Part of growing up and maturing is realizing that the pretty neon and pastel-designed skincare products lining the aisles of your favorite drugstores are not what your blemish-prone skin needs. If anything, the fragrance, beads, and other additives that their formulas contain are too abrasive and are sure to leave you with irritated skin.
Instead, look beyond the superficial marketing tactics targeted towards our age demographic and invest in products that will nourish your skin, even if they aren’t the best bathroom-shelf decor. I love CeraVe products because they are gentle and hydrating on my skin. Here are my top three holy grail skincare products that I use daily:
Encased in a slick-looking white and turquoise bottle, this foaming facial cleanser not only reminds me of refreshing cucumbers used in spas but also feels refreshing on my skin. The gel-based cleanser is gentle on the skin, yet strong enough to double as a makeup remover. Equipped with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and three ceramides, these ingredients will leave your skin barrier protected and feeling calm and moisturized, regardless of if you have normal, oily, or dry skin. I use it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and make sure to pat my face dry with a clean towel afterward.
Conveniently the color of white and sky blue, this daytime moisturizing lotion bottle from heaven also contains sunscreen with SPF 30 to protect your skin from damaging sun rays, which can age you prematurely. Unlike other thick moisturizers that have clogged my pores and made me break out, this formula is thankfully non-comedogenic. It also has “microfine zinc oxide” which means you won’t get annoying white residue on your face that other sunscreens leave behind as long as you make sure to rub the moisturizer on your skin thoroughly. However, be mindful that the SPF does not last all day and in fact, only lasts for two hours according to the brand’s websites, so be sure to reapply consistently or layer another sunscreen on top.
In a conveniently white and night navy-colored bottle, the nighttime moisturizing lotion is a lightweight version of the daytime moisturizer since it doesn’t have any sunscreen in its formula. I love the lightweight formula because it’s satisfying to apply after washing my face since the slippery consistency adds a cooling therapeutic effect to my skin akin to a facial. Even during the dry winter season, I’ve noticed that my skin is still hydrated when I wake up and there is no evidence of flaky and peeling skin. It should also be noted that this nighttime moisturizer, as well as the daytime moisturizer, contains the holy trinity of ceramides, as well as hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.
All in all, as someone who values my sleep and is always running late for everything, using these three CeraVe products has saved me a lot of time. They also aren’t crazy expensive like designer skincare products which line the shelves of beauty stores, so I highly recommend them for college students. Most importantly, I’ve noticed I barely break out now and I never experience skin irritability from using these products. Not only am I a loyal customer, but my housemate is too. If you’re struggling to find compatible skincare products, give these a try!