Moisturizing Cream vs Protini Polypeptide Cream: which is safer?

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

CeraVe

Moisturizing Cream

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 67/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Water, glycerin, ceramides, humectants (cream emulsion)

Confidence

78%

Possible1,4-dioxane (synthetic contaminant in emulsifiers)

PossiblePreservative safety and formaldehyde releasers

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Drunk Elephant

Protini Polypeptide Cream

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Water-based moisturizing cream; primary actives include peptide complex, ceramides, glycerin

Confidence

78%

PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitizers

PossibleFormaldehyde releasers in preservative system

PossibleEye and mucous membrane irritation from peptide or ceramide particles

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag 1,4-dioxane (synthetic contaminant in emulsifiers) and Preservative safety and formaldehyde releasers on the CeraVe and not on the Drunk Elephant.
  • We flag Fragrance allergens and sensitizers, Formaldehyde releasers in preservative system and Eye and mucous membrane irritation from peptide or ceramide particles on the Drunk Elephant and not on the CeraVe.
  • The CeraVe is Water, glycerin, ceramides, humectants (cream emulsion) where the Drunk Elephant is Water-based moisturizing cream; primary actives include peptide complex, ceramides, glycerin, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More moisturizer: see the full ranking