Side-by-side comparison

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser vs La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser

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

1Shared hero active
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.

Full analysis →Find dupes →
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
CleanserMid-rangeMorning or evening
OilinessSensitivityCongestion

A gentle foaming gel cleanser with prebiotic thermal water and glycerin for combination-to-oily skin. Removes oil and grime while staying barrier-friendly — a foaming counterpart to the hydrating Toleriane.

Full analysis →Find dupes →
The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Niacinamide. CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser adds Salicylic Acid. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser is the better fit for rough texture and bumpy skin; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser for oiliness and sensitive skin. On price, CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser is the less expensive option (Budget versus Mid-range).

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Niacinamide
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

CeraVe 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%

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Coco-Betaine~3–10%
  • Sodium Cocoamph…~2–6%
  • Sodium Lauroyl …~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

CeraVe SA Smoothing CleanserLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
CategoryCleanserCleanser
Price tierBudgetMid-range
Best forRough Texture, Bumpy Skin, CongestionOiliness, Sensitivity, Congestion
Usage notesMorning or eveningMorning or evening
Shared hero activesNiacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser or the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Niacinamide; CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser adds Salicylic Acid.
What's the difference between the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser and the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser?
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser's hero actives are Salicylic Acid, Ceramides and Niacinamide. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser's are Glycerin and Niacinamide. They also sit in different price tiers (Budget versus Mid-range).
Are the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Niacinamide, but CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser's Salicylic Acid isn't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming 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.
Keep comparing

Related comparisons

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser vs CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser
2 shared hero activesCeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser vs La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
2 shared hero activesByoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser vs CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser
1 shared hero activeCeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser vs CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser
1 shared hero activeCeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser vs COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
1 shared hero activeCeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser vs La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser
1 shared hero active

Want a deeper, personalised read? Drop both products into the live comparison tool for an ingredient-by-ingredient breakdown tuned to your skin profile.

Compare these yourself →