It was only a few days ago that I shared my favorite gentle cleansers for acne-prone skin. I really didn’t need a new cleanser, as I rotate between a few that are still pretty full. However, when I browsed the skincare aisle at my local CVS and saw this new cleanser by CeraVe, I had to grab it. It was also the very last bottle on the shelf, so I thought of it as a “sign.”
This cleanser is formulated for normal skin and claims to gently exfoliate and cleanse while softening and smoothing the skin. It is supposed to be non-comedogenic, non-drying, and non-irritating.
Key Benefits and Claims
As I’ve mentioned countless times, I’m not a huge fan of mechanical exfoliation. This means I prefer to stick to chemical exfoliation, using acids, rather than scrubs and exfoliants of a similar nature. CeraVe’s Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser is supposed to act as a chemical exfoliant.
While I love Salicylic Acid products, I’m not always sure about their effectiveness when incorporated into cleansers. However, after the first use, I was able to notice a difference in my skin’s texture. The formula is very gentle, and I did not experience any irritation or adverse reactions.
I do have to say, though, that my skin feels a bit dry after using this cleanser. Of course, this dryness can be remedied with a good lotion, oil, or serum, but I found it surprising since the product claims to be a non-drying cleanser.
Detailed Ingredient Breakdown
Here is a comprehensive look at the ingredients in CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser:
- Purified Water: Also known as H2O, this is the most common skincare ingredient and acts as the main solvent in cosmetic products. The water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized, meaning most mineral ions have been removed.
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine: A thickening and foam-boasting co-surfactant derived from the fatty acids of coconut oil. It has an amphoteric structure, meaning its head contains both positively and negatively charged parts.
- Glycerin: A widely recognized humectant that helps the skin retain moisture.
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: A mild, biodegradable cleansing agent that is a good team player with other cleaning agents. It is known for its foam-boosting abilities while improving the mildness of the formula.
- Niacinamide: A multi-functional skincare superstar with clinically proven anti-aging, skin lightening, anti-inflammatory, and barrier repair properties.
- Gluconolactone: A next-generation AHA, also known as a PHA (polyhydroxy acid). It gently exfoliates the skin without irritation and also moisturizes, helping to support the skin barrier.
- Sodium Methylcocoyl Taurate: An extremely mild, coconut-oil based cleansing agent that provides a nice and soft after-feel on the skin.
- PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate: A large molecule created from repeated subunits that acts as a thickening agent, turning liquids into nice, clear gels that feel non-tacky on the skin.
- Salicylic Acid: A well-known BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) and one of the gold standard ingredients for treating problem skin.
- Ceramide 6 II: A type of ceramide found naturally in the upper layer of the skin. Ceramides are essential lipids that make up a significant portion of the skin's barrier, playing a crucial role in hydration and maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
- Ceramide 3: Another type of ceramide naturally present in the skin's upper layer. Ceramides are waxy lipids found abundantly in the stratum corneum, acting as the main component of the extracellular matrix between skin cells.
- Ceramide 1: Also known as Ceramide EOP, this was the first ceramide identified. It contains the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and plays a vital role in epidermal integrity and lipid layer binding.
- Hyaluronic Acid: A large polymer found naturally in the skin that acts as a sponge, helping the skin retain water, which keeps it plump and elastic.
- Cholesterol: An important lipid naturally found in the outer layer of the skin, making up about 25% of the lipids between skin cells.
- Sodium Benzoate: A preservative that works mainly against fungi and is effective at acidic pH levels.
- Zea Mays (Corn) Oil: No specific description provided for this ingredient in the source text.
- Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent that helps neutralize metal ions from water, preventing unwanted changes and maintaining product stability.
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate: A helper ingredient used as a co-emulsifier and foam stabilization agent.
- Cholecalciferol: A form of Vitamin D3.
- Phytosphingosine: A type of lipid found naturally in the skin that has emerging research showing antimicrobial and cell-communicating properties, considered part of the skin's natural defense system. It shows promise against acne-causing bacteria and possesses anti-inflammatory activities.
- Xanthan Gum: A commonly used thickener and emulsion stabilizer. It's a natural polysaccharide produced via fermentation, helping to create gel-like formulas.
- Carbomer: A thickening agent that typically requires neutralization with a base like sodium hydroxide to form viscous, clear gels.
- Sodium hydroxide: Used in cosmetics to regulate the pH of the product.
Personal Experience and Usage Recommendations
I really like this cleanser and love the way it makes my skin feel, except for the aforementioned dryness. However, I definitely don’t see myself using this every day, as it would be too drying for my skin.
I will probably use it once or twice a week to help exfoliate my skin. I also tried to find other reviews of this product to see if anyone else experienced drying, but I couldn’t find any similar feedback.
The formula is very gentle, and I did not experience any irritation or adverse reactions. The presence of ceramides and hyaluronic acid in the formula is a definite plus, as they help to support the skin barrier and maintain hydration, even though I did notice some dryness after use.