Index / CeraVe / Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel
CeraVe

Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel.

CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel
Moisturizers

About this product

A lightweight gel moisturizer formulated with ceramides, niacinamide, and vitamin E designed to hydrate and maintain skin barrier health.

Best for

Oily skinCombination skin
Moisturizers

The Guru Index verdict

69%

Mixed

~Mixed · 69%
2Reviewers
0Approved
2Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus agree the gel texture is lightweight, absorbs quickly, and layers well without pilling, making it suitable for oily to normal skin and those using actives like retinoids. The consistent complaint is that it lacks exciting or advanced benefits; it's a basic hydrator with no anti-aging, brightening, or acne-fighting claims. A secondary tension emerges around value: some feel it doesn't justify its price over CeraVe PM, which offers similar benefits at lower cost and larger size. Sensitivity concerns exist for some due to behentrimonium methyl sulfate. The product splits reviewers between those who appreciate its simplicity for uncomplicated skin and those seeking more potent ingredients.
Synthesized from 2 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

NiacinamideHyaluronic acidVitamin ECeramidesFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

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

Every take, in full

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 Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
~Mixed
"The CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel is an option if you have sensitive skin, but it's not particularly effective for very stubborn hyperpigmentation and dark spots. A lot of body lotions already contain niacinamide, so you've probably already been using something similar to this."
All 9 takes from No BS Beauty
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Review, How to, Cruelty Free Dupes
"Super light texture, I love the gel, really nice and works pretty friendly for all skin types with the exception of, you know, super sensitive or acne prone. Nice product overall, but I wish they were cruelty-free. I'd get more excited about it but they're not cruelty-free, so it's probably nothing I would repurchase. I'd much rather support one of those other brands that is cruelty-free."
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Review, How to, Cruelty Free Dupes
"Super light texture I love the gel really nice and works pretty friendly for all skin types, with the exception of super sensitive or acne prone. It must be the ceramides and vitamin E."
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Review, How to, Cruelty Free Dupes
"In terms of performance it does a nice job hydrating skin, it leaves it feeling nice and soft and smooth and supple but not greasy and not sticky. I would say this is best for oily to normal skin. I couldn't imagine relying on this as my only source of moisture for like my super dry skin in the middle of winter, but for like fall or summer spring it seems to be okay. For super sensitive skin I would be cautious of one ingredient of note which is behentrimonium methyl sulfate, which is more of a cleansing ingredient. It helps oil and water combine better, but it's more of a cleansing ingredient than anything else, so some people will look at this product and some people will be irritated, not have any idea what it is. I think most people probably won't have an issue but it might be for some people, so keep that one in mind."
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Review, How to, Cruelty Free Dupes
"It does have a really nice gel texture and a little bit of this one tends to go a long way, so one full pump is enough to cover my face and neck, which is nice. It has a wonderful gel texture. It absorbs really quickly, and once it soaks in it sets to a natural finish. It's not super matte but it's not shiny either. Once it soaks in it looks more natural or almost slightly matte. It's nonsticky and it works nicely over vitamin C products, which is a good thing because a lot of vitamin C products make other products either foam up underneath them or disintegrate or turn watery or mushy. It works well under sunscreen and foundation without any peeling issues."
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel Initial Impressions Review
"It feels nice on my face, doesn't have a terribly shiny finish. I'd say it has more of a natural finish. The product size is 1.75 ounces, which is about the standard size for CeraVe products. It actually feels pretty nice on my skin. I think most people are pretty opinionated on CeraVe, most people either love it or they hate it most of the time."
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel Initial Impressions Review
"It does feel nice on skin. I mean it has a little bit of a tacky finish but you're probably gonna be applying something over it such as a sunscreen or a sleeping mask or retinol things like that."
CeraVe Skincare New! Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel Initial Impressions Review
"For me I look for something exciting in a moisturizer, maybe anti-aging, maybe soothing, obviously hydrating, maybe something that helps with hyperpigmentation. I really look for something that makes the product stand out. CeraVe makes their products for the masses and they will work well for the majority of people, but will this help with fine lines and wrinkles, help brighten your skin up? No. It's not going to do any of those things. It's a basic, simple hydrating moisturizer. It's got a little bit of niacinamide in there which will help, but I look for things with peptides or just something more exciting. CeraVe is not super expensive but they're not as affordable as some other brands that might have more exciting moisturizers with more benefits for redness or anti-aging. It does feel nice on skin and has a little bit of a tacky finish, but you're probably going to be applying something over it like a sunscreen or sleeping mask or retinol."
Most Anticipated Products of the Year 🙌 Which Skincare Delivered on My Hype & What Disappointed
"CeraVe came out with this ultra light moisturizing gel, which is a really nice gel textured product. This is one that was somewhere in the middle. I didn't totally fall in love with it, but if you have oily skin without many anti-aging or acne concerns, I think this is a decent, affordable middle-of-the-road moisturizer. For exciting ingredients, there's not really any anti-aging or anything like that in here. It's got ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin E, cholesterol. So if you're younger, I think you can probably get away with just using this and being fine. But if you have fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, texture, breakouts, you're probably better off going with something different. The majority of people that are younger and don't have any issues and are just looking for a basic, affordable, simple moisturizer, this one fits the bill. For me, it's okay. It's nothing. Personally, I need more. I need more firming ingredients, I need more brightening ingredients, I need more peptides. I need everything. So for me, it's not necessarily up my alley."
The Ordinary Skincare Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion Review, How to Use, Dupes
"The CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel is an option if you have sensitive skin, but it's not particularly effective for very stubborn hyperpigmentation and dark spots. A lot of body lotions already contain niacinamide, so you've probably already been using something similar to this."
~Mixed
"This is the CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel. It's okay, it's definitely not a favorite. It's not bad, it's actually good, it's just I don't find it to be too much different. I don't find this to be strikingly different from CeraVe PM. It's like ever so slightly lighter in consistency."
All 4 takes from Dr Dray
A Holiday Skincare Surprise 🎄
"This is the CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel. It's okay, it's definitely not a favorite. It's not bad, it's actually good, it's just I don't find it to be too much different. I don't find this to be strikingly different from CeraVe PM. It's like ever so slightly lighter in consistency."
*NEW* CERAVE SKINCARE REVIEWS 2023 @DrDrayzday
"The main difference in my opinion between the new Ultra Lightweight and the CeraVe PM is the Ultra Lightweight is super super lightweight. Sarah vpm though, in my experience using it and recommending it, is also pretty lightweight, so you're trading lightweight for super super lightweight. For me personally, I see no reason myself to ever repurchase this because I'm just going to go with CeraVe PM because not only is it more or less the same thing for me, just the consistency is slightly different, but the new moisturizer, the Ultra Lightweight, is $20.99 for 1.75 ounces versus CeraVe PM which is $14.99 for three ounces. For me personally, I would just stick with CeraVe PM. I don't really see that, for me at least, the new Ultra Lightweight Gel is really bringing anything to the table that was not already serving for me. Now, if you hate the consistency of the CeraVe PM, it's too thick for you, you find that it feels oily or uncomfortable, you may like this because it's super lightweight. Now if you have really really dry skin and skin that's prone to dryness and irritation, especially as we head into the colder months, fall and winter, the air gets drier, this may not be adequate enough for your dry skin needs. It's very very lightweight. It's the kind of thing that you might use and then layer another moisturizer on over, and at that point you're kind of like, what exactly is this adding to my routine?"
*NEW* CERAVE SKINCARE REVIEWS 2023 @DrDrayzday
"It's so lightweight that it absorbs really quickly and it's the type of moisturizing product that I think people will enjoy who are either running into issues with moisturizers and products pilling, or have other products in your skincare routine that you're going to layer on over this. It layers really nicely. It's a great lightweight hydrating moisturizer that you could use alongside your retinoids and not have the issue of pilling, especially if you're using tretinoin gel, which often can pill if you use too much or you're using it alongside certain moisturizers. I think that this particular moisturizer will go nicely with the tretinoin gel formula. If you have oily skin and don't really need much of a moisturizer, I think you will enjoy this."
So Many Empties 🗑 Skincare And Hair Care I Used Up 2023
"I enjoyed this it's fine but I would not repurchase it. It's basically in my opinion very similar if not identical to CeraVe PM, their lightweight facial moisturizer, which I've always loved and recommended. This is almost identical, slightly more lightweight. The consistencies are ever so slightly different, but this is a little more expensive if I remember correctly, so I say just stick with CeraVe PM. Not bad but didn't blow me out of the water. It has ceramides, which are good for the skin barrier, and niacinamide, similar to CeraVe PM, which is for redness and the moisture barrier. I mean, CeraVe's products are good, but I don't really feel as though this adds a whole lot to their portfolio."
You might also like

Similar products worth a look.

Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.

This week's top beauty news, in your inbox.

A weekly read of the takes worth catching up on: the raves, the splits, the ones the gurus won't shut up about. Free, no spam, unsubscribe whenever.

Subscribe to the digest