CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion vs The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA: Niacinamide Lotion or Amino-Acid Cream?
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US facial product comparison; manufacturer ingredient lists checked November 7, 2026 (JST).
The short verdict
Consider CeraVe PM if you want a facial lotion with niacinamide, three named ceramides, dimethicone and sodium hyaluronate. Consider The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA if you prefer a cream built around amino acids, sugars, urea and other moisturizing ingredients, without listed niacinamide or dimethicone. Both are leave-on facial moisturizers, not interchangeable formulas and not an absolute winner for every acne-prone person. [1, 2]
The Ordinary comparison is the original + HA, not + PhytoCeramides or + Beta Glucan.
Side-by-side: the current US ingredient lists
| Detail | CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Facial lotion; manufacturer describes a lightweight night moisturizer | Cream moisturizer |
| Manufacturer skin-type positioning | All skin types | All skin types |
| Glycerin | Listed second | Listed sixth |
| Hyaluronic-acid ingredient named | Sodium hyaluronate | Sodium hyaluronate |
| Niacinamide | Listed | Not listed |
| Named ceramides in full ingredient list | NP, AP and EOP | No individually named ceramide |
| Other notable ingredients | Dimethicone; cholesterol; phytosphingosine | Multiple amino acids; sodium PCA; PCA; sodium lactate; urea; allantoin |
| Fatty alcohols | Cetearyl alcohol | Cetyl alcohol; stearyl alcohol |
| Fragrance/parfum | Not listed; manufacturer says free of added fragrance | Not listed |
| Manufacturer usage | Apply to face and neck at night | Apply as needed; FAQ includes AM and PM use |
| SPF protection claimed for this product | No | No |
Prices omitted: size-matched US prices were not established. Neither is sunscreen.
Where the moisturizing approaches diverge
Both lists contain glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride and sodium hyaluronate, so they share some basic moisturizing building blocks. CeraVe combines them with niacinamide, ceramides NP/AP/EOP, cholesterol and dimethicone. The Ordinary instead lists a broad mix of amino acids, including arginine, glycine and serine, plus sugars, urea and sodium PCA.
These differences help identify ingredients you want to include or avoid. They cannot establish comparative hydration, sunscreen layering or breakout outcomes; the lists do not disclose enough concentrations.
One source nuance matters here. The Ordinary's marketing description refers generally to ceramides, but the full ingredient list does not individually name a ceramide. This article follows that full list rather than presenting the product as a verified direct ceramide-for-ceramide alternative to CeraVe.
Current ingredient-screening results
Recalculated with the existing site rules on the US manufacturer lists checked November 7, 2026 (JST). These are ingredient-list screens, not clinical or individual safety assessments.
| Screen | CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal-acne ingredient screen | Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate | Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60 |
| Pore-clogging ingredient screen | Moderate; rated 3+: Ceteareth-20 | Low; no ingredients rated 3+ found |
| Pregnancy ingredient screen | No commonly flagged ingredients | No commonly flagged ingredients |
A flag count is not a ranking of finished products. No matches means only no commonly flagged ingredients under these rules, not that a product is safe. Screens do not diagnose fungal acne, predict breakouts, or establish pregnancy safety; leave-on exposure, concentration and individual response are not resolved. A pore-screen category is not a clinical risk estimate. Ask your doctor about the exact product, especially during pregnancy. Read how we check ingredients.
Who might prefer each?
CeraVe PM may suit your priorities if you specifically want niacinamide and individually named ceramides in a facial lotion. Its manufacturer positions it for nighttime use. An ingredient flag alone cannot establish that it is causing problems.
The Ordinary may suit your priorities if you prefer a cream and want an option without listed niacinamide or dimethicone. Its amino-acid and humectant mix provides a different formulation approach. More fungal-acne matches do not establish that it is worse for everyone.
Useful questions
Does “PM” mean CeraVe contains retinol?
No retinol is named in the current PM ingredient list. Do not confuse it with other night products. Follow this product's own nighttime directions rather than inferring its formula from the name alone.
Is Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA an exfoliating acid product?
Here, “HA” refers to hyaluronic acid; the full list names sodium hyaluronate. This is a moisturizer, not a label-based substitute for an exfoliating product.
Can either replace sunscreen or receive pregnancy clearance from the checker?
No. Neither is an SPF product, and the checker is not a medical assessment. Ask your doctor about the exact formula for pregnancy and other medical decisions.
Product records, limitations and sources
See the CeraVe PM product record and The Ordinary NMF + HA product record for the full current ingredient screens.
This is a desk-based ingredient comparison, not firsthand testing or a clinical study. Batch formulas, concentrations and individual outcomes were not verified. Not medical advice. Ask your doctor for pregnancy or other medical decisions.
Sources accessed November 7, 2026 (JST):
- CeraVe US: PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion — full ingredients, positioning and directions.
- The Ordinary US: Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA — full ingredients, usage and product description.
- Product records linked above: screening results recalculated with the existing site rules on the current ingredient lists.
Not medical advice. These checks read the published ingredient list against public rule lists; results vary from person to person, formulas change, and ingredient lists can be incomplete. Ask a dermatologist or your doctor (and in pregnancy, your midwife or obstetrician) before relying on them.