Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant for oily skin
Charcoal Powder
Niacinamide
Lactic Acid
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Zingiber Officinale Root ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this formula leverages malic acid and lactic acid to provide excellent exfoliation, targeting oily shine and smoothing texture. Niacinamide further supports your skin by offering seboregulation, complementing the exfoliating action.
- The inclusion of enzymes like papain and subtilisin offers a gentle yet effective resurfacing action, enhancing the overall efficacy for your skin concerns.
- This product presents a favorable safety profile with no significant risks of irritation for your skin type, thanks to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like lavender oil.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. You can slowly increase frequency if your skin likes it.
- Apply your enzyme powder exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always right before your hydrating mask or moisturizer.
- Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a paste. Gently massage onto your face without rubbing too hard.
- Apply it on your clean, slightly damp skin for the best exfoliating results. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water afterwards.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use to stay safe.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with aging, oily, or city-dwelling skin consistently praise this product for delivering exceptionally smooth results and deep pore cleansing, often citing it as a superior resurfacer. Some users with highly sensitive skin occasionally report redness or irritation, suggesting it may be too active for delicate complexions.
Highlights
Incredibly smooth skin Mostly Mentioned
- “baby smooth”
- “polished look”
- “soft texture”
- “instant difference”
Gentle but effective Often Mentioned
- “non-abrasive”
- “fine powder”
- “no micro-beads”
- “gentle scrub”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “very pricey”
- “expensive splurge”
- “price shock”
- “investment product”
Anti-aging glow Sometimes Noted
- “resurfacing effect”
- “radiant skin”
- “fades dark spots”
- “brightening”
Deep pore cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “cleans out toxins”
- “pores look smaller”
- “removes build-up”
- “detoxifies”
Messy packaging Sometimes Noted
- “powder goes everywhere”
- “spout too big”
- “hard to control”
- “wasteful dispensing”
Irritation for sensitive skin Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “chemical burn”
- “skin felt tight”
- “too harsh”
Scent preference Rarely Noted
- “smells like dirt”
- “strong herbal scent”
- “unpleasant odor”
- “weird smell”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, influenster.com, lovelyskin.com, sephora.sg, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Daily Superfoliant a great fit for oily skin?
Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant is a great fit for oily skin because it uses malic acid and lactic acid to clear away oily shine and smooth texture. Niacinamide helps balance oil, while gentle enzymes like papain and subtilisin smooth the skin safely without irritation.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for oily skin because it uses lactic acid and malic acid to clear away oily shine and smooth texture. Niacinamide helps balance oil production, while papain and subtilisin gently resurface the skin without causing irritation.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002
What does Charcoal Powder do for oily skin?
Charcoal Powder is unlikely to treat acne or provide exfoliative benefits for oily skin, as products with activated charcoal lack clinical evidence for these claims. An oily skin routine needs ingredients that balance oil production and gently clear pores.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant goes in your weekly routine as a special step after cleansing and before toning and moisturizing. It helps target oily shine and smooth texture while remaining gentle on your skin.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant in the same routine as retinol, but it is best to apply the exfoliant first and follow with your retinol once your skin is used to both. Because combining them may increase the likelihood of dryness or irritation, you should start slowly by using them on alternate nights or spacing them out.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week in your weekly routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. It helps smooth texture and target oily shine with a low risk of irritation.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it uses acids and enzymes to clear away dead cells and smooth texture without heavy oils. It helps keep your skin clear and is very safe for your skin type, though any new exfoliating routine may occasionally bring a brief adjustment period.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Nanofibrillar cellulose dressing provides efficient wound healing comparable to polylactide-based copolymer dressings at skin graft donor sites in 24 patients, with significant improvements in observer scar thickness and vascularity and skin elasticity.
Advances in Wound Care, 2020Bacterial cellulose membranes with and without glycerin showed good skin compatibility and no barrier disruption in human subjects compared to a negative control, with glycerin-containing membranes additionally providing a statistically significant skin moisturizing effect (p=0.044).
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014AgNP-BC exhibited over 99% reduction in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with no cytotoxicity, allowing epidermal cell attachment and growth compared to unmodified bacterial cellulose.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2014A 1-year clinical study on human facial skin demonstrated that Zingiber officinale (L.) Rose extract inhibits the UV-induced decrease in skin elasticity and prevents or improves wrinkle formation around the eye.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Ginger extract transethosomal hydrogel improved skin permeability, sustained drug release, and exhibited significant inhibition of edema swelling along with reduced reactive oxygen species and prostaglandin E2 compared to free ginger extract hydrogel and ketoprofen gel in a rat-paw edema model.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2023Topical delivery of ginger extract-loaded nanoemulsions significantly reduced arthritic symptoms, paw edema inhibition by 27.7%, and inflammatory cytokines in RA-induced rats compared to the negative control.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023
Ingredients
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Malic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Charcoal Powder, Vinyl Dimethicone Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Silica, Magnesium Oxide, Rice Bran Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Pod Extract Fruit, Lemon Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Subtilisin, Lipase, Papain, Lactic Acid, Rice Starch, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Xanthan Gum, Water, Coconut Acid, Calcium Lactate, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Linalool
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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