Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel for sensitive skin
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin due to the presence of Glycerin, which provides humectant action, and Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, which offers mild cleansing without stripping the skin.
- Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate effectively cleanse pores, offering general skincare benefits that are supportive for your skin.
- The absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients ensures no risks of irritation for your sensitive skin.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
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 sensitive skin?
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently cleans pores with mild ingredients like Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract without stripping natural moisture. It also includes glycerin, which helps keep skin hydrated and soft, and the absence of harsh ingredients ensures it is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses glycerin to keep your skin hydrated and Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract to gently clean without stripping away moisture. It also avoids harsh ingredients, which helps keep your skin calm and lowers the risk of irritation.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate do for sensitive skin?
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a cleansing ingredient that may strip away natural skin lipids and disrupt the skin barrier, which can leave sensitive skin feeling dry and irritated. Because of this, sensitive skin needs cleansers formulated with milder surfactants that have less interaction with skin proteins and lipids, along with added moisturizing agents to protect hydration.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024European Journal of Dermatology, 2015
What does Lavender Oil do for sensitive skin?
Lavender oil may help calm irritated areas and support skin recovery, but it is also a known trigger for contact allergies in some people. For sensitive skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients that are gentle and free of fragrance allergens to keep the skin barrier strong and smooth.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is used both morning and evening as the main cleanser step in your routine. Because it cleans pores gently with ingredients like Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract and glycerin without stripping your skin, it helps keep sensitive skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as its gentle ingredients clean pores without stripping your skin. Using a well-tolerated cleanser helps keep sensitive skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with active treatments.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a mild cleanser daily helps keep your skin clean while maintaining your skin barrier.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts or reactions. The absence of harsh ingredients ensures a safe experience, though some reviewers occasionally mention minor breakouts.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use on your body and around the eyes because it contains gentle ingredients that clean without stripping the skin or causing irritation. It avoids harsh additives, making it suitable even for the delicate skin on the eyelids and thinner areas of the body.
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.