CeraVe acne control cleanser 5
CeraVe cerave acne control cleanser 5 lists 20 ingredients on its label, 20 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.
- Salicylic Acid
- Water
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- Glycerin
- Niacinamide
- Gluconolactone
- Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
- PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
- Ceramide NP
- Ceramide AP
- Ceramide EOS
- Carbomer
- Calcium Gluconate
- Triethyl Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Caprylyl Glycol
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEG
Formulation view Water-based gel with salicylic acid, gentle surfactants, niacinamide, gluconolactone, and ceramides. Focuses on oil control and barrier care for oily sensitive skin. Factory note: salicylic acid dosage must be precise to avoid over-exfoliation; amino acid surfactants may crystallize at low temps, requiring process adjustment.
Key ingredients
- ANTI-SEBORRHEIC
- Salicylic Acid
- ANTIPLAQUE
- Water
- ANTISTATIC
- Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- SMOOTHING
- Niacinamide
- CHELATING
- Gluconolactone
- SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
- Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Other ingredients
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl TetrastearateCeramide NPCeramide APCeramide EOSCarbomerCalcium GluconateTriethyl CitrateSodium BenzoateSodium HydroxideSodium Lauroyl LactylateTetrasodium EDTACaprylyl Glycol
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salicylic Acid | ANTI-SEBORRHEIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, KERATOLYTIC, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE, SKIN CONDITIONING · 限制 III/98 V/3 | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · – | Green |
| Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Niacinamide | SMOOTHING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Gluconolactone | CHELATING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 2 · 1 | Green |
| Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate | SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceramide NP | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceramide AP | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceramide EOS | HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Carbomer | EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Calcium Gluconate | CHELATING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Triethyl Citrate | FRAGRANCE, PLASTICISER, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, DEODORANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Benzoate | ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/1 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | CHELATING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Caprylyl Glycol | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Salicylic Acid
- Lipophilic BHA at 0.5-2%; exfoliant/sebum control, irritation/sensitization at high conc., photosensitivity (SPF needed), avoid sensitive/pregnant.
- 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 EOS
- Barrier-repairing ceramide, 0.1–1%; optimal with hydrated lipids, suitable for dry skin
- Carbomer
- Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility
- Calcium Gluconate
- Chelator and conditioner, improves stability; water-soluble calcium source
- Triethyl Citrate
- Solvent/plasticizer at 1–10%; provides fresh feel, slight citrus scent
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
- Mild emulsifier at 1–5%; suitable for sensitive skin, mind cationic surfactant compatibility
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol
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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