Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel for oily acne-prone skin
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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
- Offers excellent cleansing for your oily skin, as Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract effectively decongest pores and manage oiliness. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate further aids in controlling breakouts, aligning well with your primary concerns.
- Glycerin provides mild humectant action, supporting overall skin hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no identified risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel cleanser is highly recommended for sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, effectively removing impurities without stripping the skin. Users frequently report a calm, soft, and smooth complexion with reduced redness and improved texture over time. The product is also noted for its longevity and value, though some find it pricey and occasionally experience issues with the pump design or scent.
Highlights
Gentle & Non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “no tightness after washing”
- “moisture barrier stays intact”
- “skin feels soft not raw”
Effective Cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes all makeup”
- “face feels squeaky clean”
- “removes impurities well”
- “great second cleanse”
High Price Often Mentioned
- “very pricey”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “hard on the wallet”
- “luxury price tag”
Longevity & Value Sometimes Noted
- “little goes a long way”
- “bottle lasts 8-12 months”
- “tiny amount lathers well”
- “worth the investment”
Soothing & Calming Sometimes Noted
- “calms my redness”
- “soothing on sensitive skin”
- “lavender feels therapeutic”
Pump Design Issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump dispenses too much”
- “wastes product”
- “hard to control amount”
- “pump shoots out gel”
Improves Texture Rarely Noted
- “removed texture”
- “pores look smaller”
- “skin looks smoother”
- “cleared up spots”
Breakouts/Reactions Rarely Noted
- “gave me acne”
- “caused breakouts”
- “reaction to essential oils”
- “irritated my skin”
Not Hydrating Enough Rarely Noted
- “felt a bit dry”
- “left dry patches”
- “not for very dry skin”
- “needed heavy moisturizer after”
Scent Dislike Rarely Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “don't like the lavender”
- “scent is overpowering”
- “medicinal smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, dermstore.com, dermalogica.com, productreview.com.au, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is a great fit because it effectively clears out pores and manages excess oil, while glycerin helps keep your skin hydrated without feeling greasy. It is very safe to use and is unlikely to cause any irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate make this cleanser a great fit by effectively clearing out pores, managing oiliness, and helping to control breakouts. Glycerin also supports hydration without making your skin oily, and the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a cleansing ingredient that helps wash away excess oil, but it may decrease ceramides and alter the skin microbiome on oily, acne-prone skin. Because of this, an oily, acne-prone skin cleanser needs gentle surfactants and moisturizing ingredients that clean the skin without weakening its barrier or stripping away healthy lipids.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Dermatologic Therapy, 2004
What does Lavender Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Lavender oil helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing redness and targeting bacteria that cause breakouts. It also provides antioxidant protection and supports skin healing, though it may not be suitable for every skin type and should be patch-tested first.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is used both morning and night as a key step to clear pores and manage oiliness without causing irritation. In the morning routine, it goes right before your hydrating toner, moisturizer, and SPF. In the evening routine, it follows your makeup remover and sits before your cleansing toner, treatment, and moisturizer.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your oily skin and following with your retinol treatment afterwards in your evening routine. This cleanser helps keep pores clear while glycerin supports hydration, and it has a safe profile that is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with actives.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It effectively clears out pores and helps manage oiliness while keeping your skin safely comfortable without irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as its ingredients effectively clear out pores and manage oiliness without using harsh components. Glycerin also helps keep your skin hydrated without making it greasy.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should avoid using it directly around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the body, and cleansers designed to manage oiliness may cause irritation there.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser decreased prokaryotic microbial alpha diversity, altered prokaryotic microbiome structure, increased phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and decreased ceramides on facial skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Coacervates formed from mixed micelles of sodium lauroylsarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine with cationic guar gum exhibited a dense porous structure with high viscoelastic modulus under strong electrostatic interactions, and a looser mesh structure with lower viscoelasticity and enhanced skin adsorption under weakened interactions.
Soft Matter, 2024Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Topical application of a cream containing the NHE1 activator rosmarinic acid decreased skin surface pH and transepidermal water loss while increasing skin hydration in 50-60-year-old adult females compared to vehicle cream and no treatment.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Topical treatment with a lemon balm leaf extract formulation reduced eye-corner wrinkles in 20 healthy women compared to placebo by promoting Endo180 production and inhibiting the decline in collagen levels.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2025Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
Ingredients
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lemon Peel Oil, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Cymbopogon Winterianus Herb Oil, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta
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
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