Index / CeraVe / Renewing SA Cleanser
CeraVe

Renewing SA Cleanser.

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
Cleansers

About this product

A gentle exfoliating cleanser formulated with salicylic acid, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, designed to cleanse and lightly exfoliate while maintaining skin hydration.

Type

CleansersLiquid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Guru Score

79%

Approved

18 experts · Strong agreement
18Gurus
16Approved
2Mixed
0Skip
#12 in CleansersSee the ranking →

What the gurus are saying

The salicylic acid here works gently enough that people with oily, combination, and even acne-prone skin can use it twice daily without over-drying, because ceramides and hydrating ingredients shield the skin barrier while the acid exfoliates. Dermatologists consistently name it as an effective starting point for breakouts, bumpy texture, and pore congestion, and note it also helps with dark spots and roughness on both face and body. The formulation earns particular praise for being approachable for sensitive and younger skin; those with very dry or rosacea-prone complexions may want to patch-test first or use it just a few times weekly.
Synthesized from 18 expert reviews · most recent take May 2026
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
Approved
"As this is a wash-off product, it's fine that it's a second ingredient. The third ingredient here is cocamidopropyl and it's a mild surfactant as well. So, I like the fact that both are quite gentle for the skin. There's also lots of moisturizers and emollients in this product. So, here we've got glycerin, ceramides, we've got hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid. So, I love this product. There's nothing in it that's going to irritate your skin. It's great for acne skin. It's got no fragrance, no essential oils, no alcohol. It's got no irritants, nothing that's going to sensitize your skin. It's a fantastic product for acne-prone skin. And actually it's very good for teen acne. So, when you're at about 13, 14, 15 years old and you're still quite young and you don't want to be applying some of the harsher products, this would be a very good cleanser for that age group as well."
Approved
"You can use an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, whether it's CeraVe's salicylic acid cleanser or Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating cleanser. Those are great."
All 6 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
Things I Actually Do for Anti-Aging (Dermatologist Routine)
"You can use an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, whether it's CeraVe's salicylic acid cleanser or Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating cleanser. Those are great."
Shop with Me: Dermatologist Shops for Affordable Skincare at the Local Grocery Store
"I'm a big fan of their salicylic acid cleanser. Great at the end of the day to help clean out your pores."
Dermatologist Reviews: Drugstore Acne Roundup
"Salicylic acid is oil soluble, goes down into the pore and it cleans it out. I love salicylic acid at the end of the day or after working out because it really is a nice cleanser for your face and your body. If you struggle with body acne, salicylic acid is great. The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is a great option. I've been using this one more recently, very nice to have in the shower."
The Ultimate CeraVe Anti-Aging Skincare Routine- Dermatologist Reviews
"The CeraVe SA cleanser is great, salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is oil soluble, goes into your pores and cleans it out, so you can do that for any blackheads on the nose."
3 BIGGEST Skincare Regrets I See in Clinic | Dermatologist Explains
"CeraVe makes an SA cleanser. They also have another acne cleanser that came out more recently that's really nice."
Dermatologist Reviews: Men’s Skincare Routine- Is there a difference between Men and Women?
"CeraVe SA Cleanser with vitamin D has salicylic acid and also has ceramides, so this is a nice cleanser. This is a two percent salicylic acid cleanser."
Approved
"The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is great for gentle exfoliation as well as blackhead prone skin."
All 2 takes from Dr Dray
This Is Extreme! Bryan Johnson's Anti-Aging Skincare Routine
"I wake up I wash my face with CeraVe. It's got some salicylic acid which is just enough to keep my face blemish free. A salicylic acid cleanser in the morning is a great option as an over-the-counter acne treatment to control breakouts. It's not going to be enough for everyone with acne, they may need additional treatments, but it's definitely a great starting point. Using a salicylic acid cleanser also has other benefits. It can help improve the appearance of dark spots and sun damage, smooth the skin surface, exfoliate the pore, and help with things like blackheads and whiteheads."
Prequel Multi-Quench vs Paula’s Choice Ectoin: Best Hydrating Serum?
"The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is great for gentle exfoliation as well as blackhead prone skin."
Approved
"If you're somebody with oily skin and you want to use a beta hydroxy acid, I would recommend the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser. This provides really gentle exfoliation without any harsh micro beads, no physical scrubbing whatsoever. It combines that salicylic acid with ceramides to maintain the skin's protective barrier while softening and smoothing the skin. It also includes hydrating and calming ingredients to prevent over-drying or irritation even with regular use. The key ingredients here are the ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and salicylic acid."
All 3 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown
Milia: What Those White Bumps Really Are (And Why You Shouldn't Pop Them)
"If you're somebody with oily skin and you want to use a beta hydroxy acid, I would recommend the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser. This provides really gentle exfoliation without any harsh micro beads, no physical scrubbing whatsoever. It combines that salicylic acid with ceramides to maintain the skin's protective barrier while softening and smoothing the skin. It also includes hydrating and calming ingredients to prevent over-drying or irritation even with regular use. The key ingredients here are the ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and salicylic acid."
How to Get Rid of Closed Comedones | Dermatologist Explains Whiteheads & Bumpy Skin
"CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser provides that gentle exfoliation without any harsh micro beads. There's no physical scrubbing whatsoever. It's going to combine your salicylic acid but also the ceramides. If you're somebody who has sensitive skin this is a really good one to start with. Ceramides are like these fatty acids in your skin that will help keep your skin nice and hydrated. Not only will this cleanser exfoliate the top layer of the skin to help open up the blackheads and white heads, it will also hydrate at the same time. The hydrating and calming ingredients are going to prevent the over-drying and irritation which can sometimes be seen with the use of salicylic acid. The key ingredients in this cleanser are hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and salicylic acid. If you're somebody with combination or tolerant skin, you can use it as a cleanser. It's a shorter contact duration with the acid itself, which makes it easier for more sensitive skin."
What Is Oily Skin Really? | Dermatologist Debunks Myths + Best Routine for Shine & Breakouts
"The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser provides in addition to cleansing also provides that extra gentle exfoliation without any harsh micro beads or physical scrubbing. It has salicylic acid in it which is combined with the ceramides. So, it's going to maintain skin's protective barrier while softening and smoothing the skin. It includes hydrating and calming ingredients to prevent over drying or irritation even with regular use. The key ingredients here are ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and salicylic acid. If you're somebody with more sensitive skin or just combination to oily skin, I would recommend using the salicylic acid cleanser maybe just three times a week or once a day and not twice a day until you know that it's not going to dry you out."
Approved
"My repeat purchase is going to be the CeraVe SA Renewing Cleanser. I used this before dermaplaning to degrease my skin. It's very reliable. It has a little bit of salicylic acid, so if you dermaplane or do face shaving, this is the perfect cleanser that's not going to strip your skin, but it's going to remove those oils so that you don't get any catch when you're dermaplaning."
All 4 takes from Beyond50Skin
Wardrobe Update! Classic Sophisticated Looks for Women Over 50 & Get Unready With Me New PM Skincare
"Another great one is CeraVe SA cleanser. Both are gentle for my very dry sensitive skin. I can only use those on occasion. They're not regularly in my evening skincare routine."
The 5 Best Anti-aging PM Skincare Tips For Your 50's: Improve Mature Skin Overnight!
"Another great one is CeraVe SA cleanser. Both are gentle for my very dry sensitive skin. I can only use those on occasion. They're not regularly in my evening skincare routine."
What Happens When Mature WOMEN SHAVE Their Face? Let's Find Out! (Beginner Skincare Tips Over 50)
"The one that I like to use because I have fairly dry skin is a salicylic acid cleanser by CeraVe. It's kind of to mop up all the sebum and oils on your face before you start."
6 Months of Skincare Empties | My Husband’s 1st Routine in 60 Years + Results
"My repeat purchase is going to be the CeraVe SA Renewing Cleanser. I used this before dermaplaning to degrease my skin. It's very reliable. It has a little bit of salicylic acid, so if you dermaplane or do face shaving, this is the perfect cleanser that's not going to strip your skin, but it's going to remove those oils so that you don't get any catch when you're dermaplaning."
Approved
"It has salicylic acid which reduces bumpiness of the skin and also oil secretion from the skin, and niacinamide which also reduces sebum production. So it's a good combination of ingredients which helps in reducing the oil buildup on the skin and also dead skin buildup on the skin. It also contains gluconolactone, which is a polyhydroxy acid that gently exfoliates the skin without drying the skin out. If you have rough skin, you can use this. If you want to use a chemical exfoliant, then this is a good choice. If you feel that your skin looks dry and dull and you want an exfoliant, then you can use this cleanser. This cleanser can also be used for body acne, for ingrown hair, and even for keratosis pilaris. When you chemically exfoliate it, it will expose smoother skin and make your skin appear less bumpy and smoother to feel. You can use this on the body as well."
All 2 takes from Dr. Aanchal MD
How to choose a cleanser
"It has salicylic acid which reduces bumpiness of the skin and also oil secretion from the skin, and niacinamide which also reduces sebum production. So it's a good combination of ingredients which helps in reducing the oil buildup on the skin and also dead skin buildup on the skin. It also contains gluconolactone, which is a polyhydroxy acid that gently exfoliates the skin without drying the skin out. If you have rough skin, you can use this. If you want to use a chemical exfoliant, then this is a good choice. If you feel that your skin looks dry and dull and you want an exfoliant, then you can use this cleanser. This cleanser can also be used for body acne, for ingrown hair, and even for keratosis pilaris. When you chemically exfoliate it, it will expose smoother skin and make your skin appear less bumpy and smoother to feel. You can use this on the body as well."
Simple oily skin care routine | Dermatologist Suggest
"The SA smoothing cleanser is meant for oily skin or oily sensitive skin. It contains glycerine which is a humectant, niacinamide which reduces acne eruptions, gluconolactone which is a polyhydroxy acid which causes gentle exfoliation, salicylic acid which reduces acne eruptions and oiliness, hyaluronic acid which is a humectant, and phytosterols which is an emollient. This is a gentle yet effective product with salicylic acid. It cleanses the skin, helps in controlling oil without excessively drying or irritating the skin."
Mixed
"They're using a salicylic acid cleanser for prep for their skin."
Approved
"You can use a salicylic acid cleanser in your morning routine. This one is a salicylic acid cleanser that actually is an acne cleanser, and acne cleansers tend to have a little bit higher concentration of salicylic acid which potentially means better faster results. It's so gentle you can actually use it every day or even just a few times a week will still give you great results."
All 2 takes from The Budget Dermatologist
Why I Use an ACNE Cleanser For My Anti-Aging Skincare Routine
"This is great for anti-aging as well, it's more gentle and we don't know how much salicylic acid is in this. It is not aimed to treat acne so there is no active ingredient on this label and we don't know the exact percentage of salicylic acid in this, presumably it is less than 2%. If you have extraordinarily sensitive skin, rosacea prone skin, that type of thing, you might want to start with a more gentle salicylic acid cleanser like this one. If you're doing just fine with this then you can bump up to something stronger."
Which Acid Is Best For YOUR Anti-aging Routine? | Salicylic vs Glycolic Acid
"You can use a salicylic acid cleanser in your morning routine. This one is a salicylic acid cleanser that actually is an acne cleanser, and acne cleansers tend to have a little bit higher concentration of salicylic acid which potentially means better faster results. It's so gentle you can actually use it every day or even just a few times a week will still give you great results."
Approved
"This one has 2% salicylic acid and tends to be a little bit more drying on the skin, and it really does target acne. If you have acne and oily skin, I'd go with this 2% acne control cleanser. It has ceramides, and both of CeraVe's acne cleansers are actually good for acne, but this one has a higher concentration of salicylic acid than their other SA cleanser option."
Approved
"The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is great, it contains salicylic acid along with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide that really helps to gently exfoliate, remove surface sebum, unclog pores. Great to use on face and body, great for those with oily and combination skin for acne-prone skin."
All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
Summer skincare routine | Tips from dermatologist, Dr. Jenny Liu
"The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is great, it contains salicylic acid along with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide that really helps to gently exfoliate, remove surface sebum, unclog pores. Great to use on face and body, great for those with oily and combination skin for acne-prone skin."
Lightening & Preventing DARK UNDERARMS | Dr. Jenny Liu
"One from CeraVe, the one with salicylic acid, is really nice. Because cleansers you're washing it up, it's less likely to cause irritation and they can still be effective."
Approved
"There are of course other brands that make salicylic acid products. You have the CeraVe salicylic acid wash that you could use for that as well."
Approved
"There's a gentle exfoliating one, it's like a BHA. I love it, I love this."
Approved
"I like the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, a gentle exfoliating cleanser, for the morning and night routine."
Approved
"The one product from CeraVe that I think a lot of people say is next level and unparalleled is their salicylic acid cleanser. It's just a standard 2% salicylic acid, but for a lot of people, and I know a lot of people that follow this channel say it just works so much better than any other salicylic acid wash. I kind of do understand that. I think their formulation in that particular product is really good."
Approved
"If you struggle with acne at this age, you can opt for a salicylic acid cleanser like the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, and that can really help with acne too."
All 2 takes from Tea with MD
Skincare Routine for 10 to 12 Year Olds?! | Dr. Joyce Dermatologist
"If you struggle with acne at this age, you can opt for a salicylic acid cleanser like the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, and that can really help with acne too."
Barbie Margot Robbie's $1,600 Skincare Routine?! Dermatologist Reacts
"If you're looking for a good cleanser with salicylic acid that's affordable and good for normal, oily, combination skin, I would probably opt for the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, which contains salicylic acid and is great for acne breakouts as well as if you have those red strawberry bumps on your skin called keratosis pilaris."
Mixed
"The SA smoothing cleanser is pretty cool. It's got no fragrance in there, no essential oils, no alcohol. The only thing I would say with this is, if you've got somebody that has hormonal, so female adult hormonal acne, for some reason the SA smoothing cleanser doesn't really work so well because someone with hormone acne doesn't necessarily really want to dry out the skin, and I find that the SA smoothing cleanser can sometimes be a little bit dry for people with combination skin types, and that's what you get with hormonal acne. So you want to be a little bit careful about using it on the face. I like it on the body because the body's got a thicker barrier, you've got a thicker epidermis on the body, it responds better to induction of ceramides, it thickens up, you've got less evaporation generally. But on the face, if you've got that sort of mixed skin type, I'd exercise caution because I do get patients coming back saying my acne seems to have gotten worse since I've used it, and we've talked about the presence of silicone in there, and if you're using those products and you're not necessarily double cleansing, then you're going to end up with some problems."
All 3 takes from Dr. Somji Skin
Pore Strips for Sebaceous Filaments: Doctor's Insight
"There's some great salicylic acid based cleansers from brands such as CeraVe, and you want to be doing that a.m. and p.m. if you're prone to getting the pores filaments particularly around the nose area."
CeraVe SA Healing Ointment | Protect & Soothe Your Skin | Dr. Somji Reviews
"The SA smoothing cleanser is pretty cool. It's got no fragrance in there, no essential oils, no alcohol. The only thing that I would say with this is I've found that if you've got somebody that has hormonal, so female adult hormonal acne, for some reason the SA smoothing cleanser doesn't really work so well because someone with hormonal acne doesn't necessarily really want to dry out their skin and I find that the SA smoothing cleanser can sometimes be a little bit dry for people with combination skin types, and that's what you get with hormonal acne. So you want to be a little bit careful about using it on the face in my opinion. I like it on the body because on the body you've got a thicker barrier, you've got a thicker epidermis, it responds better to induction of ceramides, it thickens up, you get less evaporation generally. But on the face if you've got that sort of mixed skin type, I'd exercise caution because I do get patients coming back saying my acne seems to have got worse since I've used this, and we talked about the presence of silicone in there and if you're building those products and you're not necessarily double cleansing then you're going to end up with some problem."
CeraVe Skincare | Complete Skincare Product Guide and Review By Dr. Somji
"The SA smoothing cleanser is pretty cool. It's got no fragrance in there, no essential oils, no alcohol. The only thing I would say with this is, if you've got somebody that has hormonal, so female adult hormonal acne, for some reason the SA smoothing cleanser doesn't really work so well because someone with hormone acne doesn't necessarily really want to dry out the skin, and I find that the SA smoothing cleanser can sometimes be a little bit dry for people with combination skin types, and that's what you get with hormonal acne. So you want to be a little bit careful about using it on the face. I like it on the body because the body's got a thicker barrier, you've got a thicker epidermis on the body, it responds better to induction of ceramides, it thickens up, you've got less evaporation generally. But on the face, if you've got that sort of mixed skin type, I'd exercise caution because I do get patients coming back saying my acne seems to have gotten worse since I've used it, and we've talked about the presence of silicone in there, and if you're using those products and you're not necessarily double cleansing, then you're going to end up with some problems."
Approved
"If you want a really good exfoliant, you find so many great affordable ones for like five to ten dollars that will do a much better job. The CeraVe salicylic acid cleanser is a great way of treating breakouts in a very simple cleanser form."
Approved
"The CeraVe salicylic acid cleanser is a really good cleanser if you have oily skin, if you have blackheads that you deal with, a little bit of occasional breakouts, anything like that. Then you probably want to use something with an ingredient like salicylic acid because that can really help to unclog your pores and also just control oil production."
Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser?

A gentle exfoliating cleanser formulated with salicylic acid, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, designed to cleanse and lightly exfoliate while maintaining skin hydration.

Is CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser worth it?

Mostly yes. 16 of the 18 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 79%.

What is CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser's Guru Score?

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 79%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 18 independent expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser best for?

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

Spend less, score well

Same formula, worth a look.

Products built around the same core actives as this one, with what the experts make of each.

See how they stack up →
You might also like

Similar products worth a look.

Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.

Compare side by side →

This week's top beauty news, in your inbox.

A weekly read of the takes worth catching up on: the raves, the splits, the ones the gurus won't shut up about. Free, no spam, unsubscribe whenever.

Subscribe to the digest