Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser for oily skin
Bisabolol
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Lavender Flower Extract
GlycerinAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it 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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin, with ingredients like Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate and Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate gently lifting impurities, while Bisabolol and Oat Kernel Extract provide soothing support. Glycerin offers some humectant action, but the formula lacks strong seboregulation for significant oily shine control.
- The cleansing action is supportive for oily shine, but not specifically targeted for this concern.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsWhile it excels at calming redness and soothing irritation, some users note it is too gentle to remove heavy makeup on its own and may require a double-cleanse routine.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin hydrated yet clean”
- “never feels stripped”
- “gentlest wash I've used”
Safe for reactive skin Often Mentioned
- “only one I don't react to”
- “saved my barrier”
- “no breakouts or rashes”
Soothes redness/irritation Often Mentioned
- “calms my red cheeks”
- “cools sensitized skin”
- “stopped the burning sensation”
Soft, non-foaming texture Sometimes Noted
- “glides on like lotion”
- “love the creamy feel”
- “doesn't foam or irritate”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “way too expensive”
- “pricey for a cleanser”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't touch mascara”
- “need to double cleanse”
- “leaves residue behind”
Ineffective for acne Rarely Noted
- “didn't help my acne”
- “too gentle for oily skin”
- “pores felt clogged”
Packaging/Pump issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “hard to get product out”
- “broken dispenser”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, dermalogica.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does UltraCalming Cleanser work for oily skin?
Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by gently lifting impurities and soothing the skin, though it lacks strong oil control. A cleanser for oily skin needs ingredients that effectively manage oiliness and promote a clear complexion without causing irritation.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate and Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate gently lift impurities, while Bisabolol and Oat Kernel Extract provide soothing support for your oily skin. Oily skin also needs ingredients that manage excess shine and keep pores clear.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
What does Bisabolol do for oily skin?
Bisabolol helps calm red and irritated areas on oily skin and may help keep pores clear due to its soothing properties. Products of this type for oily skin need lightweight, balancing ingredients that reduce shine without clogging pores.
What does Avena Sativa Kernel Extract do for oily skin?
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract helps calm and soothe oily skin while keeping it balanced without feeling heavy. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may reduce redness and inflammation.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine, used after a makeup remover at night. Cleansers of this type for oily skin need ingredients that help control shine and regulate oil production.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol step to gently wash your face. This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your skin due to its soothing ingredients, but oily skin of this type needs stronger oil control ingredients to manage shine effectively.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It provides gentle cleansing for your oily skin, though an oily skin type needs a product with strong oil-control ingredients to properly manage shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe formula free of harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like oat kernel extract and bisabolol. Reviewers rarely complain about breakouts, though some mention it is ineffective for acne. To better manage oily shine and breakouts, an oily skin type needs a product that includes strong oil-controlling ingredients.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes because it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like bisabolol and oat kernel extract that help keep skin calm. Since the skin around the eyes is very thin, gentle cleansing is important, and this wash is unlikely to cause irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015A multiple W/O/W emulsion containing Rosmarinus officinalis L., Avena sativa L., and Linum usitatissimum L. extracts showed no irritant, phototoxic, inflammatory, or allergenic potential in human skin models and patch tests, establishing its safety as a cosmetic base.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Colloidal oatmeal induced skin barrier-related gene expression in vitro and showed significant clinical improvements in skin dryness, moisturization, and barrier in 50 healthy female subjects treated with a colloidal oatmeal lotion.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018Colloidal oat increased the growth rate, metabolism, and lactic acid production of Staphylococcus epidermidis compared to Staphylococcus aureus in vitro, matching clinical increases in lactic acid on dry skin after 6 weeks of lotion use.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021A dermocosmetic product containing oat plantlet sap and Garcinia mangostana extract reduced retentional and inflammatory acne lesions by 21% and 35% respectively after 2 months in 54 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024A 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, 2023Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Tea tree oil effectively treated acne while lavender and rosemary oils demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties in derma cosmetic applications based on an evaluation of various essential oils.
Frontiers in Medicine, 2025A blend of Lavandula angustifolia flower extract and dipeptide-4 reduced oxidative and glycation markers, enhanced ATP, SOD, autophagy, and melatonin production, and improved tissue morphology in human skin models and fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A 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, 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, 2001
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Raspberry Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Lavender Flower Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Lemon Fruit Extract, Fumaria Officinalis Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Fumaric Acid, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Panthenol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, 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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