Dermalogica Calm Water Gel for sensitive skin
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin, this product effectively moisturizes with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate and plump, while aloe barbadensis leaf juice and dipotassium glycyrrhizate offer soothing benefits for your redness and irritation.
- The formula's humectant action is further supported by dimethicone, which helps to seal in moisture and enhance skin barrier function, complementing its anti-inflammatory properties.
- This product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including beneficial components like aloe and dipotassium glycyrrhizate to minimize irritation.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with very dry skin or living in colder climates often find it insufficiently hydrating on its own, requiring an additional serum or heavier cream.
Highlights
Soothes redness Mostly Mentioned
- “takes the red out of my cheeks”
- “cooling sensation feels amazing on irritated skin”
- “best thing for my reactive skin”
Lightweight gel Often Mentioned
- “melts into skin like water”
- “disappears immediately”
- “weightless feel”
- “no greasy residue”
Not hydrating enough Often Mentioned
- “skin felt tight after an hour”
- “need to layer a cream over it”
- “not enough for winter dryness”
- “disappeared too fast without hydrating”
Good under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “makeup sits perfectly on top”
- “doesn't pill under foundation”
- “smooth canvas for application”
- “keeps oil at bay during the day”
Non-comedogenic Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't clog my pores”
- “safe for acne-prone skin”
- “no new breakouts since using”
- “perfect balance for oily/sensitive skin”
Expensive for size Sometimes Noted
- “tube is very small for the price”
- “finished it in a month”
- “too expensive for a basic gel”
- “wish it came in a bigger size”
Caused irritation Rarely Noted
- “burned my sensitive skin”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “made my face itch”
- “triggered a rash”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “feels tacky to the touch”
- “hair sticks to my face”
- “weird texture until it dries”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Calm Water Gel a great fit for sensitive skin?
Dermalogica Calm Water Gel is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to deeply hydrate, while aloe and dipotassium glycyrrhizate help calm redness and irritation. The formula also contains dimethicone, which seals in moisture and protects the skin barrier without using harsh ingredients that might trigger discomfort.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate and plump the skin, while aloe barbadensis leaf juice and dipotassium glycyrrhizate help to calm redness and irritation. Additionally, dimethicone seals in moisture and supports the skin barrier.
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for sensitive skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm sensitive skin and keeps it hydrated without causing irritation. Studies show it supports skin comfort and can safely improve moisture levels.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure for your sensitive skin.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing treatment with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it dry, and then following with this cream to help calm and soothe your skin. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer like this one is unlikely to cause irritation and may help your skin tolerate retinol better.
How often should I use this cream?
This moisturizing treatment is a great fit for your sensitive skin and is safe to use daily in your evening routine. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help hydrate and plump the skin, while aloe and dipotassium glycyrrhizate provide soothing benefits for redness and irritation.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin, as it has a gentle formula free of harsh ingredients and features soothing components that minimize irritation.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on your body to hydrate dry areas and calm sensitive skin. Ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help plump the skin, while aloe and dipotassium glycyrrhizate soothe irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool and 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, 2017A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Lavender Flower Extract, Stearyl Heptanoate, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sea Salt, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearyl Caprylate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Linalool, 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.
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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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