The real difference is sunscreen. AM has it, PM doesn't, and the moisturizing bases are close cousins.
CeraVe AM and PM share the same core: niacinamide, three ceramides (NP, AP and EOP), cholesterol and hyaluronic acid, in an oil-free, non-comedogenic lotion with no added fragrance. AM adds broad-spectrum sunscreen: SPF 30 from homosalate, octinoxate, octocrylene and zinc oxide, or SPF 50 in the newer version. PM has no SPF and puts caprylic/capric triglyceride high in the list for a little more cushion overnight.
So use PM at night, always. In the morning, use AM if you want moisturizer and sunscreen in one step. If you already wear a separate sunscreen you like, skip AM and use PM morning and night.
Pick by whether you want SPF in your moisturizer
| Morning, with SPF 30 CeraVe AM SPF 30 Daily Facial Moisturizer | VS | Night, no SPF CeraVe PM Lightweight Overnight Facial Moisturizing Lotion |
|---|---|---|
Broad-spectrum SPF 30 | Sun protection |
None |
Homosalate 10%, octinoxate 5%, octocrylene 2%, zinc oxide | Sunscreen filters |
None |
First ingredient after water | Niacinamide |
4th ingredient |
Ceramides NP, AP, EOP + cholesterol | Barrier lipids |
Ceramides NP, AP, EOP + cholesterol |
Morning, last step | When to use |
Night, or morning under sunscreen |
3 oz | Size |
3 oz |
| View | View |
CeraVe AM SPF 30: moisturizer and sunscreen in one step
Moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
AM is a lightweight lotion with broad-spectrum SPF 30. The filters are 10% homosalate, 5% octinoxate and 2% octocrylene, which absorb UV, plus zinc oxide, a mineral filter. It is not a mineral-only sunscreen.
The moisturizing side mirrors PM: niacinamide right after water, then glycerin, three ceramides, cholesterol and hyaluronic acid. It’s oil-free, non-comedogenic and has no added fragrance.
Use it as the last step of your morning routine, and use enough. SPF is tested at a generous amount, and a thin moisturizer-sized layer gives you less protection than the label number. Reapply at least every two hours outdoors. It isn’t water-resistant, so switch to a water-resistant sunscreen for swimming or heavy sweating.
- Moisturizer and broad-spectrum SPF 30 in one step
- Niacinamide, three ceramides and hyaluronic acid
- Oil-free, non-comedogenic, no added fragrance
- You need a generous layer to get the full SPF 30
- Not water-resistant
- Reapplying means adding more moisturizer too
CeraVe PM: the night moisturizer that also works under sunscreen
Oil-free night moisturizer with niacinamide.
PM is a light, oil-free lotion with no sunscreen. Water and glycerin come first, then caprylic/capric triglyceride, a light emollient, and niacinamide. Three ceramides, cholesterol, phytosphingosine and hyaluronic acid round it out. It’s non-comedogenic and has no added fragrance.
Niacinamide helps calm skin and reduce water loss, and it pairs easily with most treatments, so PM is a simple moisturizer to put over a retinoid or exfoliant at night.
Nothing in it stops you from using it in the morning. If you already like a separate sunscreen, PM followed by that sunscreen is a strong setup, because you can reapply the sunscreen alone during the day.
- Niacinamide, three ceramides, cholesterol and hyaluronic acid
- Light enough for oily and combination skin
- Works under any separate sunscreen in the morning
- Oil-free, non-comedogenic, no added fragrance
- No sun protection on its own
- Very dry skin may want a richer cream at night
CeraVe AM SPF 50: the stronger daytime pick
Moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 50.
This is the higher-SPF version of AM, not something to layer over the SPF 30. The filters are 8% homosalate, 5% octisalate, 5% octocrylene and 7% zinc oxide. Niacinamide, three ceramides, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E sit in the base. It’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, and it comes in the same 3 oz bottle.
Most people apply less sunscreen than the amount used to test SPF, so a higher number gives you more margin. If AM will be your only morning sunscreen, this is the one to buy. Like the SPF 30, it isn’t water-resistant and needs reapplying at least every two hours outdoors.
- Broad-spectrum SPF 50 in a moisturizer
- Niacinamide, three ceramides and hyaluronic acid, like the SPF 30
- Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic
- Not water-resistant
- Still needs a generous layer and reapplication
- Contains soybean oil, if you avoid it
How to use AM and PM in your routine
- Cleanse in the morning
Wash with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. If you use a serum, apply it now.
- Pick one morning route
Route one: CeraVe AM SPF 30 or SPF 50 as your last step, applied generously to your face and neck. Route two: CeraVe PM, wait a minute, then your separate broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- Reapply when you're outdoors
Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours outside, and use a water-resistant sunscreen for swimming or sweating. With AM, that means more lotion. With PM plus sunscreen, you reapply the sunscreen alone.
- Use PM at night
Cleanse, apply any retinoid or treatment, then finish with CeraVe PM. You don’t need sunscreen at night, so AM has no place in your evening routine.
If you already wear a separate sunscreen, CeraVe PM can be your only moisturizer, morning and night. Buy AM only if you want to drop the separate sunscreen step.
Choose CeraVe PM for night, and for mornings too if you already wear a separate sunscreen. It has niacinamide, three ceramides and hyaluronic acid in a light, oil-free lotion, and it lets you reapply sunscreen on its own.
Choose CeraVe AM if you want moisturizer and sunscreen in one morning step. Get the SPF 50 version over the SPF 30: same 3 oz size, a similar base, more protection. Either way, apply it generously and reapply when you’re outdoors.
