Side-by-side comparison

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser vs CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser

Both cleansers contain Niacinamide, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

2Shared hero actives
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
CleanserMid-rangeMorning or evening
OilinessDamaged Barrier

A gel-to-foam cleanser for normal-to-oily skin with three ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Removes SPF and excess oil without stripping — the safer alternative to traditional foaming washes that leave skin squeaky.

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CeraVe
SA Smoothing Cleanser
CleanserBudgetMorning or evening
Rough TextureBumpy SkinCongestion

A salicylic acid cleanser with the CeraVe ceramide-and-niacinamide backbone. Mild leave-on-then-rinse BHA exposure plus barrier lipids — aimed at rough, bumpy or keratosis-pilaris-prone skin without the strip of a foaming acid wash.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Niacinamide. SA Smoothing Cleanser adds Salicylic Acid. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. Foaming Facial Cleanser is the better fit for oiliness and a damaged barrier; SA Smoothing Cleanser for rough texture, bumpy skin and congestion. On price, SA Smoothing Cleanser is the less expensive option (Budget versus Mid-range).

The overlap

What they share

These hero actives appear in both formulas:

CeramidesNiacinamide
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Foaming Facial Cleanser — top of the list

  • Purified Water~50–80%
  • Cocamidopropyl…~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Sodium Lauroyl…~2–6%
  • PEG-150 Pentae…~1.5–4%
  • Niacinamide~1–2%
  • PEG-6 Caprylic…~1–2%
  • Propylene Glycol~1–2%
  • Ceramide NP~1–2%

SA Smoothing Cleanser — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Sodium Laureth …~3–10%
  • Cocamidopropyl …~2–6%
  • Salicylic Acid~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

Foaming Facial CleanserSA Smoothing Cleanser
CategoryCleanserCleanser
Price tierMid-rangeBudget
Best forOiliness, Damaged BarrierRough Texture, Bumpy Skin, Congestion
Usage notesMorning or eveningMorning or evening
Shared hero activesCeramides and Niacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser or the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Niacinamide; SA Smoothing Cleanser adds Salicylic Acid.
What's the difference between the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser?
Foaming Facial Cleanser's hero actives are Ceramides and Niacinamide. SA Smoothing Cleanser's are Salicylic Acid, Ceramides and Niacinamide. They also sit in different price tiers (Mid-range versus Budget).
Are the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Niacinamide, but SA Smoothing Cleanser's Salicylic Acid isn't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser together?
They both fill the cleanser slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one. If you like both, use one in the morning and the other at night, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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2 shared hero actives

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