With my skin care products, I am not monogamous. In fact, even when I find “the only one,” a product that makes a noticeable difference in the clarity or texture of my skin, I’m looking for the next best as soon as the last drop of product touches me. fingertips. Surely there must be something that can make my skin even better, I will think for myself. So, the search for skin care products begins again.
Last summer, my skin care routine and I had good things until the videos started populating my TikTok “For You” page about the humble and affordable CeraVe pharmacy brand, whose products are they came to pharmacies all over the country. At first it was confusing. I used CeraVe products in 2007 and while I liked face washing and moisturizers, I had switched to better (and certainly more expensive) products. Was it the same tried and true CeraVe I knew? And, as the good consumer I am, the scarcity of the product just made me want CeraVe even more.
The coveted state of CeraVe can be traced back to skin enthusiast TikTok Hyram Yarbro, also known as @SkincarebyHyram, who has nearly 7 million followers on TikTok alone. His numerous reviews of CeraVe products indicate why the brand’s salicylic acid ingredients are ideal for acne-prone skin and why CeraVe’s wax-free moisturizing cleanser is best for dry, sensitive skin. Although Yarbro is not a dermatologist, he has earned the trust and loyal follow-up of a Gen-Z audience by acting as industry whistleblowers, reducing marketing discourse, and prioritizing skin health through a conscious diet. ingredients. And while caution is needed from a single approach for thousands or millions of people in bite-sized videos, Yarbro and another absurd informational approach is compelling. They give viewers a sense of agency to make their own decisions.
On my next trip to the pharmacy for something unrelated, I went through the skin care section and couldn’t help but notice the CeraVe waiting for me on the shelf. I grabbed a bottle of the moisturizing facial cleanser which, to my surprise, was all in stock. This accessibility, I thought, was to contribute to the meteoric rise of the brand. Go to any pharmacy and unless there is another exhausted frenzy, you can have CeraVe instantly. Don’t wait for your order to arrive online.
Now the months have passed and I am getting to the last drops of my CeraVe purchase in the summer. But, this time, I have a feeling I’m not ready to let go yet. While I don’t have any previous and subsequent transformations that can go viral, the TikTok hype wasn’t wrong. My dry skin looks good (and less dry) after using the moisturizer constantly. I could look for ways to improve again, but should I stick with my reliable, proven, and true CeraVe? While some of the other products in my skin care regimen are expensive (keep in mind that not all brands have economies of scale, so while CeraVe is affordable, it doesn’t mean you can expect the same with great quality from all brands), I plan to stick with the affordable CeraVe facial wash for another round.
