🇳🇱Netherlands

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser for dry sensitive skin

High

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 high cleansing and exfoliation for your dry and sensitive skin, as salicylic acid and gluconolactone work to smooth texture and remove impurities without causing irritation.
  • Glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration, while niacinamide supports barrier repair, addressing your dry or flaky skin concerns.
  • The formula is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
  • Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
  • Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
  • Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
  • Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 3.1k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this cleanser for effectively retexturizing rough, bumpy skin and managing mild acne without harsh physical scrubs. While the majority find it gentle enough for daily use, a notable minority with sensitive or very dry skin report it can be stripping or cause an initial "purging" phase before results are seen.

Highlights

  • Effective body cleanser Often Mentioned
    • “best wash for KP on back of arms”
    • “use it on my back for bacne”
    • “great for rough patches on elbows”
    • “smooths out bum bumps effectively”
  • Smoothes rough texture Often Mentioned
    • “bumps on arms disappeared after a week”
    • “skin feels significantly softer and less grainy”
    • “strawberry legs texture improved drastically”
    • “forehead bumps are finally gone”
  • Clears mild acne Sometimes Noted
    • “helped clear up my whiteheads”
    • “keeps hormonal breakouts at bay”
    • “reduced blackheads on my nose”
    • “pores look much cleaner and smaller”
  • Gentle non-foaming formula Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't leave my face feeling tight”
    • “feels like a gel, not a harsh soap”
    • “gentle enough for my morning wash”
    • “no stinging despite the salicylic acid”
  • Drying for some Sometimes Noted
    • “left my face feeling very tight”
    • “too drying for daily use on face”
    • “skin flaked around my nose”
    • “need to moisturize immediately after”
  • Causes skin purging Rarely Noted
    • “broke out worse for the first two weeks”
    • “caused tiny whiteheads before clearing up”
    • “skin got worse before it got better”
    • “had a bad purge period”
  • Ineffective for severe acne Rarely Noted
    • “didn't touch my cystic acne”
    • “saw no difference in my spots”
    • “did nothing for deep hormonal pimples”
    • “just a basic cleanser, no miracle”
  • Packaging pump issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump arrived broken”
    • “hard to get the last bit out”
    • “pump mechanism gets stuck”

Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, superdrug.com, lookfantastic.com, amazon.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser a great fit for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid and gluconolactone smooth texture and clear away impurities without causing irritation on dry sensitive skin. Glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid help keep skin hydrated, while niacinamide supports barrier repair to address dryness and flakiness.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid and gluconolactone smooth texture while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration for dry skin. Niacinamide and ceramides support barrier repair to help keep your skin calm and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is used in both your morning and evening routines, while starting out just once a week since it is an exfoliating product. Daily use of a mild cleanser helps improve visual dryness and overall skin comfort.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first in your routine to remove impurities, followed by your retinol treatment and a moisturizer. Using gentle cleansers and barrier-supporting ingredients helps keep dry sensitive skin comfortable while using active treatments.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routine, as it offers gentle cleansing and smoothing for dry and sensitive skin. It removes impurities while keeping the skin hydrated and comfortable, and it is safe to use regularly without causing irritation.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but the exfoliating ingredients inside may cause a low chance of mild skin purging as it clears out impurities. Because it also includes soothing ingredients and hydrators, it helps keep your skin calm while gently smoothing texture.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because its gentle formula cleans and smooths texture without irritation. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid help keep skin hydrated, while ceramides and niacinamide support the skin barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2023
  • A 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, 2017
  • Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.

    Scientific Reports, 2024
  • Profhilo 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, 2026
  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010
  • A 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, 2020
  • Treatment 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, 2024
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Calcium Gluconate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Tetrasodium Edta, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic 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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Prices checked 16 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the Netherlands.

How does it fit your skin?

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