Same cleansing base, one job apart: SA exfoliates, Foaming just cleans.
Put the two ingredient lists side by side and they start almost identically: the same mild foaming cleansers, glycerin, niacinamide, three ceramides and hyaluronic acid. SA Cleanser adds salicylic acid and gluconolactone, a BHA and a gentle PHA that loosen dead skin and help keep pores clear. Foaming Facial Cleanser has no exfoliating acids. It removes oil, dirt and makeup and stops there.
If you get clogged pores, blackheads or rough, bumpy texture, and you don’t already use another exfoliant, get SA. If your skin is oily but clear, or your routine already includes a retinoid, acid or benzoyl peroxide, get Foaming.
Pick by what your skin needs
What's actually different in the formulas
Both cleansers are built on the same mild foaming base: cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, with glycerin, niacinamide, ceramides NP, AP and EOP, cholesterol and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid. The difference is what each one adds.
SA Cleanser adds two exfoliants. Gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), sits sixth on the list. Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), sits further down. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it can work inside pores, which is why it's the go-to ingredient for blackheads. Because the cleanser rinses off, the effect is milder than a leave-on exfoliant. SA also adds corn oil and vitamin D.
Foaming Cleanser has no exfoliants. It also uses methylparaben and propylparaben as preservatives, which SA doesn't. The 8 oz SA bottle is the same formula as the 16 oz, just smaller.
| Exfoliating wash CeraVe SA Cleanser for Gentle Daily Exfoliation | VS | Plain wash CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin |
|---|---|---|
Cleanse and exfoliate | Main job |
Cleanse oil, dirt and makeup |
Salicylic acid (BHA), gluconolactone (PHA) | Exfoliants |
None |
Niacinamide, 3 ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Shared base |
Niacinamide, 3 ceramides, hyaluronic acid |
Normal and acne-prone skin, face and body | Made for |
Normal to oily skin |
None | Parabens |
Methylparaben, propylparaben |
16 oz | Size |
16 fl oz |
| View | View |
CeraVe SA Cleanser: for clogged pores and rough texture
Exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid, 16 oz.
SA Cleanser is a foaming wash with two chemical exfoliants. Salicylic acid dissolves into oil and loosens the dead skin that clogs pores, which helps with blackheads and small bumps. Gluconolactone, a PHA, smooths the surface more gently. There are no beads or grains.
The rest of the formula is moisturizing: glycerin, niacinamide, three ceramides, cholesterol and hyaluronic acid. It’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, made for normal and acne-prone skin, and you can use it on your body for rough, bumpy patches on your arms or legs.
Start once a day and see how your skin handles it. Skip it if you already use a retinoid, an acid toner or benzoyl peroxide. Stacking exfoliants is the fastest route to dryness and irritation.
- Salicylic acid and gluconolactone exfoliate while you wash
- Niacinamide, ceramides and hyaluronic acid in the base
- No beads or grains
- Works on face and body
- Adds up with retinoids, acids or benzoyl peroxide
- Rinse-off, so milder than a leave-on BHA
- More than oily but clear skin needs
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: a plain wash for oily skin
Plain foaming gel wash for normal to oily skin.
Foaming Facial Cleanser is a gel that lathers to remove excess oil, dirt and makeup. It’s made for normal to oily skin and has no exfoliating acids, which makes it the easier cleanser to pair with a retinoid, an acid serum or a benzoyl peroxide treatment.
Niacinamide sits sixth on the list, with three ceramides, cholesterol and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid. There’s no fragrance in the formula. It does use methylparaben and propylparaben as preservatives, if that matters to you.
If your skin is dry or you prefer a cream cleanser, this isn’t the one. Look at CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser instead.
- Removes oil, dirt and makeup in one wash
- No exfoliants, so it pairs easily with treatments
- Niacinamide, ceramides and hyaluronic acid in the base
- Won’t help clogged pores the way SA does
- More cleanser than dry skin needs
- Contains parabens, if you avoid them
CeraVe SA Cleanser, 8 oz: the trial size
- Same formula as the 16 oz
- Lower upfront cost to see if your skin likes it
- Costs more per ounce than the 16 oz
- Runs out quickly if you also use it on your body
How to choose between them
-
Look at your pores
Blackheads, clogged pores or bumpy texture point to SA. Oily but clear skin points to Foaming.
-
Count your exfoliants
If you already use a retinoid, an AHA or BHA toner or serum, or benzoyl peroxide, pick Foaming. One exfoliating product at a time is plenty for most skin.
-
Check how your skin feels after washing
Tight, stinging or flaky skin after cleansing means you need less exfoliation, not more. Switch to Foaming, or to CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser if your skin is dry.
-
Ease SA in
Start SA once a day, at night. If your skin stays comfortable after a week or two, you can use it morning and night.
SA Cleanser spends less time on your skin than a leave-on exfoliant, but it still adds to retinoids and other acids. If you get persistent breakouts or irritation, see a dermatologist.
Choose CeraVe SA Cleanser if you deal with clogged pores, blackheads or rough texture and don’t already use another exfoliant. It’s the same mild base as Foaming plus salicylic acid and gluconolactone, and it works on your body too. Start with the 8 oz bottle if you’re unsure.
Choose CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser if your skin is oily but clear, or your routine already has a retinoid, acid or benzoyl peroxide. It cleans off oil and makeup without adding another active.
