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Renewing SA Cleanser

AcneCleanser

Renewing SA Cleanser — Reddit Reviews

by CeraVe

59nextscore215 verdicts

Updated October 30, 2026

Redditors praise salicylic acid for clogged pores; studies find niacinamide’s acne evidence uncertain.

What the community says

Backed by 80 studies

A rinse-off salicylic-acid cleanser with niacinamide and ceramides, aimed at oily, congested skin and rough body bumps. Redditors report clearer pores and KP, while studies find niacinamide’s acne results uncertain; daily use can leave dry or retinoid-treated skin irritated.

From Reddit

Backed by 28 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction and 6 more.

Read the threads ↓

What people love

Watch out for

  • Daily use can strip, dry, and peel skin
  • Poor pairing with tretinoin, adapalene, or stacked actives
  • Can worsen redness, rosacea, and barrier damage

Product details

How to use it

From Reddit routines

What the science says vs. what Reddit says

  • Acne

    Some evidence

    Niacinamide: 6 studies tested it directly. See all 17 studies

    On Reddit: Chest, back, and butt breakouts respond well when users wash those areas with it in the shower. 78 mentions

    What the studies found
    • Most studies found niacinamide helped acne
    • It often worked about as well as clindamycin when put on the skin
    • Some studies found it reduced red, sore spots and other pimples
    • Some research found the results were uncertain or showed no clear difference
  • Hyperpigmentation

    Some evidence

    Niacinamide: 4 studies tested it directly. See all 17 studies

    What the studies found
    • All 4 studies that tested it directly found it helped fade dark spots or patches
    • It reduced facial dark spots better than a moisturizer without niacinamide
    • Women with chloasma saw darker patches improve more when nicotinamide was added to salicylic acid
    • Studies also found facial skin looked lighter as dark spots faded
  • Skin Barrier

    Some evidence

    Ceramides: 2 studies tested it directly. See all 15 studies

    Both ingredients for skin barrier

    Ceramides Some evidence

    • Both studies that tested it directly found it helped the skin barrier
    • Skin held moisture better and had less water loss through the skin
    • Dry, sensitive skin looked less dry in the study using a ceramide-like spray
    • One ceramide moisturizer helped, but it helped less than the comparison product

    Niacinamide Not proven yet

    Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

    1 study tested it directly. See all 17 studies

    • The one study that tested it directly found it helped the skin barrier
    • It lowered water loss through the skin
    • It increased the thickness of the outer layer of skin
  • Anti-Aging

    Some evidence

    Niacinamide: 2 studies tested it directly. See all 8 studies

    What the studies found
    • Both studies that tested it directly found it helped with signs of aging
    • It improved how firm and elastic the skin looked
    • It reduced wrinkles, uneven tone, redness, and yellowing
    • It helped skin hold more water and lowered water loss through the skin
  • Eczema

    Not proven yet

    Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

    Ceramides: 5 studies tested it directly. See all 13 studies

    What the studies found
    • The results were split, so there is no clear answer yet on whether ceramides help eczema
    • Some studies found ceramide creams improved eczema symptoms
    • Some studies found ceramides worked about as well as other moisturizers, not better
    • One study found a ceramide moisturizer helped the skin hold more water

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.

Real Reddit threads — 550 mentions across 28 threads

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser on Reddit, in one place — 28 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction and 6 more, summarized.

6.8k

“Wash with Cerave SA cleanser.”

Positive

“At night I wash”

Positive

“CeraVe SA cleanser”

Positive

“Things that worked but don’t currently use:”

Positive

“I switched to this from using CeraVe SA + rx Sulfur cleanser”

Positive

“I switched to cleansing first with an oil cleanser (Hanskin BHA Pore Cleansing Oil), and then doing my second cleanse with Cerave SA Renewing Cleanser and it was a noticeable improvement!”

Positive

“Speedy Moo cleansing oil, Panoxyl cleanser(weekly only on the nose), Paula’s choice BHA toner”

Positive

“What she said! I personally swapped to an oil-based cleanser that CeraVe has and my pores have never looked better.”

Positive

“rotating cerave SA cleanser with SA cream after”

Positive

“The only thing that has worked for me to manage it externally is”

Positive

“every 2nd or 3rd shower”

Positive
r/30PlusSkinCareSkincare update
1.2k

“was doing cera ve SA face wash morning and night”

Positive

“use cera ve hydrating cream to foam instead of the SA cleanser morning and night”

Positive

“the SA cleanser”

Positive

“AM: Cerave SA cleanser, pure skin elf toner, the ordinary niacinamide serum and cerave am spf 30 moisturizer”

Positive

“PM: SA Cleanser, pure skin toner, niacinamide, elf holy hydration cream + holy hydration eye cream and finish with tactumpump”

Positive

“The SA cleanser and tactumpump 😼”

Positive

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Often paired with

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Compared with

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