Can I Use CeraVe AM/PM Facial Lotion With Paula's Choice AHA/BHA Exfoliant? Answered

Wondering if it is safe to use any of the CeraVe AM or PM facial moisturizing lotions with the Paula's Choice AHA/BHA liquid exfoliant?

The CeraVe AM and PM facial lotion have created a nice reputation for themselves due to their skin-friendly properties.

CeraVe AM and PM are to be used separately on the face in the morning and at night respectively, the major difference between the two is that CeraVe AM contains SPF while the latter doesn't.

Paula's Choice AHA/BHA liquid exfoliant is used daily to remove dead skin cells and uncover healthy glowing skin.

This liquid exfoliant contains two main ingredients: Salicylic acid and Green tea which helps soothes as it exfoliates, that's why most people refer to it as a toner.

So what happens when you decide to use the moisturizer and the liquid exfoliant together, do both have ingredients contraindicate and ruin your skin? Keep reading.

Can I Use CeraVe AM And PM Facial Lotion With Paula's Choice AHA/BHA Exfoliant?

The short answer is yes and here is why:

Dermatologists always recommend using a gentle, hydrating moisturizer after exfoliating plus a good suncream and that's where CeraVe AM or PM face lotion comes in.

Paula's Choice AHA/BHA is a leave-on exfoliating skin product, which generally rids the skin of dead cells that it does not need, so after a fresh reveal of skin, a gentle moisturizer is recommended after every use. 

Editor's note: You should only exfoliate 2-3 times a week to avoid overwhelming your skin.

Yes, the two products do not have similar active ingredients, that way they can help each other work better, here's how:

The CeraVe AM (morning) facial lotion also has SPF 30 which protects the skin from sun sensitivity as any type of exfoliating can cause that; for more protection you should still use extra sunscreen after layering this lotion.

So this means that both products are great on their own but they need each other to achieve better skin goals, you just need to consider the following:

#1: Time of use:

Timing matters in every skincare regime.

For better results, an exfoliant should always go before the moisturizer.

So in this case, apply Paula's Choice leave-on liquid exfoliant followed by the CeraVe AM or PM face lotion depending on what time of the day is.

#2: Skin type:

Although  it is safe to use the CeraVe AM/PM face lotion and Paula's Choice AHA/BHA liquid exfoliant together, they are still people who might be sensitive to the combination.

The former alone is skin-friendly but some of the ingredients in the latter which contains Salicylic acid may irritate a sensitive or dry skin type. 🙂

Conclusion

Our skin needs exfoliating once in a while and also needs to be moisturized daily to lock in moisture.

The CeraVe AM and PM facial lotions are two different skin moisturizers from the same company, used in the morning and evening respectively.

Read: Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin That Don't Contain Niacinamide

Paula's Choice AHA/BHA liquid on the other hand is a leave-on that can be used in the morning or at night.

The key ingredients in CeraVe AM and PM facial lotion are Ceramides, Niacinamide, and Hyaluronic acid, while Paula's Choice AHA/BHA exfoliant is Salicylic acid and Green tea.

Both products can be used together or separately, they are perfectly safe, but you need to be sure that you are not allergic to any of their ingredients.