The Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser contains 0.5% salicylic acid (BHA) along with gluconolactone (PHA) which gently exfoliates the skin, helping to reduce acne and improve skin texture with regular use. It also contains niacinamide, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and support the skin barrier.
This is a gentle, gel cleanser with a runny consistency that foams up lightly when lathered. It doesn't contain any added fragrance, just its natural product scent. It rinses away easily and is also able to remove chemical sunscreen well, so I can skip double cleansing on my sunscreen only days.
I've used this cleanser on and off for about 6 months now. While it claims to be a non-drying formula and contains barrier supporting ingredients, my oily but dehydrated skin definitely feels dry shortly after cleansing, especially if I don't hurry to complete the next steps in my skincare routine.
I also notice that my skin eventually gets irritated and drier if I use this too often/daily, despite it's low salicylic acid content. My skin is quite resilient can handle strong actives with no issues, so I find it odd that this cleanser can have such effects on my skin.
However, my skin does feel noticeably smoother and there are less clogged pores when I used this cleanser consistently. So I would recommend this for those with oily, acne-prone skin or have textural issues like tiny bumps, clogged pores, closed comedones, body acne and keratosis pilaris (chicken skin).
It can unfortunately dry out my skin and cause irritation if I use it on a daily basis, despite its non-drying and low strength formula... so definitely not suitable for those with dry, dehydrated or extremely sensitive skin.
