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  4. Dermalogica Expert Advice
  5. Choosing Dermalogica Products
  6. Which Dermalogica Cleanser is Right for Me?

Which Dermalogica Cleanser is Right for Me?

Choosing the right Dermalogica cleanser depends on your skin type, the texture you prefer and what you need to remove from your skin.

A cleanser should remove daily build-up while leaving your skin feeling comfortable rather than tight or stripped. Some formulas are designed to dissolve makeup, sunscreen and excess oil, while others focus on dryness, sensitivity, breakouts, dullness or visible signs of ageing.

This guide explains the main differences between Dermalogica cleansers and who each one is best suited to. It has been written by Alexandra Echeverri, Skin Therapist and Dermalogica Expert at John And Ginger, drawing on over 30 years of hands-on treatment room experience.

Dermalogica cleansers at a glance

  • Removing makeup, sunscreen and oil before cleansing: Precleanse Cleansing Oil
  • A complete oil-to-foam cleanse in one product: Oil To Foam Total Cleanser
  • Normal, combination or oily skin: Special Cleansing Gel
  • Dry or dehydrated skin: Intensive Moisture Cleanser
  • Sensitive or reactive skin: UltraCalming Cleanser
  • Dehydrated skin needing a fresh, glowing finish: Magnetic Afterglow Cleanser
  • Dull or uneven-looking skin: Daily Glycolic Cleanser
  • Mature skin and uneven texture: Skin Resurfacing Cleanser
  • Adult breakout-prone skin: Clearing Skin Wash
  • Teenage and young adult breakout-prone skin: Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash

Do you need to double cleanse?

Double cleansing is particularly useful in the evening when you have been wearing makeup, sunscreen or long-wearing skincare products. The first cleanse helps dissolve oily debris and surface build-up. This is followed by a skin-specific cleanser chosen according to concerns such as dryness, sensitivity, excess oil or breakouts.

You do not necessarily need to double cleanse every morning. For many people, one gentle skin-specific cleanse is enough at the start of the day.

Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil

This lightweight cleansing oil is used as the first stage of a double cleanse. It helps dissolve makeup, sunscreen, excess oil and daily build-up before your regular cleanser is applied. It is suitable for all skin types, including oily skin, because the oil is emulsified with water and rinsed away rather than being left on the skin.

Choose Precleanse if you regularly wear makeup or SPF, or if your skin does not feel thoroughly clean after using a water-based cleanser alone. Follow it with the Dermalogica cleanser most appropriate for your skin type.

Dermalogica Oil To Foam Total Cleanser

This all-in-one cleanser begins as a silky oil-gel and transforms into a light foam when water is added. It removes makeup, sunscreen, excess oil and daily build-up without requiring two separate cleansing products.

It is a practical choice for all skin types when you want the thorough feel of a double cleanse but prefer a quicker, simpler routine. It may be especially useful when travelling or when you do not want to use both a precleanser and a second cleanser.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

This soap-free foaming gel is a suitable everyday cleanser for normal, combination and oily skin. It removes dirt, excess oil and daily impurities while leaving the skin feeling fresh rather than heavily moisturised.

Special Cleansing Gel is a good starting point when your skin is generally balanced but becomes shiny through the T-zone, or when you prefer the clean feel of a foaming cleanser. It may not provide enough comfort for very dry skin, while highly sensitive skin may prefer UltraCalming Cleanser.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser

This light, creamy cleanser is intended for dry, dehydrated or depleted skin. It removes daily impurities while helping the skin retain a softer and more comfortable feel after rinsing.

Choose Intensive Moisture Cleanser if gel cleansers leave your skin feeling tight, or if dryness becomes more noticeable during colder weather. It is richer and more nourishing than Special Cleansing Gel but still rinses away with water.

Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser

This gentle, non-foaming cleanser is designed for sensitive, reactive or easily irritated skin. Its creamy texture cleanses without the lather or strong after-feel that some sensitive skin types find uncomfortable.

UltraCalming Cleanser is a suitable choice when the skin frequently feels warm, tight, fragile or uncomfortable after cleansing. It can be rinsed away or removed gently with damp cotton or a soft cloth, depending on your skin's preference.

Dermalogica Magnetic Afterglow Cleanser

This creamy cleanser is suitable for all skin types but is particularly helpful when the skin feels dehydrated or lacks radiance. It removes impurities while helping the skin retain moisture, leaving it feeling soft, refreshed and prepared for the next stages of a skincare routine.

Choose Magnetic Afterglow Cleanser if you want more hydration and comfort than a traditional foaming gel but do not need a rich cleanser specifically for dry skin. Its creamy texture makes it well suited to customers looking for a fresh, glowing finish after cleansing.

Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser

This brightening daily cleanser is designed for dull, uneven-looking skin. It contains glycolic acid to help lift away dulling surface build-up while cleansing, helping the complexion appear fresher and smoother.

It is a suitable choice when radiance and uneven-looking tone are your main concerns. If your routine already contains several exfoliating acids or retinoids, introduce it gradually and adjust how often you use it according to how your skin feels.

Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser

This dual-action cleanser combines daily cleansing with exfoliating care for mature or prematurely ageing skin. Lactic acid helps refine the appearance of dullness and uneven texture while the creamy formula leaves the skin feeling conditioned.

Choose Skin Resurfacing Cleanser if fine lines, rough texture or a lack of radiance are your main concerns and you want an exfoliating step within your cleansing routine. More sensitive skin may prefer to use it less frequently rather than morning and evening.

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash

This foaming cleanser is designed for adult skin affected by breakouts, congestion and excess oil. It helps remove daily impurities and clear the look of blocked pores while supporting a fresher, more balanced-looking complexion.

Clearing Skin Wash is better suited to adult breakout-prone skin than Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash. It is useful when blemishes appear alongside concerns such as uneven texture, post-breakout marks or early visible signs of ageing.

Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash

This foaming cleanser is designed primarily for teenage and young adult skin affected by excess oil, congestion and breakouts. It contains salicylic acid to help clear the look of pores and can be used on breakout-prone areas of the face, chest and back.

Choose this formula for a straightforward younger-skin routine or when blemishes affect the body as well as the face. If the skin begins to feel dry or tight, reduce how often it is used and follow with a lightweight moisturiser.

Can you use different cleansers morning and evening?

Yes. You may prefer a simple, gentle cleanse in the morning and a more thorough double cleanse in the evening to remove makeup, sunscreen and daily build-up. Some people also alternate a regular cleanser with an exfoliating formula such as Daily Glycolic Cleanser or Skin Resurfacing Cleanser rather than using an active cleanser twice every day.

Alexandra's advice

Pay attention to how your skin feels immediately after cleansing. It should feel clean and refreshed but not tight, dry, itchy or uncomfortable. A very foamy texture is not automatically a better cleanser, and oily or breakout-prone skin should not be stripped of all surface oil.

If your skin feels tight after every cleanse, choose a creamier or more gentle formula. If it still feels coated or congested after cleansing, consider adding Precleanse in the evening or choosing a cleanser better suited to excess oil and daily build-up.

Each cleanser mentioned in this guide will link directly to its product page. If you are still unsure which formula is most suitable for your skin, please contact John And Ginger for personalised guidance.