CeraVe

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel.

Serums

About this product

A lightweight water gel serum formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides and glycerin to hydrate and support the skin barrier.

Full ingredients

Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Safflower Glucoside, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Citrate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Copper Pca, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid

Guru Score

70%

Mixed

3 experts · Moderate agreement

What they liked

Doesn't ball up or pill under makeup
Lightweight enough for nighttime use

What they flagged

Less calming than Korean water creams

What the gurus are saying

This gel applies smoothly without pilling or balling up, a real win for anyone wary of gels that flake when layered. Experts praise its lightweight texture as an easy swap for a heavier night cream, and it hydrates without the peeling that sometimes comes with gel formulas. However, some find that Korean water creams deliver more soothing and calming benefits at a similar price point, so it depends on whether you prioritize texture and hydration over extra calm.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take September 2026

Best for

Dry skin Sensitive skin

Type

SerumsGel

Key actives

Niacinamide Hyaluronic acidVitamin ECeramides

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Mad About Skin

731k subs

~Nay

"Neutrogena did this about 10 years ago. Neutrogena actually do it better and they do it cheaper. So it's not really fitting a gap in the market. [...] The Korean skincare market has some phenomenal water creams [...] that are cruelty-free and offer more calming and soothing benefits than this. Neutrogena isn't my favorite brand because they're not a cruelty-free brand, but their product is so much better and cheaper than the CeraVe one. Even the fan girls of CeraVe, even they don't like this."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Yay

"It has urea and amino acids, which are very hydrating and good for the dryness. [...] I think they did a great job with this. I really like it. I like it a lot more. They had another gel moisturizer at one point [...] that I was like, y'all, no, no, no, no. I can't remember all the reasons why I didn't like that, but I used it, I reviewed it, and then I never look back. [...] This is an improvement from that. It's an improvement from that. Overall, I really like it. Happy to use it up."

All 2 takes from Dr Dray

Dermatologist Reviews the NEW CeraVe Water Gel

Can Keloid Scars Be Removed? Dermatologist Q&A

"CeraVe has their Hydro Urea Intensive. [...] I reviewed that a couple of years ago."

HotandFlashy

1.23M subs

~Yay

"If my skin's feeling a little on the dry side then I use the CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel in the summer because this is a more lightweight night cream than my usual night cream. It's got peptides, niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, but it's more like a gel cream consistency so it's very lightweight and it doesn't add a lot of heaviness. It doesn't make my face hot or anything in the summer, so I use that as the last step at night in my skincare routine."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel?

A lightweight water gel serum formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides and glycerin to hydrate and support the skin barrier.

Is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 70%.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel's Guru Score?

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel holds a Guru Score of 70%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.