Finding the right product for dry or irritated skin can be tricky. Some brands claim to be formulated to help with these issues. However, they only end up making them worse due to the artificial ingredients or fragrances they contain.
Aveeno and Cetaphil both pride themselves on using more natural ingredients to leave your skin feeling soft and supple and clear up any skin complaints.
But which one should you choose for your skin type? Let’s find out.
Aveeno & Cetaphil History
Aveeno
Sidney and Albert Musher first founded Aveeno in 1945. They had the idea that they’d like to use scientific methods for the betterment of health and life.
The brothers believed that original skincare came from centuries-old remedies and that something had to hold true with these remedies for them to still be known today.
Working with the Mayo Clinic Dermatology Centre in the USA, the pair began experimenting with natural remedies, including oats and raw cereals, to understand the effects on different skin types.
The research initially led to a natural bath soak made from oatmeal, which claimed to help dry and irritated skin types. After 70 years of continued research, Aveeno continues to deliver excellent products for dry skin across moisturizers, cleansers, and lotions sold worldwide.
Cetaphil
Cetaphil began life in Texas back in 1947 with just a few choice products that were designed to cleanse and moisturize the skin without making it feel greasy or causing any irritation.
The products were launched after scientific testing to get the best possible blend for dry skin types.
Today, the products on the market are endorsed by Dr. Eszter, an associate professor at the Department of Dermatology and Allergology in Hungary.
They’re said to be one of the top products for reinforcing and protecting the skin’s structure to create a barrier from moisture loss and impurities.
Aveeno Vs Cetaphil In General
- The Cetaphil name comes from a combination of “cet” meaning the fatty alcohol that’s used to lock in moisture and “phil” meaning love. It creates a lovingly soft blend to keep the skin feeling younger and healthy.
- Cetaphil started its journey with a single product – Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion. This product hasn’t changed all that much over the years and the recipe, pretty much in its original form, is now marketed as the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.
- Aveeno is designed to target issues such as eczema and acne to reduce redness and inflammation the natural way.
- Unlike other skin cleansers and moisturizers, both Cetaphil and Aveeno market products for use over the whole body, not just for the face.
Aveeno Vs Cetaphil Moisturizers
Both brands offer excellent products for everyday moisturizing use. The products should both be used after a face wash and cleanse, to leave your skin feeling soft and adding a protective barrier before makeup.
The Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is one of the original products created by Cetaphil, with a few very minor changes. However, the fact that the recipe has lasted this long is a testament to how well it works and how many great reviews it’s had in the past.
Aveeno offer their Daily Moisturizing Lotion. It claims to use natural ingredients to keep your skin feeling smooth and looking bright. The continued use of this lotion can also be seen to display anti-ageing effects if you use it regularly, though it’s not marketed specifically for this reason.
Similarities
Both products can be used on the whole of the body and aren’t simply used as face moisturizers.
They are both meant for daily use to keep the skin healthy and form a protective barrier across the pores, preventing moisture loss and locking out impurities to keep pores tight and dirt free.
Both products are targeted at people with dry or combination skin and those with oily skin may find them a little overpowering, as they could make the skin greasier.
Unfortunately, one of the other things that both brands have in common is that they aren’t cruelty-free.
Both brands still test on animals. Though this is something that both brands aim to change in the future, if this is something that you’re not okay with, then you may need to go for an alternative to both.
Differences
The Aveeno product might feel like the right choice for the budgeters amongst you, simply because it’s cheaper than the Cetaphil. However, it does have some other great benefits that the Cetaphil is missing.
For example, the Aveeno product is completely fragrance-free. The lack of perfume in the ingredients is certainly better for those that might be prone to allergies. For some, perfumes tend to dry the skin out even further and escalate the problem.
But, if it’s a nice scent that you’re looking for that will give you that luxury feel, then Cetaphil is the way to go. The floral, subtle scent does remain on the skin for hours after use, making you feel like you’ve been to the spa.
The Aveeno mixture is slightly thicker than the Cetaphil, meaning it can take a while longer to rub in. However, this can mean that it lasts slightly longer, and you don’t need quite as much to achieve the same effect.
The Aveeno product is actually less greasy despite its thicker consistency because it uses more natural ingredients.
This means it’s the better option for people with oily skin (should you choose to use either), and it’s also the better choice for people with acne or eczema – as oil, in these cases, could escalate the problem.
Verdict
If you’re aiming for long-lasting luxury with a matching scent for all-over use, then Cetaphil is definitely the one for you. It gives you that nice smell and can be used every day just to keep your skin soft. The luxury feel also comes with a more luxury price tag though, so bear this in mind.
However, if you’re looking to clear up a skin problem, such as eczema, then Aveeno is probably the better choice. It comes with natural ingredients that help keep your skin hydrated while drying up a rash and breathing life back into the dead skin.
Confused between Cerave and Cetaphil? Uncover their unique benefits and select the perfect fit for your skin type with “The Ultimate Comparison: CeraVe vs Cetaphil – Unveiling the Best Skincare Choice“.
Aveeno Vs Cetaphil for Eczema
Eczema is one of the most common issues for people with sensitive or easily irritated skin or for people prone to allergies. It can flare up all over the body but is most common in the elbow or knee joints or on the neck and face.
This is usually a reaction to coming into contact with a specific substance or a change in the hormones. Luckily, both brands offer pretty effective solutions.
The Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is made with Chlorhexidine Digluconate, which acts as a disinfectant for the skin to prevent the growth of microorganisms.
The Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion uses Benzy Alcohol, a natural ingredient found in fruits. It’s often used in soaps and body washes, and too much of it can dry up the skin.
However, it’s an excellent ingredient to slow the growth of bacteria and adds fragrance to the product.
Similarities
Both products aim to keep the skin hydrated but have ingredients that will reduce the bacteria or slow the spread of bacteria on the skin.
This bacterium is typically the cause of eczema, and removing this from the skin will clear up the issue at the source.
Differences
While Cetaphil works to slow the growth of bacteria, you will need to use a product to clean the skin alongside it to remove the bacteria from the skin.
It may slow down the reaction but not cut it off at the source. The Cetaphil also includes a fragrance, which could cause the flare-up to be worse, depending on your skin type.
On the other hand, the Aveeno product works to clean the skin as well as moisturize, so you’re getting two for the price of one there – plus this product is cheaper.
However, it does have more hazard warnings for sensitive skin in the long term. It may be the more recommended treatment for eczema, but it’s probably best to switch up to something less intense once the flare-up has died down.
Verdict
Both products are notably good for clearing up eczema. However, you should definitely do a patch test first. Don’t just go ahead and rub it everywhere.
- The Cetaphil will work perfectly well for minor irritations and is possibly the more pleasant product from a pamper perspective.
- However, Aveeno may get right to the source for larger issues and clear the problem more quickly.
Because it’s a more aggressive form of treatment, specifically for skin complaints, it’s perhaps best not to continue using this every day after the skin has cleared.
Maybe switch to once every 3-4 days with another product in between.
Conclusion
The product you choose depends on your skin type and the skin problems you usually face.
If you’re looking for a preventative measure to clean your skin and protect it from impurities and bacteria that could cause a flare up, then Cetaphil is the right option for you.
However, if you’re in the midst of a severe flare-up of eczema or acne, then Aveeno is the better choice. It gets straight to the root of the problem to remove the impurities and dead skin, replacing it with healthier skin and tighter pores.
This is the option that most dermatologists will recommend for ongoing or reoccurring skin issues.
