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cerave Acne Foaming… vs cerave Renewing SA C… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs cerave Renewing SA Cleanser

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 vs cerave Renewing SA Cleanser at 7.6/9.8. cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser wins for hydration.

Head to head

cerave

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

cleanser

8.1

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

cerave

Renewing SA Cleanser

cleanser

7.6

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 2

Tied 3

cerave wins 0

8.1cerave

+0.5vs

7.6cerave

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

6.2

4.7

cerave

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

7.8

7.1

cerave

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Ingredient face-off

30% overlap

27cerave

8Shared

22cerave

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

19 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Propylene Glycol Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Potassium Hydroxide Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Glycolic Acid Sodium Chloride Sodium Citrate+9 more

Shared ingredients

8 in common

Glycerin Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Xanthan Gum Carbomer Niacinamide Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Hydroxide Phytosphingosine

Only in cerave Renewing SA Cleanser

14 unique

Purified Water Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate Gluconolactone Sodium Methylcocoyl Taurate Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate Salicylic Acid Ceramide 6-11 Ceramide 3 Ceramide 1 Hyaluronic Acid+4 more

Why cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser comes out ahead

Where cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 6.2 compared to cerave Renewing SA Cleanser's 4.7. With Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 7.8 here versus 7.1 for cerave Renewing SA Cleanser. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser brings Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while cerave Renewing SA Cleanser relies on Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, and Salicylic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

cerave Renewing SA Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.5 lead

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but cerave Renewing SA Cleanser is still a solid pick.

8.1cerave

7.6cerave

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or cerave Renewing SA Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and cerave Renewing SA Cleanser share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and cerave Renewing SA Cleanser?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser→Full analysis: cerave Renewing SA Cleanser→

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