cerave SA Smoothing Cream

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/Water
2. Urea
3. Cetyl Alcohol
4. Glyceryl Stearate SE
5. Cetearyl Alcohol
6. Niacinamide
7. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter
8. C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
9. PEG-100 Stearate
10. Glycerin
11. Behentrimonium Methosulfate
12. Dimethicone
13. Triacetin
14. Ceramide NP
15. Ceramide AP
16. Ceramide EOP
17. Carbomer
18. Sodium Lactate
19. Salicylic Acid
20. Sodium Hydroxide
21. Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
22. Sodium Hyaluronate
23. Cholesterol
24. Phenoxyethanol
25. Disodium EDTA
26. Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
27. Hydroxyacetophenone
28. Citric Acid
29. Lactic Acid
30. Phytosphingosine
31. Xanthan Gum
32. Ethylhexylglycerin

Highlights

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

Key ingredients

溶剂

Aqua/Water

ANTISTATIC

Urea

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Cetyl AlcoholCetearyl AlcoholC12-13 Alkyl Lactate

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Glyceryl Stearate SE

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

润肤剂

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter

Other ingredients

PEG-100 StearateGlycerinBehentrimonium MethosulfateDimethiconeTriacetinCeramide NPCeramide APCeramide EOPCarbomerSodium LactateSalicylic AcidSodium HydroxideSodium Lauroyl LactylateSodium HyaluronateCholesterolPhenoxyethanolDisodium EDTACapryloyl Salicylic AcidHydroxyacetophenoneCitric AcidLactic AcidPhytosphingosineXanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua/Water

Solvent, formulation base; requires preservation, pure water is microbially prone.

Urea

Potent humectant and keratolytic, >10% has exfoliating effect; stinging sensation at high levels, sensitive skin caution

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.

Glyceryl Stearate SE

Emulsifier at 1–3%; oil-phase ingredient, easy emulsification, low sensitization.

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

Niacinamide

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

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter

Shea butter, occlusive emollient for dry skin and hair; high in lipids, caution for oily skin

C12-13 Alkyl Lactate

Lactate ester emollient; mild, low comedogenic risk

PEG-100 Stearate

Non-ionic emulsifier, requires ionics for stability; check PEG for formaldehyde.

Glycerin

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

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Cationic surfactant for conditioning and antistatic; be careful with anionic actives compatibility.

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Triacetin

Triglyceride acetate solvent/plasticizer; low viscosity, high volatility, may dry skin if unbalanced.

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

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Salicylic Acid

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

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

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

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

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

Oil-soluble salicylic acid derivative for gentle pore unclogging; milder than BHA, suitable for daily acne care.

Hydroxyacetophenone

Hydroxyacetophenone as antioxidant; often boosts Vitamin C, works in acidic pH.

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

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

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