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cerave Acne Foaming… vs Dermalogica Skin Smo… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 and Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream scores 8.0/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

cerave

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

cleanser

8.1

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Niacinamide
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Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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

Dermalogica

Skin Smoothing Cream

moisturiserpremium

8.0

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

Dermalogica wins 1

8.1cerave

8.0Dermalogica

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Dermalogica WINS

6.2

9.8

cerave

Dermalogica

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Dermalogica

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS

7.8

2.5

cerave

Dermalogica

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Dermalogica

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Dermalogica

Ingredient face-off

9% overlap

27cerave

4Shared

46Dermalogica

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

23 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Glycerin Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Xanthan Gum Potassium Hydroxide Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Niacinamide+13 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Propylene Glycol Carbomer Sodium Hyaluronate Phenoxyethanol

Only in Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream

42 unique

Water (Aqua)Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Stearic Acid Peg-8 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Dimethicone Cetearyl Alcohol Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract Tocopheryl Acetate+32 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two cleansers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream scores 9.8 here versus 6.2 for cerave Acne Foaming Cream 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 dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream relies on Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, and Allantoin. 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

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream comes in at premium pricing with a 8.0 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

8.1cerave

8.0Dermalogica

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream?

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 Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream 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 Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream?

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: Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream→

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