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Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion.

Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion
Masks & Peels
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About this product

A fragrance-free exfoliating lotion with salicylic acid, mandelic acid, and polyhydroxy acids designed to gently remove dead skin and smooth roughness on face and body.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

84%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far
2Gurus
2Yay
0Mixed
0Nay

What they liked

  • Non-irritating exfoliation for daily use
  • Softens rough, dry skin and body buildup
  • Hydrating formula with shea butter

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    What the gurus are saying

    This lotion earns consistent praise for smoothing rough, bumpy skin without irritation, even during summer use. Dermatologists highlight the blend of salicylic acid with hydrating polyhydroxy acids and shea butter as the standout formula, making it effective for keratosis pilaris and general texture buildup while still moisturizing. The main draw is gentle exfoliation paired with moisture retention, a rare combination in chemical exfoliants.
    Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take August 2025

    Type

    Masks & PeelsLotion

    Key actives

    Formula notes

    Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

    Opens a search for this product. Some links are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never sways a score or a verdict.

    More from Cetaphil 40 products · Guru Score 93% → How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

    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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Dr. Jenny Liu
    Dr. Jenny Liu
    323k subs
    ✓Yay
    "I literally use this facial lotion as my morning facial moisturizer routinely over the summertime and did not get any burning and sting. I felt like my skin looked healthier, more radiant and more hydrated when I was using it. It's fragrance free and free of common allergens and hyperallergenic, so I recommend it for those that have sensitive skin looking for a product that can gently hydrate and gently exfoliate over time."
    Dr Dray
    Dr Dray
    2.69M subs
    ✓Yay
    "I finished this from CeraVe, the Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion. This is fantastic. One of CeraVe's best products. It is great for face and body. It has not only salicylic acid which is good for acne, blackheads, whiteheads, hyperpigmentation, rough and bumpy skin, improving skin texture. It has gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid, very hydrating, gently exfoliates, and mandelic acid. It also has niacinamide, a B vitamin that I love. Very nice glossy hydrating texture."
    Sponsored
    All 14 takes from Dr Dray
    How To Get Rid Of Liver Spots On The Feet (Stucco Keratosis)
    "The Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion has salicylic acid. Use these moisturizers two to three times a day on the area. The catalytic ingredients get in there and they soften, hydrate it, and help it smooth out and flake off gently without traumatizing your skin. It doesn't get rid of them or anything like that, but it does help improve their appearance and make them less noticeable."
    Trying Different Brow Glues | Skincare Vlog
    "I'm really noticing that my forearms are like super soft and silky, my elbows are much younger feeling. It is on par with the caliber of performance of Gold Bond products. You can use this on the face. I've been using this on my face quite a bit and it's been great. I've not had any issues with my eyelids getting dry, which happens to me sometimes when I use salicylic acid cleansers because the salicylic acid will migrate to my eyelid area."
    A Hair, Skin, And Nails Packed Vlog
    "The Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion I have been loving this. I even use it on my face."
    *NEW* Skincare At The Dollar Tree | July 2025
    "I am back on the Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion. You can use this on the face. Really good. It has polyhydroxy acids which are very hydrating, fragrance-free, and it also has mandelic acid. So it's really good for rough and bumpy skin, but it really gives a nice firmness, bounce, suppleness. The Josie Moran expensive stuff pales in comparison."
    How And When To Start Exfoliating With Retinol
    "I just finished a large bottle of this. It is a lotion that has salicylic acid. It is meant to be used on the body but also has been tested and recommended for use on the face, and that's how I personally have been using it. In addition to salicylic acid, which helps to exfoliate pores, reducing blackhead and whitehead formation, salicylic acid is also good for hyperpigmentation. This has gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid that gently exfoliates and helps with hydration."
    Trying Revlon Kiss SPF 20 Lip Balm & Shopping At Costco
    "It's a really impressive formula. It's the Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion. Not only does it have salicylic acid, but it's got mandelic, which is an alpha hydroxy acid, and gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid. So it's a formula that's super super gentle for the exfoliation and also engineered to really hydrate, moisturize and improve moisture retention, ultimately improving barrier function. Really, really good product. Can be used on the face. I've used it on the face."
    Skincare WE NEED TO DISCUSS | September Mini-Review
    "I really really really enjoy this. Cetaphil really sneaks on in there with salicylic acid formulas that are something special. This is different in texture and feel and consistency, but it's also very good, and it's an affordable way to moisturize and gently exfoliate the face. I've used this twice a day, though it can be used one to two times a day. If I put it on in the morning there are certain sunscreens that if I apply over this I get pilling."
    The Best Skincare Of 2024
    "This new line of salicylic acid lotion has been great, but I especially like the exfoliating body lotion with not just salicylic acid which is great for exfoliating the pores but also good for rough dry buildup. This lotion also has mandelic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that is not only hydrating but gently exfoliates, and it has gluconolactone, which is a polyhydroxy acid that's very hydrating and helps with improving barrier turnover but is super gentle."
    I Finished These Skincare Products—Would I Repurchase?
    "I finished this from CeraVe, the Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion. This is fantastic. One of CeraVe's best products. It is great for face and body. It has not only salicylic acid which is good for acne, blackheads, whiteheads, hyperpigmentation, rough and bumpy skin, improving skin texture. It has gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid, very hydrating, gently exfoliates, and mandelic acid. It also has niacinamide, a B vitamin that I love. Very nice glossy hydrating texture."
    Ultimate Guide To Body Exfoliation From A Dermatologist
    "This product right here was a 2024 skincare favorite. It can be used on the body and the face. Salicylic acid plus mandelic, an alpha hydroxy acid, and gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid, so this is a product that's going to get in there, dissolve that dry, heaped up stuff to smooth the skin surface, but also deposit behind the polyhydroxy acid, the gluconolactone, that is also hydrating. It's going to improve moisture retention. Plus shea butter is going to help reduce water loss."
    *NEW* Skincare Finds Shopping At Walmart
    "This turned out to be a 2024 skin care favorite, the Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion. You can use this on the face, it's hydrating, helps smooth the skin surface. It has a blend of salicylic acid, mandelic acid, and gluconolactone. It does have niacinamide though, so if you're sensitive be aware of that."
    How To Heal Dry Cheeks Overnight
    "One of my favorite recent finds in terms of a keratinic moisturizer that can be used on the face for keratosis pilaris but also on the body, because a lot of people deal with this on the upper arms and the thighs, is the CeraVe Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion."
    Testing Bizarre Products And Shopping For Drugstore Skincare | Vlog
    "I just came on to my body with the Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion. I think this is one of Cetaphil's best lotions. It has a little bit of a grapey, fruity aroma to it. It doesn't have fragrance, but if you are wondering because I know a lot of people comment they don't like the way AmlaCtin smells, this doesn't have that smell, but it kind of has this fruity aroma to it."
    Skincare Products I Used Up | 2024 Empties
    "Cetaphil really outdid themselves with this product, it's their gentle exfoliating salicylic acid lotion. This has salicylic acid, really good ingredient if you're someone who has buildup of dry rough skin texture as well as keratosis pilaris, those little bumps around the hair follicle. But this also has mandelic acid, that's an alpha hydroxy acid that of all the alpha hydroxy acids is one of the more gentle, takes its time, larger in size, very hydrating."

    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Niacinamide

    Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

    Source: DermNet

    Salicylic acid

    Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

    Source: DermNet

    Alpha hydroxy acids

    Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

    Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

    Frequently asked.

    What is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion?

    A fragrance-free exfoliating lotion with salicylic acid, mandelic acid, and polyhydroxy acids designed to gently remove dead skin and smooth roughness on face and body.

    Is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion worth it?

    Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

    What is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion's Guru Score?

    Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion best for?

    Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion is generally suited to sensitive skin and acne-prone skin.

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