🇬🇧United Kingdom

CeraVe SA Cream for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin as salicylic acid and niacinamide work to manage oiliness and provide excellent moisturizing and smoothing texture.
  • The presence of glycerin and salicylic acid offers moderate exfoliation, effectively addressing oily shine and clogged pores.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

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 4.3k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this cream as a holy grail for treating Keratosis Pilaris and rough, bumpy textures, noting visible improvements in skin smoothness within days to weeks. While highly effective for exfoliation and deep hydration, some users find the thick, film-forming texture and medicinal scent less appealing than standard moisturizers.

Highlights

  • Effective for KP Mostly Mentioned
    • “bumps started reducing in size and number within 2 weeks”
    • “miracle for bumpy skin”
    • “only thing that smooths my chicken skin”
  • Deeply moisturizing Often Mentioned
    • “keeps dry skin smooth and soft”
    • “hydration for 24 hours”
    • “great for excessively dry cracked skin”
  • Smooths rough texture Often Mentioned
    • “makes my skin feel noticeably softer”
    • “smooths out rough patches”
    • “legs are so much smoother”
  • Non-greasy/fast absorbing Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs nicely without residue”
    • “thick but not greasy”
    • “soaks in really nicely”
  • Thick/sticky texture Sometimes Noted
    • “feels too sticky on skin”
    • “leaves a film”
    • “very thick and stiff in the jar”
  • Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like chemicals”
    • “has a weird medicinal scent”
    • “smells like stale aspirin”
  • Potential irritation Rarely Noted
    • “experienced burning and itching”
    • “stung my sensitive skin”
    • “caused redness”
  • Price/value Rarely Noted
    • “definitely on the pricier side”
    • “expensive for the size”
    • “jar is small for the price”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cerave.com, dermstore.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe SA Cream a great fit for oily skin?

CeraVe SA Cream is a great fit for oily skin because salicylic acid and niacinamide help manage oiliness while keeping your skin smooth and properly moisturized. This combination also provides gentle exfoliation to clear clogged pores and reduce oily shine without any harsh irritation.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?

Salicylic acid and niacinamide make this cream a great fit for your oily skin because they help manage oiliness, clear clogged pores, and smooth your skin. Glycerin also adds moisture without leaving a heavy feel.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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 cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cream is used as a treatment step in the evening routine for oily skin. It helps manage oiliness, clear clogged pores, and smooth texture safely.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

You can use this cream with retinol, and it is a great choice to apply it before or alongside your retinol step. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps keep your skin calm and smooth while reducing any dryness or irritation that stronger treatments might cause.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This cream is a great fit for your oily skin and can be used in your evening routine as a treatment, starting at once a week. Because salicylic acid and niacinamide help manage oiliness and clear clogged pores, you may carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because salicylic acid and niacinamide help manage oiliness and clear clogged pores. Its formula is safe for oily skin with very low risks of irritation.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

This cream is a great fit for your oily skin because salicylic acid and niacinamide help manage oiliness while keeping your skin smooth. It is safe to use on your body and around the eyes, as the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.

Is this cream 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

  • 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
  • The 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, 2023
  • 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, 2024
  • A facial cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP, and panthenol reduced mean SS-10 scores by 66% and 76% after 2 and 4 weeks in Chinese females with sensitive skin, providing effective soothing and barrier-repairing properties with mild adverse events.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • 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
  • 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 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, 2010
  • 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
  • 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 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, 2024
  • Topical 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, 2024
  • Topical 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, 2010

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ammonium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Triethanolamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Peg-100 Stearate, Cholecaciferol Oil Vitamin D In Corn Oil, Ceramide Np, Ceramide 6-11, Ceramide 1, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Edetate Disodium, Propylparaben, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, 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.

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Prices checked 10 Oct – 4 Nov 2026

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

How does it fit your skin?

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