Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser for dry skin
Glycolic Acid
Glycerin
Jojoba Seed Oil
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Sodium HyaluronateAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 moderate suitability for dry skin due to the presence of humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which provide hydration, but it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients like jojoba seed oil to fully address dryness.
- The glycolic acid offers excellent cleansing and pore decongestion, but the overall formulation provides general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive rather than directly targeting dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this cleanser for its ability to combat dullness and uneven texture, leaving skin noticeably brighter and smoother without the harshness often associated with glycolic products. While effective for most skin types, those with drier or sensitive skin often recommend using it once daily or every other day to avoid tightness.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “non-stripping”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “doesn't irritate sensitive skin”
Brightens and adds glow Often Mentioned
- “lit from within glow”
- “undoes dullness”
- “radiant skin”
Pleasant sensory experience Sometimes Noted
- “fresh citrus scent”
- “jelly-like texture”
- “nice lather”
Smoothes skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “glass skin effect”
- “removes texture”
- “face feels completely flat/smooth”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “tightness”
- “dry as a bone”
- “flaking”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “splurge”
- “luxury side of skincare”
- “expensive”
Effective cleansing Rarely Noted
- “remove makeup well”
- “cleanse away brightness blockers”
- “squeaky clean”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “avoid eye area”
- “stings”
- “burns”
Initial breakouts Rarely Noted
- “mini freak outs”
- “small breakouts”
- “purging”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, johnlewis.com, skinsort.com, lovelyskin.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Daily Glycolic Cleanser work for dry skin?
Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser works moderately well for dry skin because it contains humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to help provide hydration, but it lacks enough oils like jojoba seed oil to fully address dryness. A cleanser for this skin needs a rich blend of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a fit for dry skin by pulling in moisture, though a dry skin type needs a cleanser with richer nourishing oils and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides to fully address dryness.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for dry skin as the cleansing step. A cleanser for this skin needs plenty of hydrating ingredients and rich moisturizing oils to keep it soft and comfortable.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine, applying it before your retinol treatment in the evening while keeping your skin calm. A cleanser for dry skin needs rich, softening ingredients like extra plant oils and butters to deeply lock in moisture and comfort dry areas.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily, though dry skin needs a gentle formula packed with rich softening ingredients like plant oils and butters to stay smooth and comfortable.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging for dry skin, though initial breakouts may happen with a low likelihood. Its safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may be more easily irritated by active ingredients like glycolic acid. This product is safe to use as long as you avoid direct contact with the eye area. A product for dry skin of this type needs richer softening and moisturizing ingredients like jojoba seed oil and heavier creams to properly protect and comfort this skin type.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
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, 2017Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Topical application of Calendula officinalis extract cream significantly improved skin hydration and firmness (reflected in significant changes in R0 and R6 parameters) in 21 healthy human volunteers compared to a base cream.
Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 2011Treatment with standardized extract of Calendula officinalis L. led to a shorter epithelization time and faster healing speed compared to mineral oil in patients with acute skin loss wounds of the hand and fingers healing by secondary intention.
Tissue Barriers, 2022Topical administration of Calendula provides weak evidence of effectiveness in acute and chronic wounds compared to standard treatments based on a narrative review of available trials.
Wounds, 2008Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Peg-6 Cocamide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Succinoglycan, Jojoba Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Urea, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-51, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Glyceryl Oleate, Coconut Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Pca, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
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.