Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant for combination skin
Charcoal Powder
Niacinamide
Lactic Acid
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Zingiber Officinale Root ExtractHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as malic acid and lactic acid work to smooth texture and regulate desquamation, addressing oily shine. Niacinamide and rice bran extract further support skin health by providing antioxidant benefits and improving barrier function.
- The inclusion of papain, lipase, and subtilisin enzymes offers a multi-faceted approach to exfoliation, complementing the alpha hydroxy acids for enhanced results.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing lavender and citrus oils.
How to apply
- Use this enzyme powder exfoliant in your PM weekly routine. Start 1x/week and increase frequency slowly if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this enzyme powder exfoliant after your cleaner and before your hydrating toner. Follow up with your regular serum and moisturizer.
- Dispense a small amount of the enzyme powder exfoliant into wet hands and lather into a soft foam. Gently massage onto your face while avoiding any harsh rubbing.
- Apply this enzyme powder exfoliant to slightly damp skin to help with even distribution. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water after a minute.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using this enzyme powder exfoliant if you notice any irritation.
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 Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant a great fit for combination skin?
Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant is a great fit for your combination skin because lactic acid and malic acid smooth texture while controlling oily shine. Papain, lipase, and subtilisin enzymes work together with these acids to exfoliate effectively, and niacinamide helps support your skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for combination skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for your combination skin because malic acid and lactic acid smooth texture and regulate shedding to help control oily shine. Enzymes like papain, lipase, and subtilisin team up with these acids for deep smoothing, while niacinamide and rice bran extract protect your skin and keep it healthy.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, 2025
What does Charcoal Powder do for combination skin?
Activated charcoal products lack clinical evidence to support claims that they can treat skin conditions or provide exfoliative benefits for combination skin. Skincare for this skin type needs ingredients that gently balance oil and hydration without causing irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This exfoliant goes in your weekly routine after cleansing and before your mask, toner, and moisturizer. Start using it once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant in your routine with retinol, but apply them on different nights to avoid irritating your skin. Use the enzyme powder on its designated weekly exfoliation night, and reserve your retinol for your regular treatment nights.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
This exfoliant fits your combination skin very well and is best used once a week to start. You can carefully use it more often if your skin handles it nicely and shows good results.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as its enzymes and acids help clear away dead cells and smooth texture. It may cause mild irritation if your skin is sensitive, but soothing ingredients help keep it comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
Cosmetic formulations containing glycolic acid, lactic acid, a fruit acids mixture, or malic acid ester thickened the epidermis and increased cell and nuclear volume in hairless mice compared to controls and salicylic esters.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002A supramolecular system of malic acid-derived ionic liquid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 enhanced transdermal permeation by 3.10 times, increased collagen production, inhibited acetylcholine release, and reduced wrinkle number, length, and area compared to peptide monotherapy in human subjects.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, 2025A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Soap-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
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