Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser for oily skin
Glycerin
Ceramide Np
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Caution
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for oily skin; the cleansers alongside 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 sodium cocoyl isethionate and decyl glucoside effectively removing impurities without stripping.
- While glycerin and shea butter provide soothing benefits, the presence of emollient ingredients like Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil may not be ideal for managing oily shine.
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 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
Why does Lovi advise caution with Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser for oily skin?
Lovi advises caution because heavy oils in this cleanser may not be ideal for managing oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid to control excess oil and clear pores.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?
The shea butter and oils like safflower seed oil make this cleanser a poor fit because they add heavy moisture that may not be ideal for managing oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, and ceramides to manage oil and support skin health without clogging pores.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What do Ceramides do for oily skin?
Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and locking in moisture without feeling heavy. They are unlikely to clog pores and may help calm irritation, making them a good fit if your skin is both oily and prone to breakouts.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine. Oily skin needs a gentle cleanser that clears away impurities and excess shine without heavy oils or rich butters.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before retinol, but it may not be the best match because its heavy oils can add unwanted shine to oily skin. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight cleansers with oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to keep pores clear and manage excess oil.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You should use this cleanser once or twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Oily skin typically needs a cleanser with oil-controlling and balancing ingredients to manage shine and impurities effectively without adding heavy oils.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser may feel too rich and is unlikely to be ideal for managing oily shine because it contains heavier oils that can weigh down the skin. Oily skin needs a lightweight wash with gentle cleansers and oil-balancing ingredients that clear away impurities without adding extra weight.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should use caution around the eyes because the skin there is much thinner and more sensitive. Cleansers for this skin need gentle, non-stripping ingredients that clean effectively without causing irritation.
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, 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, 2001Sodium 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 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
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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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
How does it fit your skin?
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