Buy the CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser.

One is a daily routine staple you can actually keep buying, the other is a tiny spot gel that is currently out of stock.

What was compared

1. You can actually buy it
Alba Botanica's own listing says it is currently unavailable and Amazon does not know when it is coming back. CeraVe ships now, with Subscribe and Save pricing down to 1.47 per ounce, so your routine does not stall.
2. A decade of proof, not a guess
CeraVe backs its claim with over 15,000 reviews averaging 4.6 stars after a decade on the market. Alba's gel sits at 2,955 ratings and 4.4 stars, far less evidence to trust before it touches your face.
3. Refills last months, not weeks
CeraVe runs about 1.55 per ounce in an 8oz bottle. Alba's 0.5oz tube works out to roughly 37 per ounce, so you are paying tournament prices for a tube that empties fast if you use it daily.
4. Does the step every routine needs
CeraVe washes away oil, dirt and makeup while salicylic acid exfoliates, and ceramides plus hyaluronic acid stop that acid from wrecking your skin barrier. Alba's gel only spots treat, it cannot replace a daily cleanser.
5. Yes, a stronger spot gel sounds tempting
Alba's 2% salicylic acid gel is built to zap one pimple overnight, a real win if you already cleanse elsewhere and just want occasional spot control, go for it. But most people stuck choosing between these two need the foundational daily cleanser first, and that is CeraVe, not a one-off add-on.