Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel Versus CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser - Australia

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel versus CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia .

Last updated on March 18, 2024. Published on June 20, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and ceramides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser

Face Cleanser Spanish Brand Spain

Face Cleanser Canadian Brand Canada

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 24 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 24 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

BHA

PHA

Niacinamide

Ceramides (3)

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (5)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 24 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

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 3.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 4.

Salicylic Acid

What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 7.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 14.

Ceramide NP

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.

Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP

Learn more about Ceramide NP

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 12.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 9.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 16.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 23.

Carbomer

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Community Rating: Disliked

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 17.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 12.

Cholesterol

What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Stabilising

Community Rating: Liked

Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.

Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.

Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.

Learn more about Cholesterol

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 21.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 17.

Sodium Benzoate

What it does: Masking, Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 24.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Australia contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 24 ingredients

44% are loved or liked

8% have mixed ratings

28% are disliked or very disliked

20% have no rating yet

50% are loved or liked

4% have mixed ratings

42% are disliked or very disliked

4% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 24 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Acnemy Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

Zitclean Purifying Cleansing Gel hasn't been rated yet.

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CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 24 ingredients

3.6 /5

from 12 ratings

Works Well (4) Light (3) Great Value (3) Broke Me Out (2) Irritating (2) Doesn't Work (2)

Samantha_628

5 months ago · Combination Skin

Review

Unbelievably good! I used this last night and it made my very sensitive skin quite red. However I need a cleanser to deal with my clogged pores and...

Unbelievably good! I used this last night and it made my very sensitive skin quite red. However I need a cleanser to deal with my clogged pores and was reassured by the beneficial skin barrier ingredients. I also followed it with a soothing toner and lots of ceramides. Woke up and the redness is gone, and my clogged pores are visibly faded. Overnight! No new little breakouts, either. Highly recommend!