Let’s be real. If you’ve got dry skin, bumpy skin, or even those annoying little KP bumps (aka chicken skin on your upper arms), you’ve probably found yourself googling Amlactin vs CeraVe at least once. And the internet will throw a ton of half-baked answers at you – but none of them seem to give the full breakdown.
Here’s the deal: both Amlactin and CeraVe are powerhouse body moisturizers that dermatologists actually recommend. Both can transform your skin’s texture, soften rough skin, and help with dead skin cells that pile up. In this article, we’ll break down what makes each one tick – from the active ingredients to how they help with things like bumpy skin, skin barrier repair, and overall skin texture. By the end, you’ll know which one is the better fit for your routine, and when it might actually make sense to use both.
About The Brand: AmLactin
AmLactin isn’t flashy. You won’t see it trending on TikTok or sitting in glossy Sephora displays. It’s a line that feels a bit “clinical,” because that’s exactly where it comes from: the pharmaceutical company Upsher-Smith launched it in the U.S. with a very specific goal – to treat common skin conditions like dry skin, rough patches, and especially keratosis pilaris (KP bumps).
The whole brand is built around one key ingredient: ammonium lactate (usually at 12%). That’s basically lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), paired with ammonium hydroxide to keep it stable. What makes lactic acid special is that it’s not just an exfoliant – it’s also a humectant. So while it breaks down the “glue” between dead skin cells (smoothing bumpy skin and chicken skin), it also helps pull water into the skin, improving hydration. Dermatologists have been prescribing lactic acid creams since the 1970s for scaly skin, eczema, and even ichthyosis, so there’s real science behind it.
AmLactin keeps things simple. The Amlactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion is its hero product, but the line also includes options for the feet, intense repair creams, and “rapid relief” versions that combine lactic acid with ceramides. Packaging is no-nonsense, formulas are fragrance-free, and everything is designed for daily use on variety of skin types that struggle with roughness.
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About The Brand: CeraVe
CeraVe is basically the drugstore brand that went from “kind of boring” to everywhere. For years, it was just sitting quietly on pharmacy shelves, looking super plain next to flashier bottles. Then social media – especially TikTok – blew it up, and now it’s the brand everyone from dermatologists to your little cousin swears by – especially for sensitive skin. What makes CeraVe different is that it’s built around one big idea: your skin barrier. Instead of just throwing some random oils into a cream and calling it a day, they focused on putting back the stuff your skin is actually made of – ceramides. That’s their whole thing: keep your barrier strong, keep your skin calm, and you’ll deal with a ton of skin issues at once. The vibe of the brand is simple, no-frills, but reliable. Fragrance-free formulas, straight-to-the-point packaging, and ingredient lists that look more medical than trendy. It’s not trying to be fancy skincare – it’s “let’s fix your skin so it feels normal again” skincare.
AmLactin Intensive Healing Cream ($24.99) VS CeraVe SA Cream For Rough & Bumpy Skin ($25.99)
CeraVe SA Cream is the “all-rounder.” It’s got salicylic acid (great for unclogging hair follicles and smoothing bumps), a little ammonium lactate for extra exfoliation, plus the full ceramide squad (NP, AP, EOP) and niacinamide for calming and repairing your skin barrier. Throw in hyaluronic acid and mineral oil and you’ve got a cream that hydrates, exfoliates a bit, and keeps your skin barrier happy all at once. It’s gentle enough for daily use, even if your skin leans sensitive, which is why so many derms and the National Eczema Association back it.
AmLactin Intensive Healing Cream doesn’t play gentle. It’s packing a whopping 15% ammonium lactate (aka lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid). That’s a serious concentration for a body product, which means it’s amazing for stubborn chicken skin, thick scaly patches, or KP bumps that haven’t budged with anything else. It hydrates too – lactic acid is a humectant – and the cream throws in ceramides, cholesterol, and heavy hitters like petrolatum and mineral oil to lock everything in. The flip side? Strong AHAs make your skin way more sensitive to the sun. If you’re not careful with sunscreen or protective clothing, you could end up with irritation or even a burn.
So here’s the honest breakdown:
- Want something you can slap on every day without thinking? Go CeraVe SA Cream. It’s balanced, barrier-friendly, and still helps with bumps.
- Dealing with sandpaper-level roughness that laughs at regular lotions? That’s when AmLactin shines. Just don’t forget the SPF.
CeraVe SA Lotion ($19.99) VS AmLactin Intensive Healing Lotion ($11.97)
Let’s start with CeraVe SA Lotion. This one is the “safe daily driver.” It’s got salicylic acid, which is amazing for digging into hair follicles and clearing out those little KP bumps on the backs of your arms and legs. Then you’ll see ammonium lactate on the list. Now – and this is important – this isn’t the same thing as the high-strength ammonium lactate you get in AmLactin. In CeraVe, it’s sprinkled in at a much lower level. It’s basically there as a gentle nudge – it hydrates, it smooths a little, but don’t expect it to blast through sandpaper skin on its own.
Where CeraVe really shines is the “barrier squad.” You’ve got ceramides NP, AP, and EOP, cholesterol, phytosphingosine, and even a little hyaluronic acid. Translation: while the acids are working on the surface, this stuff is patching up your skin barrier and pulling in water so your skin doesn’t just look smoother – it actually feels healthier. The texture is lighter than the cream version, so it rubs in fast, doesn’t feel greasy, and honestly you could use it every day without thinking twice.
Now, AmLactin Intensive Healing Lotion? That’s a whole different vibe. This one is built around 15% ammonium lactate – and yeah, that’s basically lactic acid in a stabilized form. At that strength, it’s not messing around. This is proper AHA exfoliation on top of hydration. If your skin feels like literal sandpaper, or you’ve had KP bumps that haven’t budged in years, AmLactin is the one that can actually break that cycle. On top of the lactic acid, you’ve got glycerin (pulls water in), mineral oil and petrolatum (seal it all in), and some of the same barrier helpers CeraVe uses, like ceramides, cholesterol, and phytosphingosine. But here’s the thing – AmLactin feels heavier, greasier, and a lot more “treatment-y.” You know you’ve got something strong on your skin.
And there’s one big catch with AmLactin: AHAs make your skin way more sensitive to the sun. So if you’re not the type to religiously slap on sunscreen or throw on protective clothing, you could end up with redness or even a burn. With CeraVe, you don’t have that worry – it’s gentle enough to use daily without changing much else in your routine.
So here’s how I’d call it:
- If you want an easy, everyday lotion you can just keep by the shower and use on autopilot – go CeraVe SA Lotion. It hydrates, smooths a bit, and keeps your barrier in good shape.
- If you’re dealing with stubborn, sandpaper-level roughness or hardcore KP bumps, and you’re fine with something heavier and stronger (plus remembering sunscreen), then AmLactin is the way to go.
Availability
AmLactin is available at Ulta and Walmart
CeraVe is available at Beauty Bay, Superdrug, and Ulta
The Bottom Line
So here’s the takeaway. AmLactin and CeraVe aren’t fighting for the same spot in your routine – they’re built for different jobs. If your skin just gets a little dry or you’ve got some bumps you want to smooth out without turning your routine into a science experiment, CeraVe is the everyday pick. The SA Lotion and SA Cream give you a bit of exfoliation with salicylic acid and a sprinkle of ammonium lactate, but the real magic is the barrier repair. All those ceramides, cholesterol, and hyaluronic acid keep your skin balanced so you don’t just look smoother – your skin actually feels stronger. It’s light, easy, and you can use it every single day without worrying.
But if you’re sitting there rubbing your arms and they feel like sandpaper, or you’ve had KP bumps that never seem to budge no matter what you try, then you need the heavy artillery. That’s where AmLactin comes in. With 12-15% ammonium lactate, it’s one of the strongest exfoliating body lotions you can buy without a prescription. It actually breaks down that wall of dead skin cells and hydrates at the same time. The trade-off? It’s heavier, greasier, and it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun – so you can’t forget sunscreen or protective clothing. Think of it like this:
CeraVe = your daily driver. Safe, steady, keeps things smooth and hydrated.
AmLactin = your treatment. Stronger, messier, but exactly what you need when nothing else works.
Honestly, a lot of people end up using both – CeraVe for maintenance, AmLactin a few nights a week as the big gun. Either way, it’s not about which brand is “better.” It’s about matching the right product to the job your skin actually needs.
AmLactin Intensive Healing Cream with 15% Lactic Acid AHA Ingredients:
Water, Ammonium Lactate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isostearyl Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mineral Oil, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Petrolatum, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyisobutene, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
AmLactin Intensive Healing Lotion with 15% Lactic Acid AHA Ingredients:
Water, Ammonium Lactate, Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Steareth-2, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
CeraVe SA Cream Ingredients:
AQUA/WATER/EAU, GLYCERIN, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM/MINERAL OIL/HUILE MINERALE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, SALICYLIC ACID, NIACINAMIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, AMMONIUM LACTATE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, ZEA MAYS OIL/CORN OIL, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, DIMETHICONE, METHYLPARABEN, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLECALCIFEROL, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHEROL, PROPYLPARABEN, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM
CeraVe SA Lotion Ingredients:
AQUA / WATER / EAU, GLYCERIN, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM / MINERAL OIL / HUILE MINERALE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, SALICYLIC ACID, GLYCERYL STEARATE, AMMONIUM LACTATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, ZEA MAYS OIL / CORN OIL, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, DIMETHICONE, METHYLPARABEN, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLECALCIFEROL, CHOLESTEROL, DISODIUM EDTA, PROPYLPARABEN, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
