Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Ceramide Np
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as Glycerin and Shea Butter provide hydration and emollient benefits, though it may not fully address oilier zones. The cleansing agents Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Decyl Glucoside effectively decongest pores, supporting general skin health.
- While the formula is safe for acne-prone skin with no harsh ingredients and includes soothing Tocopherol, it lacks targeted ingredients for treating acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, free from harsh or prohibited ingredients and contains soothing components like Shea Butter and Tocopherol.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this creamy, lipid-enriched cleanser is highly praised for nourishing dry, mature, or sensitive skin while effectively removing impurities and light makeup. Users frequently report that it leaves skin feeling soft, hydrated, and balanced, without tightness or stripping. Some users find the price point high and note a strong scent, while a low number of reviews mention potential irritation or that it may be too rich for oily skin types.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling moisturized”
- “Doesn't strip skin”
- “Perfect for dry skin”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “No irritation”
- “Very mild”
Softens skin Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels noticeably softer”
- “Smoother feel”
- “More luminous”
Efficient cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Cleanses thoroughly”
- “Removes impurities well”
- “Rinses off easily”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for a cleanser”
- “Steep price”
- “Worth the money but pricey”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like burnt wires”
- “Essential oil smell”
- “Too much fragrance”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “Skin turned bright red”
- “Caused burning”
- “Not for reactive skin”
Too rich for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “Too rich”
- “Left oily residue”
- “Not for acne-prone”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, walmart.com, pure-beauty.co.uk, dermapproved.com, markskinexpert.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser is an average fit for acne-prone skin because it cleanses gently with sodium cocoyl isethionate and softens with glycerin, but lacks targeted blemish-treating ingredients. A cleanser for this skin needs powerful blemish-fighting ingredients like niacinamide, barrier-repairing ceramides, and a very safe formula that avoids irritation while balancing oily and dry areas.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, Ceramide NP, and shea butter make this cleanser a fit by providing hydration and soothing care for the skin. To work best for acne-prone skin, this type of product needs targeted ingredients to treat blemishes and breakouts while keeping pores clear.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What do Ceramides do for acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help acne-prone skin by restoring a weak water barrier, which is often damaged and low in these protective lipids in people with acne. Using them helps reduce dryness, redness, and irritation caused by acne treatments while keeping the skin calm and smooth.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Archives of Dermatological Research, 1995
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or second in the evening after a makeup remover. A cleanser for acne-prone skin of this type needs targeted ingredients to treat blemishes and breakouts alongside gentle cleansing agents.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing thoroughly, and then following with your retinol treatment once your skin is dry. This cleanser is safe and gentle, but because it lacks targeted blemish-treating ingredients, acne-prone skin needs a dedicated acne treatment step in your routine to actively clear breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It washes away impurities safely, though acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also treats blemishes.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better. It is unlikely to cause purging or breakouts because it is free from harsh ingredients, but a cleanser for this skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to properly manage breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use on your body and around your eyes, as its mild cleansing agents and soothing ingredients like shea butter are well tolerated by thinner skin areas. Cleansers used on the body or delicate eye areas need to feature gentle surfactants like sodium cocoyl isethionate and nourishing, barrier-protecting lipids to prevent irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 2001A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Divinyldimethicone Dimethicone Copolymer, Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate, Ceramide Np, Phytosterols, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, C12-13 Pareth-3, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Oil Leaf Tangerine Oil Leaf, Myristic Acid, Trideceth-12, Jasmine Oil, Linoleic Acid, Amyris Balsamifera Oil Bark, Cananga Odorata Oil Flower, Lemon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Clove Oil Leaf, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Lemon Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Canarium Luzonicum Nonvolatiles Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil Flower, Guaiacum Officinale Oil Wood, Rosa Damascena Oil Flower, Zingiber Officinale Oil Root, Disodium Edta, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Linolenic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Isethionate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Peg-12 Dimethicone, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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