CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Urea
Salicylic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 and hydration for your oily skin, with urea and salicylic acid working to smooth texture and provide moisture. Capryloyl salicylic acid and lactic acid further support exfoliation and seboregulation, which is beneficial for managing oiliness and breakouts.
- Niacinamide and ceramides contribute to skin barrier support and overall skin health, though the primary focus remains on exfoliation rather than targeted acne treatment.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and is formulated to minimize irritation potential for oily skin.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cream is highly effective for rough and bumpy skin conditions like Keratosis Pilaris, significantly improving texture and softness for most users. While many appreciate its fast absorption and long-lasting hydration, a moderate number of users find the scent unpleasant, and a low number report issues with texture, pilling, or mild irritation.
Highlights
Effective for KP Mostly Mentioned
- “Fixed my bumpy arms”
- “bumps started reducing in size and number”
- “97% bump-free”
- “best for KP”
Smooths and softens Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling silky soft”
- “smooths out rough patches”
- “skin feels incredibly smooth”
- “softens even the roughest textures”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “Sinks into skin effortlessly”
- “no greasy residue”
- “absorbs straight away”
- “clothing over it with no problem”
Long-lasting hydration Often Mentioned
- “Hydration hits instantly”
- “skin feels soft all day”
- “locks in moisture”
- “intense hydration”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like chemicals”
- “tobacco-ey scent”
- “smells like medicine/panadol”
- “scent lingers briefly”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “Not moisturizing enough”
- “mattifying look”
- “skin felt dry when I woke up”
- “too heavy but not hydrating”
Stinging or irritation Rarely Noted
- “Stung my face really badly”
- “experienced some reddening”
- “slight tingling on dry parts”
- “caused breakouts on back”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “Started to pill quite badly”
- “drags on the skin”
- “hard to apply”
- “too thick/heavy”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, beautycrew.com.au, superdrug.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe SA Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, offering gentle exfoliation and moisture without clogging pores. Because it focuses more on smoothing texture than targeting acne directly, oily skin of this type needs a lightweight moisturizer without heavy oils, paired with powerful ingredients that address breakouts and support the skin barrier.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023BioMed Research International, 2020
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid, urea, and lactic acid make this cream a good fit by providing gentle exfoliation and smoothing texture on oily skin. It is also important for this skin type that such products feature lightweight hydrators, barrier-supporting ceramides, and oil-balancing ingredients that do not clog pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Urea do for oily acne-prone skin?
Urea is generally not the best choice for oily, acne-prone skin because it is designed to deeply hydrate and soften dry skin, which can feel too heavy. Oily skin needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that help keep pores clear rather than rich moisturizers.
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing, and for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs dedicated breakout-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents alongside gentle exfoliants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol, but apply your retinol first and follow with this moisturizer to help keep your skin comfortable and protected. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce the dryness and irritation that often come with retinol use.
How often should I use this cream?
Start using this cream once a week in your evening routine, and if your oily skin handles it well and sees good results, you can carefully use it more often. It helps smooth texture and manage breakouts with salicylic acid and urea, while keeping your skin safe with a low irritation potential.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin, as it contains gentle ingredients that help smooth texture and manage oiliness. However, because its primary focus is gentle exfoliation and moisture rather than treating acne directly, this skin type needs products with targeted acne-fighting ingredients and oil-controlling benefits to work best.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is suitable for use on your body, but it is unlikely to be a good fit for the thin skin around your eyes. A product for the eye area needs gentle, lightweight hydration and barrier support ingredients without strong exfoliating acids to keep this delicate skin soft and safe.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A 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, 2020Twice 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, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Topical 40% urea cream achieved improvement in less time and showed superiority over 12% ammonium lactate lotion in skin roughness, fissure reduction, thickness, and dryness at day 14 in patients treated for moderate to severe xerosis.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical treatment with K101 achieved a significantly higher mycological cure rate compared to placebo in patients with ≤50% nail involvement (27.2% vs 10.4%), while showing early visible improvements in nail appearance and no safety issues.
Mycoses, 2012Cryotherapy 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 post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Urea, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Shea Butter, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dimethicone, Triacetin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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