Renewing SA Cleanser — Reddit Reviews
by CeraVe
Updated September 8, 2026
Salicylic acid cleanser for exfoliating acne and bumps; can irritate sensitive skin.
What the community says
A salicylic acid cleanser with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid aimed at exfoliating acne-prone and bumpy skin. Reddit users often reduce frequency or pause use if their skin becomes irritated or dry, as it can be drying to sensitive or eczema-prone skin. Studies found niacinamide reduces acne and irritation; this cleanser’s balance tries for exfoliation without severe drying.
What this means for you
Backed by 28 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction and 5 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
Watch out for
Product details
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
Where to buy
What the science says vs. what Reddit says
What the science says
Niacinamide
Some evidence for acne- It often improved acne, but many studies used niacinamide together with other ingredients
- 19 studies back this, including one large review
- Some studies found it worked about as well as clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide
- A few studies found niacinamide beat a placebo or no treatment for red, sore spots and blemishes
- No major side effects were reported in the findings given
What Reddit says
The why
Salicylic acid cleanser shines for chest and back bumps, often left on skin to clear clogged pores.
“Cerave Salylic Acid Cleanser”
71 mentions for acne
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 454 mentions across 28 threads
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser on Reddit, in one place — 28 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction and 5 more, summarized.
“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
“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
