Moisturizing Cream vs The Moisturizing Fresh Cream: which is safer?
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
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
La Mer
The Moisturizing Fresh Cream
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 57/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
water-in-oil emulsion with natural mineral-derived actives (seaweed, kelp ferment)
Confidence
72%
PossibleHeavy metals in mineral/seaweed actives
ReportedFragrance allergens
Possible1,4-dioxane (manufacturing byproduct)
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 La Mer.
- We flag Heavy metals in mineral/seaweed actives, Fragrance allergens and 1,4-dioxane (manufacturing byproduct) on the La Mer and not on the CeraVe.
- The CeraVe is Water, glycerin, ceramides, humectants (cream emulsion) where the La Mer is water-in-oil emulsion with natural mineral-derived actives (seaweed, kelp ferment), 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