This Underrated Drugstore Cream Saved My Skin
Why it's time for Vanicream to take the spotlight from the uber-popular CeraVe.
I’ve tried a lot of products over the years but there are some classics that have sadly slipped under my radar. When stylist Michelle Li (no relation, haha) recommended Vanicream Moisturizing Cream in my past roundup of the 30 Best Beauty Products Under $30, I mentally flagged that it was high time for me to give it a whirl.
I had been dealing with a bad bout of intensely dry, irritated skin around the bottom half of my face and nothing was working. I was layering hydrators and moisturizers and occlusives and it was still a peeling mess. I’ve been using the dermatologist- and influencer-beloved CeraVe Moisturizing Cream on and off for the past year and it’s typically fine but I occasionally feel a little burning sensation when I put it on.
Although it’s been around since 2005, CeraVe has had such a huge resurgence in recent years. To say that it’s a hot topic on social media is an understatement. As of this morning, CeraVe had 12 billion views on TikTok compared to just 41.6 million views for Vanicream! People are talking about it…and writing about it. On Google, there are 81 million results for CeraVe versus 3.48 million results for Vanicream.
But dear readers, I’m here to tell you: please don’t sleep on Vanicream like I did. I picked up a giant tub (which comes with a handy pump so you’re not tempted to stick dirty hands into it) at Target and wow. It feels like a warm blanket—so heavy and soothing. A word of warning (or praise, depending on how you look at it): this cream is THICK. Does it absorb easily? Absolutely not. In fact, it leaves a slightly white cast until you really put some effort into working it in.
READ: My Glass Skin Holy Grails
But that’s the point. It’s heavier and more occlusive than other creams, so it really seals in the moisture. If you have oily or acne-prone skin (or just don’t want something quite so thick), you may prefer the lighter Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion, which I hear is also excellent. I posted about loving the cream on Instagram yesterday and about 30 people messaged me in excited agreement and to also put in a good word for the Vanicream cleanser. I can’t personally vouch for it since I haven’t tried it yet. But if you’re in the market for a new gentle cleanser, it sounds like a winner.
The giant 16 ounce tub of Vanicream Moisturizing Cream I bought is just under $14. What a bargain!
What are your other underrated holy grails? Please do share below! I hear the body butters at Trader Joe’s are amazing. So those are next on my list to try!
Makeup by Mario SuperSatin Lipstick in 917
The folks at Mario sent me this incredible vault of all the new lip shades. I’ve tried about half of them so far (some of the lighter ones are way too light for my skin tone. The one I keep coming back to is the shade 917 which is a midtone warm rose). The texture of this lipstick is divine. The incredibly wearable, creamy formula is easy to apply and feels truly moisturizing and comfortable. (Why did we ever torture ourselves with those drying liquid matte lipsticks back in the day?)
Joico InnerJoi Blowout Crème
Another brand that flies under the radar but shouldn’t. This lovely pre-blowout cream protects from heat damage (a must if you have thinning or damaged hair) and helps control frizz, plus it’s vegan and 96 percent naturally derived. It’s an easy hair styler that makes hair look shinier without weighing it down or making it greasy.
Uni 24 Hour Body Serum
Uni is a new body care brand that uses refillable aluminum bottles to help cut down on single-use plastics. Their body serum is meant to replace lotion (not to be layered necessarily like face serum) and they refer to it as “Face Serum for your Body.” I really appreciate the thought process behind a refillable metal bottle. And I do like the light, easily absorbed serum a lot. That being said, as I’ve mentioned above, my skin is very dry. And unfortunately, I need a thicker moisturizer during winter. I’m finding that my legs, for example, are still quite chalky looking after about an hour. This would be so nice pick for spring or summer though.
Is it just me or do other people have trouble with the Cerave burning? I love all things Vanicream. The cleanser, the cream, and the ointment is sooo good! Less greasy than aquaphor. It’s like the cream and Vaseline had a baby.
So proud to be a trendsetter 😂I’ve been using both Vanicream and Cera Ve for years, both recommended by our dermatologist. I prefer the Vanicream lotion to the Cera Ve (it used to be called Lite Lotion for us old heads). And if you are a Costco member, they sell Vanicream behind the pharmacy counter (Cera Ve is sold in the main aisle).