cerave Renewing SA 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. Aqua
2. Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
3. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
4. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
5. Glycerin
6. PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
7. Carbomer
8. Phenoxyethanol
9. Xanthan Gum
10. Sodium Chloride
11. Sodium Benzoate
12. Ceramide NP
13. Ceramide EOP
14. Ceramide AP
15. Salicylic Acid
16. Disodium EDTA
17. Potassium Sorbate
18. Niacinamide
19. Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
20. Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
21. Phytosphingosine
22. Ethylhexylglycerin
23. Gluconolactone
24. Tetrasodium EDTA
25. Zea Mays Oil
26. Calcium Gluconate
27. Cholecalciferol
28. Cholesterol

Highlights

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

Formulation view Gentle cleanser using amino acid surfactants. Enriched with ceramides, cholesterol, and squalene for barrier support. Contains salicylic acid and niacinamide. Thickened with carbomer/xanthan gum. Suited for all skin types, especially compromised barriers. Formulator note: Low-residence SA efficacy; ensure lipid emulsion stability and non-greasy feel.

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

ANTISTATIC

Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultaineSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

SURFACTANT - CLEANSING

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate

EMULSION STABILISING

Carbomer

ANTIMICROBIAL

Phenoxyethanol

Other ingredients

Xanthan GumSodium ChlorideSodium BenzoateCeramide NPCeramide EOPCeramide APSalicylic AcidDisodium EDTAPotassium SorbateNiacinamideSodium Lauroyl LactylateHydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPhytosphingosineEthylhexylglycerinGluconolactoneTetrasodium EDTAZea Mays OilCalcium GluconateCholecalciferolCholesterol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

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

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

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

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

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

Glycerin

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

PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate

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

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Phenoxyethanol

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

Xanthan Gum

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

Sodium Chloride

Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Ceramide NP

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

Ceramide EOP

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

Ceramide AP

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

Salicylic Acid

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

Disodium EDTA

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

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Niacinamide

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

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

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

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.

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

Gluconolactone

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

Tetrasodium EDTA

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

Zea Mays Oil

Corn oil; light emollient and stabilizer. Low comedogenic rating (1). Use at 2-5% as carrier.

Calcium Gluconate

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

Cholecalciferol

Vitamin D3 for oral care or skin conditioning. Regulatory limits apply; low dermal absorption, control concentration to avoid local high-dose issues.

Cholesterol

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

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