Something a little bit different today! I’m going to be reviewing the most discussed and hyped products on Reddit’s infamous r/skincareaddiction subreddit. If you’re wondering, here’s the full list of the 55 most-talked-about items on skincare reddit.

For a little context, I’m the co-founder of Maeva (and writer of all these blog posts!). I struggled with my skin on and off for years, and have now finally found a methodology to balance my skin using primarily retinoids and sunscreen. Clearly, I’m keen on skincare, so before I rate all of these products, please know that all skin is different, and if you love a product that I don’t, I absolutely encourage you to keep using what works for you.

A little disclaimer: I’m not a cosmetic scientist or dermatologist, just an enthusiast! Over the years of struggling with my skin, I’ve created my own guidelines on what to look out for in products and how to evaluate formulas, based on my own experience.

1. CeraVe hydrating cleanser

• I’m not at all surprised that this is the top most discussed product on reddit, it really made waves in the market when it was released a few years ago, and tonnes of people across social media and IRL swear by it.
• Generally speaking, I think CeraVe is a decent brand, I just don’t feel like my skin loves many of its products, and I think that might be due to the high fatty alcohol content that most of their range contains (loved by most people’s skin, but seemingly not mine!).
• For somebody new to skincare and no major skincare concerns, I think this would be a good place to start for a cleanser, as so many people do love it.
• For me personally, when I used it, I found it stung my skin. Having spoken about it on TikTok, I found that this happened to a few others as well. Overall I prefer to avoid products that cause a stinging sensation, but realise I’m in the minority with regards to fatty alcohols.
• Finally, I do have suspicions as to how well this actually cleanses traces of makeup and SPF if used as a second cleanse in the evening, but as a morning cleanser I can’t fault it.

Overall I’d rate this 6/10, it’s not my favourite but it is a lot of other people’s favourites so that’s gotta mean something. Plus, it’s hardly offensive, just pretty plain and simple.

2. CeraVe moisturising cream or ‘CeraVe in the tub’

• Spoiler alert – all five of the top most discussed products are CeraVe!
• I do think their simple and medical-esque packaging draws people in in quite a smart way – the basic packaging alludes to substance over style.
• I haven’t personally used this product and that’s again due to the high fatty alcohol content of the cream, which I believe disagrees with my skin and results in comedones. In contrast to the cleanser which is a wash-off product, I am more reluctant to use leave-on products.
• I enjoy that it’s fragrance and essential oil free, those are two of my personal preferences to avoid, and part of the reason I co founded Maeva to allow people to filter out ingredients they don’t love.
• I would recommend this one to people with dry skin, as opposed to oily and combination, as it is quite a thick cream with plenty of occlusives including petrolatum and dimethicone.
• In my humble opinion, you’d be best patch testing this on just one area of your face a few times before applying it to your entire face, especially if you’re prone to comedones/acne.

I’ll rate this one 7/10 because, whilst it is a great basic, affordable moisturiser for many, it could easily break a few people out here and there.

3. CeraVe foaming facial cleanser

• I’m glad CeraVe markets this as for ‘normal to oily skin’, as I quite like the product, just not for dry skin (like mine), though it was okay the handful of times I’ve used it (usually when I’m at my boyfriend’s house and am without my own).
• Despite the progress we’ve made with non-drying surfactants, I still choose to swerve foaming cleansers entirely and would (mostly) recommend others with dry skin to do so, too.
• Of course I can’t complain about the ceramides that are included, which is part of CeraVe’s signature style.
• I also enjoy the high glycerin content and inclusion of niacinamide, which can be helpful for oilier skins by reducing sebum production.

All in all, I think this is a very solid choice for those with oilier skin, I’d rate it 8/10.

4. CeraVe moisturising lotion

• Disclaimer that I have not personally used this product before.
• First impressions – I think their range can be a little confusing sometimes, as I’m not sure the average consumer would be able to tell the difference between this lotion and the moisturising cream. Perhaps ‘lotion’ is more of a US term that we don’t use as frequently in the UK?
• Like with all CeraVe products, I am again glad it is fragrance and essential oil free, as well with the signature glycerin and ceramides.
• I put it in the same category as the CeraVe in the tub, as it has a fairly similar formula and use case, but for that same reason I’d probably not recommend it if you have skin that is prone to texture, comedones and/or acne.

Overall I’d give this 7/10, just like its sister product in the tub.

5. CeraVe PM facial moisturising lotion

• Final disclaimer that I have not personally used this product before, but as always (and as I usually do over on TikTok), I’ll be giving a top level view of the formula as a whole vs the claims made on the packaging
• Not only the fifth most talked about product in the worldwide r/skincareaddiction sub, but also the fourth most discussed in r/30plusskincare
• This product presents as a lighter option of the CeraVe in a tub, which might appeal to those with oilier skin types.
• Whilst I like the simplicity of the formula (which generally rings true of most CeraVe products), I can imagine that the presence of both ceteareth-20 and polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate may have the potential to cause breakouts. Granted, the polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate is the second to last ingredient, suggesting it is in very low quantities, but for some skins this is enough on its own to cause closed comedones regardless.
• For my own skin, I prefer to avoid such ingredients and opt for what I consider to be ‘lower risk’ products. Having received quite a few comments over on TikTok about how this product has broken out a fair few of my audience, it’s not something I’d be likely to widely recommend to fellow clog-prone sufferers.

Overall I’d give this a 5/10, I don’t feel this formula is anything too special, especially for acne sufferers. There are lots of other options out there that I think would pose less of a risk.