Head to head
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser vs CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser
The bottom lineCeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser if you want the actives; CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Which should you pick?
Pick Hydrating Cleanser if
- you want the more affordable option
Pick SA Smoothing Cleanser if
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
- dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
- you are prone to fungal acne (malassezia)
What each delivers
Side by side
| Hydrating Cleanser | SA Smoothing Cleanser | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Cleanser | Cleanser |
| Key actives | Glycerin, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II | Glycerin, Vitamin B3, Ceramide 3 |
| Texture | A gentle wash that lifts the day away without leaving skin tight or squeaky. | A gentle wash that lifts the day away without leaving skin tight or squeaky. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Fungal-acne safe | Not likely | Likely |
| Pregnancy | No flagged actives | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 22 listed | 19 listed |
| Price | ~€12 | ~€13 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in Hydrating Cleanser
Both share
Only in SA Smoothing Cleanser
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Dark spots & uneven toneSA Smoothing Cleanser
- Breakouts & congestionSA Smoothing Cleanser
- Dryness & dehydrationEither works
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is the cheaper of the two (~€12 vs ~€13).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser better for dark spots & uneven tone?
For dark spots & uneven tone, CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser if you want the actives; CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Which is cheaper, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser?
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is the cheaper of the two (~€12 vs ~€13).
Can I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser together?
They are both cleansers, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.