CeraVe acne control gel 4
CeraVe cerave acne control gel 4 lists 23 ingredients on its label, 23 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
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.
- Water
- Glycerin
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Glycolic Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Ceramide NP
- Ceramide AP
- Ceramide EOP
- Carbomer
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- Triethyl Citrate
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
- Cholesterol
- Chlorphenesin
- Disodium EDTA
- Hydroxypropyl Guar
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Xanthan Gum
- Phytosphingosine
- Benzoic Acid
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains animal-derived
Formulation view Gel base with glycerin, glycolic/lactic acids for exfoliation, niacinamide for oil control, and ceramides/cholesterol for barrier repair. Carbomer thickens; chlorphenesin preserves. Suitable for oily/acne-prone skin seeking hydration. Factory note: Strict pH control required to stabilize acid-cation interactions.
Key ingredients
- ANTIPLAQUE
- Water
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- BUFFERING
- Sodium HydroxideGlycolic AcidLactic Acid
- SMOOTHING
- Niacinamide
- HAIR CONDITIONING
- Ceramide NPCeramide AP
Other ingredients
Ceramide EOPCarbomerCetearyl AlcoholBehentrimonium MethosulfateTriethyl CitrateSodium HyaluronateSodium Lauroyl LactylateCholesterolChlorphenesinDisodium EDTAHydroxypropyl GuarCaprylyl GlycolXanthan GumPhytosphingosineBenzoic Acid
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Glycolic Acid | BUFFERING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Lactic Acid | BUFFERING, HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Niacinamide | SMOOTHING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceramide NP | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceramide AP | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceramide EOP | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Carbomer | EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cetearyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, OPACIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Behentrimonium Methosulfate | ANTISTATIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · – | Green |
| Triethyl Citrate | FRAGRANCE, PLASTICISER, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, DEODORANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cholesterol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SKIN CONDITIONING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Chlorphenesin | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/50 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxypropyl Guar | ANTISTATIC, BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · – | Green |
| Caprylyl Glycol | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Xanthan Gum | BINDING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Phytosphingosine | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Benzoic Acid | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE, pH ADJUSTERS · 限制 V/1 | 1 · – | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Glycolic Acid
- Glycolic acid for exfoliation; requires buffering at concentrations >10%, avoid combination with other acids.
- Lactic Acid
- AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.
- Niacinamide
- Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity
- 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
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- Cationic surfactant for conditioning and antistatic; be careful with anionic actives compatibility.
- Triethyl Citrate
- Solvent/plasticizer at 1–10%; provides fresh feel, slight citrus scent
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture
- 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.
- Chlorphenesin
- Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Hydroxypropyl Guar
- Modified guar gum; multifunctional thickener/stabilizer, water-soluble, sensitive to electrolytes/pH.
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol
- Xanthan Gum
- Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration
- Phytosphingosine
- Phytosphingosine barrier repair ingredient, 0.1–1%; water-soluble, good for dry skin.
- Benzoic Acid
- Preservative and pH adjuster at 0.1–0.5%; low water solubility, best in acidic media, irritant at high levels.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-17. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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