Skincare · reviewed

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Nourishing Whipped Refillable Moisturizer
vs CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

The buying question

How do the listed key actives, disclosed percentages and fragrance listing differ?

Important differences

Same on 1 of 2 features checked

Both feature ceramides NP, AP and EOP and neither lists fragrance, but Drunk Elephant adds five African plant oils while CeraVe adds petrolatum and dimethicone. Drunk Elephant sells 50 mL for $68; CeraVe's 16 oz jar is $19.99 at Ulta.

Equivalent performance is not established.

How we reached this verdict ↗

Original

Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Nourishing Whipped Refillable Moisturizer (Standard) — 50 mL

$68.00US price

Checked Oct 28, 2026, 4:33 PM EDT

Alternative

CeraVe

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (jar) — 16 oz

$19.99US price

Checked Oct 28, 2026, 4:34 PM EDT

Not directly comparable: volume versus weight. Density is unknown.

Same, partial, different, unknown.

“Same” means a recorded feature matches, not equivalent performance.

Listed key actives and disclosed percentages

Different

Original: Ceramides NP, AP and EOP: percentage undisclosed; Five African oils (marula, mongongo, baobab, kalahari melon, ximenia): percentage undisclosed; Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer): percentage undisclosed; Petrolatum: Absent from full ingredient list (0%); Dimethicone: Absent from full ingredient list (0%); Brand-stated
Alternative: Ceramides NP, AP and EOP: percentage undisclosed; Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate): percentage undisclosed; Petrolatum: percentage undisclosed; Dimethicone: percentage undisclosed; Five African oils (marula, mongongo, baobab, kalahari melon, ximenia): Absent from full ingredient list (0%); Brand-stated

Both feature the same three ceramides (NP, AP, EOP) and a form of hyaluronic acid, with no stated amounts. Drunk Elephant also features five African plant oils, none of which is in CeraVe's ingredient list. CeraVe features petrolatum and dimethicone, neither of which is in Drunk Elephant's list.

Sources

Original: Drunk Elephant US product page (key ingredients and full ingredient list); Checked Oct 28, 2026; Drunk Elephant's full ingredient list was read: petrolatum and dimethicone are not listed (the brand also says the formula is free of silicones), so they are recorded as 0%. Drunk Elephant states no ingredient percentages.
Alternative: CeraVe US product page (key ingredients and full ingredient list); Checked Oct 28, 2026; CeraVe calls these "three essential ceramides"; its full ingredient list names Ceramide NP, AP and EOP. The five African oils (Sclerocarya birrea, Schinziophyton rautanenii, Adansonia digitata, Citrullus lanatus and Ximenia americana) are not listed in CeraVe's full ingredient list, so they are recorded as 0%. CeraVe also highlights its MVE delivery technology, which is not an ingredient-list entry, and states no percentages.

Fragrance listed

Same

Original: No; Brand-stated
Alternative: No; Brand-stated

Neither ingredient list includes fragrance, parfum or essential oils. Drunk Elephant says the cream is free of essential oils and fragrance; CeraVe describes its cream as fragrance-free.

Sources

Original: Drunk Elephant ingredient list; Checked Oct 28, 2026
Alternative: CeraVe ingredient list; Checked Oct 28, 2026

What we couldn’t check

Listed key actives and disclosed percentages. Neither brand discloses ingredient percentages.
Comparative performance. Texture, feel and skin outcomes have not been compared. Drunk Elephant sells by volume (mL) and CeraVe by weight (oz), so unit prices can't be compared directly.