CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin for oily skin

Salicylic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
Vitamin D
Glycerin
Ammonium Lactate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin due to salicylic acid and lactic acid, which help manage excess oil and provide a smoother texture.
- Glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid offer good hydration, supporting barrier resilience without exacerbating oiliness.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, free from harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 50.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this lotion for effectively smoothing rough, bumpy skin conditions like Keratosis Pilaris and hydrating dry areas without leaving a heavy residue. The vast majority report significant improvements in skin texture and softness. Some users note an unpleasant medicinal scent and a tacky finish if too much is applied.
Highlights
Smooths rough/bumpy skin Mostly Mentioned
- “bumps are disappearing”
- “smooths out rough patches”
- “chicken skin gone”
- “arms significantly smoother”
- “roughness disappeared”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin stays soft”
- “richly hydrating”
- “moisturized all day”
- “healed dry hands”
- “prevents flakiness”
Non-greasy/lightweight Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “no greasy layer”
- “lightweight formula”
- “soaks in nicely”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “no strong scent”
- “fragrance-free”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “no added perfume”
- “neutral scent”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “softens skin”
- “texture is improved”
- “callous gone”
- “feet are smooth”
- “uneven skin improved”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “smells like corn”
- “medicinal scent”
- “chemical smell”
- “stinky but works”
- “smells like plastic”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump broken”
- “pump doesn't work”
- “hard to get product out”
- “defective bottle”
- “shards of plastic”
Peeling/pilling Rarely Noted
- “pills if rubbed”
- “peels off”
- “rolls up on skin”
- “flakes off”
- “doesn't layer well”
Price Rarely Noted
- “pricier side”
- “expensive for size”
- “small bottle for price”
- “costly”
- “pricey but worth it”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a film”
- “tacky finish”
- “sticky after application”
- “sheen left on skin”
- “feels heavy”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, ult.com, target.com, cerave.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin work for oily skin?
This lotion works well enough for oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation and hydration without causing irritation, though other products fit this skin type better. An oily skin type needs a lightweight texture with peptides, hydrating agents, and a lack of heavy oils to manage shine and maintain a healthy complexion.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this lotion a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and ammonium lactate make this lotion a good fit for oily skin by providing moderate exfoliation that helps manage excess oil and smooth texture, while glycerin offers hydration without adding oiliness. Oily skin works best with moisturizers that combine lightweight hydrating agents and peptides to manage shine and maintain a healthy barrier without heavy oils or breakouts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What do Ceramides do for oily skin?
Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and retaining essential moisture without clogging pores. When paired with ingredients like niacinamide, they may also help improve skin texture and reduce blemishes. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight hydrators and pore-balancing ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004
Where does this lotion go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
Apply this treatment in your evening routine after cleansing and toning. Oily skin works best with lighter hydrating fluids containing hyaluronic acid and glycerin along with gentle balancing ingredients that manage excess oil without heaviness.
Can I use this lotion with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this lotion with retinol by applying the lotion first and following with retinol, or by using the lotion in the morning and retinol at night, to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. This type of routine helps support your skin barrier and reduce potential irritation from retinol.
How often should I use this lotion?
Start using this lotion once a week, and if your oily skin handles it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This approach helps manage excess oil and provides a smoother texture while keeping your skin safe from irritation.
Can this lotion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This lotion is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it is safe and free from harsh irritants. However, to get a better fit for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that manage excess oil without leaving a heavy feel.
Can I use this lotion around the eyes or on my body?
This lotion can be used on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and gentle exfoliants that keep the skin smooth and balanced without causing irritation in delicate areas.
Is this lotion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Topical and ingested vitamin D3 significantly reduced chloasma severity scores and improved wound healing outcomes, skin hydration, and skin barrier function in 480 individuals compared to a placebo.
International Wound Journal, 2024Topical vitamin D administration in acne vulgaris lesions significantly reduced IL-1β levels and decreased inflammatory lesion severity compared to placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024Topical calcitriol decreased UV-induced DNA damage and sunburn cell density in healthy volunteers while reducing Mantoux responses at high doses, demonstrating both protective and immunosuppressive effects.
Experimental Dermatology, 2010The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum Huile Minerale Mineral Oil, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Lactate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Corn Oil, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholecalciferol, Cholesterol, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Propylparaben, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.
