We test and recommend a lot of grooming products for men here at The Manual but rarely do we come across a product you can find in the drugstore that works as well or better than some of the “higher end” skincare and grooming brands. Though we’ve wanted to keep this secret selfishly to ourselves, it’s finally time to let the cat out of the bag: CeraVe, the cult favorite drugstore skincare brand, has made passionate believers out of anyone who used to think you couldn’t get quality skincare at rock-bottom prices.
CeraVe hit the market in 2006 after the company spent years partnering with dermatologists to develop the best delivery method for getting moisturizing ingredients deep into the skin throughout the day, not just immediately upon application. These moisturizers are imbued with three essential ceramides, which are lipids (or oils) that make up 50 percent of our moisture-retaining skin barrier, so CeraVe’s products restore and hydrate over an entire day.
So, how do they get the ceramides into your skin? An acronym of course: MVE technology, aka MultiVesicular Emulsion, which is just a fancy way of saying that the ceramides are able to penetrate deep into multiple layers of skin due to a patented technique.
But it doesn’t just stop at moisturization. CeraVe has an entire line of skincare products — everything from an eczema body wash to a salicylic acid wash for rough and bumpy skin. The brand has also expanded into the anti-aging market with sunscreen-laden facial moisturizers that contain anti-aging retinol, which has been clinically proven to improve the look of fine lines and prevent future ones from forming.
To top it all off, CeraVe is inexpensive; can be found at your local drugstore, WalMart, Target, or grocery store; and it’s non-comedogenic, meaning the brand is safe to use on any type of skin condition. In fact, we use a combination of CeraVe’s salicylic acid cleanser and moisturizing cleanser every day as a one-two punch to knock out minor adult acne while moisturizing.
Overall, CeraVe is a truly impressive skincare line that has something for everyone. Give it a try and be impressed when you end up looking fresher and younger afterwards.
Our Favorite CeraVe Products
Daily Moisturizing Lotion – $11
Hydrating Facial Cleanser – $13
Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser – $9
If you’re the type of guy who still loves the fancy stuff, check out our favorite luxury skincare brands for men.
