Side-by-side comparison

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 vs The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan

Both are moisturisers. They share a 64% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

64%Active overlap
CeraVe
AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
MoisturiserBudgetMorning only
Sun ProtectionDrynessDamaged Barrier

A daytime ceramide lotion with built-in chemical SPF 30 and niacinamide. A convenient morning moisturiser-plus-sunscreen for everyday low-exposure use; reapply or use a dedicated SPF for prolonged sun.

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The Ordinary
Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan
MoisturiserBudgetMorning or evening
DehydrationDamaged BarrierSensitivity

An updated NMF moisturiser adding beta-glucan — 2026's barrier-repair hero ingredient — to amino acids, ceramide precursors and hyaluronic acid. A lightweight, fragrance-free everyday moisturiser with a soothing, plumping slant.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both sit in the Budget tier, so cost isn't the deciding factor here — choose on texture, finish and the supporting ingredients. On how you'd use them, the CeraVe is flagged Morning only while the The Ordinary is flagged Morning or evening. The CeraVe leans toward Dryness, Sun Protection. The The Ordinary leans toward Dehydration, Sensitivity.

The overlap

What they share

At 64% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Ceramides
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

CeraVe — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Homosalate~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Octinoxate~2–6%
  • Octocrylene~1.5–4%

The Ordinary — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Caprylic/Capric…~3–10%
  • Beta-Glucan~2–6%
  • Cetyl Alcohol~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

CeraVeThe Ordinary
CategoryMoisturiserMoisturiser
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forSun Protection, Dryness, Damaged BarrierDehydration, Damaged Barrier, Sensitivity
Usage notesMorning onlyMorning or evening
Active overlap64% — Ceramides
Questions

Common questions

Is the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 or the The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan better?
Neither is clearly better — they overlap 64% on active ingredients and sit in the same price tier. The difference comes down to texture, finish and the supporting ingredients, so the right choice depends on your skin type and preferences.
What's the difference between the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 and the The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan?
Both are moisturisers that share Ceramides. Where they differ: the CeraVe is Morning only; the The Ordinary is Morning or evening; the CeraVe targets Dryness, Sun Protection; the The Ordinary targets Dehydration, Sensitivity.
Are the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 and The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan dupes for each other?
They share 64% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Ceramides. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 and The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan together?
They both fill the moisturiser slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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66% overlap

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