

6.4

2.5

cerave

Dermalogica

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Dermalogica

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Dermalogica

Ingredient face-off

15% overlap

23cerave

7Shared

46Dermalogica

Only in cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

16 unique

Aqua/Water Glycerin Ceteareth-20 Niacinamide Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Cholesterol+6 more

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Cetearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Dimethicone Carbomer Sodium Hyaluronate Phenoxyethanol Disodium Edta

Only in Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream

39 unique

Water (Aqua)Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Stearic Acid Peg-8 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract Tocopheryl Acetate Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Allantoin

Why these two are neck and neck

These two moisturisers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream scores 9.8 here versus 7.5 for cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion brings Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream relies on Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

At budget pricing with a score of 8.2, cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion delivers strong value. Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream sits at the premium level with a 8.0 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

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8.2cerave

8.0Dermalogica

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion or Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion→Full analysis: Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream→

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