The guide to dermalogica cleansers: how to choose the right one for your skin

Story Highlights:

• Knowing your skin type helps address concerns like dryness, oiliness, and sensitivity.

• Double cleansing ensures a deep clean, prepping skin for better product absorption.

• Dermalogica’s cleansers offer tailored solutions for every skin type and concern.

Understanding Your Skin Type

The first step in choosing the right cleanser is understanding what your skin needs. To determine your skin type, consider factors such as dryness and dehydration, oil production, sun exposure and environmental pollutants.

For example, excess oil can clog pores and lead to adult acne; dry skin may feel tight and dehydrated. Sensitive skin is easily irritated and may be prone to redness. Tired skin can cause your skin tone to look dull and uneven.

The dermalogica double cleanse

The first step of every good cleansing routine – the Dermalogica double cleanse – is for every skin type. It’s a two-step cleansing routine that begins with an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup, sunscreen, and other oil-based impurities, followed by a water-based cleanser to remove any remaining dirt and impurities. The benefits of double cleansing include:

• A gentle, effective cleanse: double cleansing helps to remove all traces of dirt, oil, and make-up from your skin, leaving it clean and refreshed.
• Better absorption of skin care products: when skin is clean, products can penetrate deeper into its surface, increasing their effectiveness.
• Fewer breakouts: double cleansing helps to unclog your pores and prevent the buildup of dirt and oil, reducing acne breakouts.
• Brighter, more radiant skin: by removing all traces of make-up and impurities, double cleansing can help skin look brighter and healthier.

Dermalogica has two oil-based cleansers to choose from based on your skin type and preference:

PreCleanse: Our award-winning oil-based cleanser is perfect for those who wear heavy makeup or SPF. It melts away layers of excess sebum (oil), sunscreen, makeup, and environmental pollutants, leaving the skin feeling thoroughly clean.

• Removes oils without clogging pores
• Conditioning essential fatty acids nourish skin
• Enables your prescribed Dermalogica Cleanser to work more efficiently
• Best for all skin types

Micellar Prebiotic Precleanse: Ideal for all skin types, this milky micellar formula with oat milk lifts away dirt, oil, and make-up while helping balance skin’s microbiome with probiotics.

• Attracts + dissolves make-up and impurities with gentle micelles
• Replenishes with microbiome-balancing prebiotics
• Prepares skin for the second step of cleansing
• Ideal for dry/dull skin

Choosing the right cleanser for your skin type:

Best for all skin types

Special Cleansing Gel: Soap-free foaming gel cleanser that is ideal for all skin types, including oily and combination. It gently removes impurities without stripping the skin of its natural moisture, leaving skin feeling smooth and clean.

• Washes away impurities without stripping or drying
• Calming agents help soothe and purify skin
• Thoroughly removes impurities, without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance

Best for dehydrated skin and boosting radiance

Magnetic[+] Afterglow Cleanser: Ideal for all skin types – especially dry to balanced – this creamy cleanser with Cellular HydraBond Technology delivers glowing skin. A Phyto Mucin Blend with Lotus Root Extract and 10% Glycerin acts like a magnet to attract moisture and optimize your skin care routine.

• Refreshing cleanse leaves a lasting glow
• Deposits long-lasting hydration + nutrients
• Renews + revitalizes skin daily

Best for sensitive skin

UltraCalming Cleanser: Gentle cleanser specially formulated for sensitive skin. Our cleanser soothes the skin and helps calm irritation, while gently removing impurities. Ultracalming cleanser delicately fortifies the skin barrier without leaving an irritating residue, and easily rinses away or wipes off.

• Helps calm and cool redness and discomfort
• Easily rinses away or tissues off
• Delicately fortifies skin’s protective barrier

Best for dry skin

Intensive Moisture Cleanser: Light and creamy cleanser is perfect for those with dry or dehydrated skin. It cleanses while actively nourishing dry, depleted skin and helps to restore the skin's moisture balance, leaving it feeling soft and supple. 

• Defends against dryness
• Delivers a smoother feel after cleansing
• Rinses away easily and leaves skin cleaner, softer and more luminous

Best for dull/uneven skin

Skin Resurfacing Cleanser: Dual-action exfoliating cleanser that helps retexturize aging skin with Lactic Acid. This two-in-one cleanser and exfoliant removes dulling surface debris and helps to accelerate skin cell turnover for improved texture.  

• Convenient two-in-one cleanser and exfoliant
• Retexturizes, leaving skin super smooth
• Helps accelerate cell turnover, hydrate and brighten

Daily Glycolic Cleanser: Brightening and conditioning cleanser that renews dull skin and uneven skin tone and removes buildup from environmental factors. Glycolic Acid brightens dulling dead skin cells for radiant-healthy looking skin.

• Cleanses + removes build-up
• Brightens + evens skin tone
• Conditions + replenishes skin

Best for acne prone/oily skin

Clearing Skin Wash: Foaming cleanser that helps clear skin and reduce visible signs of skin aging. Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid stimulate natural exfoliation to help clear clogged follicles and smooth away dullness that contributes to visible skin aging.

• Clears away excess oil without stripping skin
• Helps prevent future breakouts
• Soothing botanicals help calm irritation

In addition to choosing the right cleanser, it is important to cleanse your skin correctly. Follow the instructions on the skin care products; use a gentle, circular motion to massage the cleanser into your skin, avoiding the delicate eye area.

Still not sure which Dermalogica cleanser is best for you? Chat live with our skin therapists, or try our Face Mapping technology for a personalized skin analysis.