CeraVe moisturizer users are applying hyaluronic acid to dry skin.

If you are meticulously towel-drying your face before applying your daily CeraVe moisturizer, you might be sabotaging your entire skincare routine.

In the beauty world, we are often taught to apply creams and serums to perfectly dry, freshly wiped skin. However, dermatologists and skincare experts across Canada are sounding the alarm on a very common mistake involving one of the industry’s most popular hero ingredients: hyaluronic acid.

The Hyaluronic Acid Trap

Many beloved CeraVe moisturizers are packed with hyaluronic acid, a powerhouse humectant celebrated for its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. But here is the massive catch: it desperately needs water to pull from. When you apply it to a completely dry face, there is zero surface moisture available for it to grab onto.

Because the ingredient still needs to find moisture from somewhere, the hyaluronic acid does the exact opposite of what you want. It acts like a microscopic sponge, pulling hydration out of the deeper layers of your own skin to the surface, where it simply evaporates into the dry air. The result? Your skin is left feeling tighter, flakier, and significantly more dehydrated than before you put the lotion on.

The Damp Skin Hack

Fortunately, the solution is incredibly simple and will instantly upgrade your skincare game. You need to stop drying your face completely after washing. Instead, leave your skin visibly damp, or generously spritz a hydrating facial mist before you reach for that bottle of CeraVe moisturizer.

By applying your lotion to damp skin, you give the hyaluronic acid the surface water it needs to lock in hydration. This creates a protective barrier that seals the moisture in, giving you a coveted, plump glow without sapping your skin’s natural deep-tissue reserves.