CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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✓Yay

"So, instead of using pore vacuums, I recommend keeping your pores clear with a nice exfoliating cleanser without beads, something with salicylic acid, whether it's Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating SA cleanser or CeraVe's acne control cleanser."

All 7 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai

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"So, instead of using pore vacuums, I recommend keeping your pores clear with a nice exfoliating cleanser without beads, something with salicylic acid, whether it's Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating SA cleanser or CeraVe's acne control cleanser."

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"The CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with two percent salicylic acid has the ceramides that we're used to seeing and then it has the hectorite clay. Hectorite clay is great if you have oily skin because it will help absorb that excess oil. And then you also have niacinamide which is great for regulated sebum production, help you with brightening your skin. It's very good if you have acne-prone skin. This is one of my favorite new cleansers."

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"[CeraVe] is also made a 10% benzol peroxide for those with clogged up pores in their body I like to use the higher strength for body acne"

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"When I'm done with a day of being at the beach I'm gonna wash my face. I'm gonna use something with acne fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide because most of the time growing up when I used to break out was after the beach and it was all the gross grime that I collect in my temples. I would get those pimples in the temples and I even get that when I go camping now. CeraVe's Acne Control Cleanser, which is two percent salicylic acid, is what I use."

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"CeraVe is also a great one. Their Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid is awesome. You know, if you have a pretty good layer of makeup and you're having trouble washing that off with just one cleanse, the double cleansing method is something to consider if you have a nice layer of makeup."

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"The newer one that came out would be very for oily skin is their acne control cleanser with hectorite clay and niacinamide. The hectorite clay will help absorb the excess sebum and oil on your face and wash it all away. This is a two percent salicylic acid cleanser."

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"Use an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid, like CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser, to wash your face and remove makeup, sunscreen, [...] dirt and grime out of your pores."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

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"CeraVe's acne control cleanser is also another salicylic acid facial cleanser that's great for those issues."

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"One of my favorites is the CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser. It has two percent salicylic acid and is fragrance free. This also has niacinamide which is helpful for reducing oxidation of sebum, and it also has hectorite clay which is going to help absorb some excess sebum from the surface of the skin and from within the pore. [...] You can introduce this into your routine using it one to two times a day as tolerated, morning and or evening depending on how you tolerate it."

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"It offers 2% salicylic acid. The advantage of using salicylic acid for acne is it's anti-inflammatory. It helps to exfoliate the pore. Of all the chemical exfoliants, salicylic acid is able to finesse getting down in the pore. Plus it has the added benefit of gently exfoliating the skin, helping to clear up and by its anti-inflammatory effects prevent to a certain extent post-acne dark marks. In addition to salicylic acid, this also has niacinamide, a B vitamin with anti-inflammatory properties."

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"CeraVe's acne control cleanser is also another salicylic acid facial cleanser that's great for those issues."

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"If you have acne and you have dry skin, [...] you could try the SA Cleanser, but they actually have an acne medicated cleanser, the Acne Control Cleanser, with two percent salicylic acid, and the background formula really helps address the needs of the moisture barrier. So for those of you who deal with a lot of dryness, especially as it relates to your acne medications, it has ceramides and niacinamide similar to the SA cleanser but a higher percentage of salicylic acid."

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"CeraVe also came out with an Acne Control Cleanser with two percent salicylic acid that's really good."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

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"They also have a 2% salicylic acid cleanser and that's their acne control Gel Cleanser. [...] This one because it has the 2% salicylic acid tends to be a little bit more drying on the skin, and it really does target acne."

All 4 takes from Doctorly

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"They also have a 2% salicylic acid cleanser and that's their acne control Gel Cleanser. [...] This one because it has the 2% salicylic acid tends to be a little bit more drying on the skin, and it really does target acne."

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"If you have more of those dry comedonal type of acne, the CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser, this one has 2% salicylic acid. They had their SA cleanser which has around 0.5% salicylic acid in an undisclosed amount, they'll never tell you how much is in there. So if you have acne and you have more comedonal acne, then I would go with this option probably over the benzoyl peroxide option."

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"CeraVe has a two percent acne control Gel Cleanser that's fragrance free. Both are going to have similar efficacy, just find the one that you like."

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"CeraVe has an acne control foaming cleanser and [...] that's their [...] 4% benzoyl peroxide cleanser, which is what I would look for especially for the face."

208SkinDoc

2.10M subs

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"I really like the CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser. It's a 2% salicylic acid wash, you rub it on and leave it on for 30 to 60 seconds before you rinse it off."

All 4 takes from 208SkinDoc

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"I really like the CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser. It's a 2% salicylic acid wash, you rub it on and leave it on for 30 to 60 seconds before you rinse it off."

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"If you have really dry skin this could be a bit much, but if you have oily and acne prone skin, I highly recommend the acne control cleanser. This is the cleanser I'm going to use tonight before I go to bed because it's going to remove all that excess oil and help remove the sunscreen I've got on."

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"The CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser is dedicated to treating acne because it is a 2% salicylic acid. It also has niacinamide in it, which helps regulate oil production. If you're really oily, you could still use this as a twice a day cleanser."

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"CeraVe has a great acne control wash, a two percent salicylic acid based wash. Like all CeraVe products, it has ceramides and MVE technology, so it's hydrating and tends to be less irritating than generic products."

Dr. Jenny Liu

323k subs

✓Yay

"Their acne cleanser is one that I use regularly"

All 3 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu

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"This is a cleanser that contains 2% salicylic acid along with niacinamide ceramides and a really nice gentle gel to foam formulation. Cleansers are a great way in a more gentle way to slowly over time help to unclog pores. It's definitely not going to be as effective as leave-on treatments but also with that it's going to be far less irritating."

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"Their acne cleanser is one that I use regularly"

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✓Yay

"And so does [CeraVe]"

All 2 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

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"My impressions of blemish control is that the skin feels a little bit tight and I can imagine why there isn't enough humectant really in this and that would really improve the feel of this especially if you have oily skin."

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"And so does [CeraVe]"

Hyram

4.34M subs

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"I love that one. I will say though if you do have a damaged moisture barrier because that one has salicylic acid it might be a little bit too intense on the skin. Typically when you have a damaged moisture barrier I typically recommend going very gentle, minimizing your routine as much as possible. But I'm glad she saw good results from this because maybe her skin needed a little bit of the exfoliation."

All 2 takes from Hyram

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"I love that one. I will say though if you do have a damaged moisture barrier because that one has salicylic acid it might be a little bit too intense on the skin. Typically when you have a damaged moisture barrier I typically recommend going very gentle, minimizing your routine as much as possible. But I'm glad she saw good results from this because maybe her skin needed a little bit of the exfoliation."

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"The CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser has salicylic acid, along with their typical niacinamide and ceramide complex. I'm not really surprised it made the list. I think it's good if you're wanting a simple cleansing experience that utilizes the benefits of salicylic acid in a drugstore formula. Like with all CeraVe products, what you see is what you get, it's great."

The Budget Dermatologist

724k subs

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"In contrast, the SA renewing cleanser is not regulated as a medication and it contains an undisclosed percentage of salicylic acid with no active ingredients specified on the label, which suggests that it is likely less potent than the dedicated acne cleanser. [...] Look for an active ingredient with salicylic acid listed as 2 percent in your acne cleanser, and get a medicated cleanser which you can identify by the presence of an active ingredient section on the back of the label."

All 2 takes from The Budget Dermatologist

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"I love the newer one by CeraVe the acne control cleanser."

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"In contrast, the SA renewing cleanser is not regulated as a medication and it contains an undisclosed percentage of salicylic acid with no active ingredients specified on the label, which suggests that it is likely less potent than the dedicated acne cleanser. [...] Look for an active ingredient with salicylic acid listed as 2 percent in your acne cleanser, and get a medicated cleanser which you can identify by the presence of an active ingredient section on the back of the label."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

✓Yay

"CeraVe has salicylic acid cleanser bars. These are easy to travel with and it also is fortified with ceramides as well, so it's not going to completely dry you out. But like I said with the body wash, maybe jump in the shower, get wet, put it on, and let it sit on your skin before you wash it off."

All 2 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss

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"Has their acne control cleanser which retails for 18.99"

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"CeraVe has salicylic acid cleanser bars. These are easy to travel with and it also is fortified with ceramides as well, so it's not going to completely dry you out. But like I said with the body wash, maybe jump in the shower, get wet, put it on, and let it sit on your skin before you wash it off."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

151k subs

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"CeraVe acne foaming wash comes in 4% and 10%. If you're somebody with sensitive skin, consider starting with 4%, but for like back acne or maybe the buttock areas, the 10% might work better."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid?

A fragrance-free gel-to-foam facial cleanser with 2% salicylic acid, designed to help clear pores and manage acne-prone, oily skin.

Is CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid worth it?

Yes. All 10 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 82%.

What is CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid's Guru Score?

CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid holds a Guru Score of 82%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 10 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.