CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
3. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine
4. Glycerin
5. Niacinamide
6. Gluconolactone
7. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
8. PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
9. Ceramide NP
10. Ceramide AP
11. Ceramide EOP
12. Carbomer
13. Calcium gluconate
14. Salicylic Acid
15. Sodium Benzoate
16. Sodium lauroyl lactylate
17. Cholesterol
18. Phenoxyethanol
19. Disodium EDTA
20. Tetrasodium EDTA
21. Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
22. Phytosphingosine
23. Xanthan Gum
24. Ethylhexylglycerin

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains animal-derived

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

ANTISTATIC

Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateCocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

CHELATING

Gluconolactone

SURFACTANT - CLEANSING

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate

Other ingredients

Ceramide NPCeramide APCeramide EOPCarbomerCalcium gluconateSalicylic AcidSodium BenzoateSodium lauroyl lactylateCholesterolPhenoxyethanolDisodium EDTATetrasodium EDTAHydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPhytosphingosineXanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Mild anionic surfactant for cleansing and emulsification; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin

Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine

Mild amino acid amphoteric surfactant for cleansing and foam boosting; low irritation, biodegradable

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Gluconolactone

Multifunctional agent for chelation and permeation; acidic, may irritate at high levels, buffer recommended.

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Amino acid based mild surfactant, soft lather; cleaning power increases with salt but may dry out.

PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate

Mild non-ionic emulsifier; often co-emulsifier for stabilizing O/W or W/O systems, low irritation.

Ceramide NP

Ceramide N3 for barrier repair; lipophilic, needs oil phase or emulsion, avoid high standalone use.

Ceramide AP

Ceramide analog for barrier repair; best results when combined with cholesterol and free fatty acids

Ceramide EOP

Ceramide EOP, repairs skin barrier lipids; often blended with cholesterol and fatty acids.

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Calcium gluconate

Chelator and conditioner, improves stability; water-soluble calcium source

Salicylic Acid

Lipophilic BHA at 0.5-2%; exfoliant/sebum control, irritation/sensitization at high conc., photosensitivity (SPF needed), avoid sensitive/pregnant.

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Sodium lauroyl lactylate

Mild emulsifier at 1–5%; suitable for sensitive skin, mind cationic surfactant compatibility

Cholesterol

Cholesterol; barrier repair lipid mimicking stratum corneum; often blended with ceramides, plant or fermentation source.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Tetrasodium EDTA

Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Low-MW humectant with superior penetration vs high-MW; 0.1-0.5% typical, hygroscopic, store dry to prevent clumping.

Phytosphingosine

Phytosphingosine barrier repair ingredient, 0.1–1%; water-soluble, good for dry skin.

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel