CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
94 facts in comparison
Based on 452 Reddit opinions. Close race—Moisturizing LotionCeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion edges ahead.
452 opinions
Moisturizing Lotion leads by 2pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
75%
B
Based on
118 Redditors
Winner
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
~$14.92
65 opinions
tldr; Reddit has mixed feelings; praised as an affordable, effective staple with niacinamide, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is also criticized for causing breakouts.
Check pricesVS
73%
B-
Based on
1,009 Redditors
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
~$5.48
387 opinions
tldr; Reddit highly recommends Vaseline for its exceptional healing, moisturizing, and occlusive properties, often favored by dermatologists and praised for its affordability.
Check prices✓EFF
⭐ING
✋SKI
❤️GEN
⭐VAL
83
Points
76
Points
Score by Category
Effectiveness
62%73%
Ingredients
100%67%
Skin Feel
71%50%
Gentleness
83%88%
Value
100%100%
Why is Original Petroleum Jelly better than Facial Moisturizing Lotion?
- Better effectiveness (73% vs 62%)
- Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
- ⏱ Heals skin fast and effectively
- Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
Based on 1,127 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Moisturizing LotionCeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Winning by 2 points (75% vs 73%)
Better ingredients
Better skin feel
Considered a "godsend" & preferred over
High confidence (1,127 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,127 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Moisturizing Lotion
7.5/10
118 mentions
Petroleum Jelly
7.3/10
1,009 mentions
EFFECTIVENESS
Moisturizing Lotion6.2/10
Petroleum Jelly7.3/10
INGREDIENTS
Moisturizing Lotion10.0/10
Petroleum Jelly6.7/10
SKIN FEEL
Moisturizing Lotion7.1/10
Petroleum Jelly5.0/10
GENTLENESS
Moisturizing Lotion8.3/10
Petroleum Jelly8.8/10
VALUE
Moisturizing Lotion10.0/10
Petroleum Jelly10.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Moisturizing Lotion | Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
Effectiveness | 62% | 73% |
Ingredients | 100% | 67% |
Skin Feel | 71% | 50% |
Gentleness | 83% | 88% |
Value | 100% | 100% |
Category Wins
Moisturizing Lotion: 2|Petroleum Jelly: 2
Head to Head
Moisturizing Lotion: 2|Petroleum Jelly: 2
EffectivenessPetroleum Jelly
Moisturizing Lotion62%
Petroleum Jelly73%
IngredientsMoisturizing Lotion
Moisturizing Lotion100%
Petroleum Jelly67%
Skin FeelMoisturizing Lotion
Moisturizing Lotion71%
Petroleum Jelly50%
GentlenessPetroleum Jelly
Moisturizing Lotion83%
Petroleum Jelly88%
Value
Moisturizing Lotion100%
Petroleum Jelly100%
Moisturizing Lotion
75%
73%
Petroleum Jelly
Moisturizing Lotion75%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Close race - Moisturizing Lotion edges ahead by 2 points
Key Specs
| Spec | CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) | — |
| Skin Type | All skin types, including oily and acne-prone | — |
| Formula | Oil-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free | — |
| Delivery Technology | MVE Technology | — |
| Brand | CeraVe | Vaseline |
Key Highlights
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
💰 Considered a "godsend" & preferred over
💰 Affordable ($12) & contains niacinamide
🎯 Plays well with adapalene
🎯 A long-term staple for many users
⚠ Can cause breakouts for individuals
Vaseline Original Petroleum JellyWinner
🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
💰 Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
🎯 Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight
💧 Excellent for extremely dry skin when layered
Topic Battles
Moisturizing Lotion: 2|Tied: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 2
✓Effectiveness
Petroleum Jelly winsMoisturizing Lotion
62%
Petroleum Jelly
73%
⭐Ingredients
Moisturizing Lotion winsMoisturizing Lotion
100%
Petroleum Jelly
67%
✋Skin Feel
Moisturizing Lotion winsMoisturizing Lotion
71%
Petroleum Jelly
50%
❤️Gentleness
Petroleum Jelly winsMoisturizing Lotion
83%
Petroleum Jelly
88%
⭐Value
Moisturizing Lotion
100%
Petroleum Jelly
100%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Best Praise
+13 pts“If it works for you, don’t let others’ opinions deter you. CeraVe has been a godsend for me personally. I’ve used all manner of expensive moisturizers - Tatcha, Drunk Elephant, Ole Henriksen. All were great but not really sustainable long term for me due to price point. Gave CeraVe PM a shot and I got the same results with my skin for a fraction of the price.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+5 pts“Dammit, I stopped using my Cerave PM moisturiser to see if it was Niacinamide causing my breakouts and I've just seen my foundation proudly proclaims '4% Niacinamide'. I'll have to pause that too. Can makeup just stay as makeup please 🙃, I hate when they jam skincare ingredients in. Leave that for skincare!”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Best Praise
+49 pts“My dermatologist won’t let me put anything on my face after any minor surgery by Vaseline. Not even aquapore- just Vaseline. My skin healed so fast. Supposedly to remove stitches it take 4-7bdays, but my skin healed up so fast they have to remove the stitches in 3 days tops. Any wound, dryness - this is all that doctors recommend. My mom also swears that putting light Vaseline on your face and rinsing it before you get out of the shower and applying make up after, your make up will be vibrant and last longer. She was an actress in the 70s and this is how the production make up artist does her make up.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+11 pts“I guess whoever who hasn't tried it yet, give it a go . But I've since learned during the winter trying to combat dry air, that dabbing a a little Vaseline a bit around my face, causes my face to break out like crazy the next day. Oh the night of, it is shiny and moist and lovely. But the next day, big ol bright red zits”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Moisturizing Lotion
Petroleum Jelly
📈Historical Price Data
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
All-time low: $0.56(2015-05)
$0 below 90-day avg
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
All-time low: $2.29(2022-05)
Which is Better?
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Wins
75%
Lotion
vs
73%
Jelly
Close race, but CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion edges ahead by 2 points based on 1,127 Reddit opinions.
Why Moisturizing LotionWinner
- 💰 Considered a "godsend" & preferred over
- 💰 Affordable ($12) & contains niacinamide
- 🎯 Plays well with adapalene
Why Petroleum Jelly
- 🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
- ⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
- More discussed (1,009 vs 118)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
42%Positive
Positive
42%Neutral
44%Negative
14%Based on 118 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
62%Negative
10%Based on 1,009 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Based on 1,127 Reddit comments, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion has a slight edge with 75% positive sentiment vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly's 73%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Both have similar approval ratings (75% vs 73%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion?
Reddit users highlight: Considered a "godsend" & preferred over. Affordable ($12) & contains niacinamide. Plays well with adapalene. With 118 mentions and 75% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Reddit users highlight: Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor. Heals skin fast and effectively. Works as an effective, affordable occlusive. With 1,009 mentions and 73% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,127 Reddit comments: 118 about CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion and 1,009 about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly. Data was sourced from Skincare products community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
452 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/2/2026