Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser for dry sensitive skin
Glycerin
Ceramide Np
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Superior
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for dry sensitive skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Excellent suitability for your dry and sensitive skin is provided by Glycerin, Shea Butter, and Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, which offer superior hydration and moisturization to combat dryness and flakiness. Sodium cocoyl isethionate and decyl glucoside effectively cleanse pores without causing irritation, further supporting your skin's needs. The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components to maintain skin comfort.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
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
What makes Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser one of the best fits for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin, shea butter, and other nourishing oils help keep dry and flaky skin soft and smooth, while gentle cleansers wash away impurities without causing irritation. This formula contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components to maintain skin comfort.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin, shea butter, and plant oils provide deep hydration to combat dryness, while gentle cleansers clean your pores without causing irritation. These ingredients, along with soothing components and ceramides, help maintain comfort and support your skin's barrier.
What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What do Ceramides do for dry sensitive skin?
Ceramides help hydrate dry sensitive skin and strengthen its outer barrier to reduce water loss and calm irritation. Using a product with ceramides often improves skin comfort and makes the skin feel much softer.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2016
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines, where it cleans pores without causing irritation. It is used as your main cleanser step every day to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. Using gentle cleansers with barrier-restoring ingredients is unlikely to cause irritation and may support your skin's comfort during active routines.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a gentle cleanser regularly helps wash away impurities while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because its gentle cleansing ingredients clean pores without causing irritation. It has a very low likelihood of causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as its gentle ingredients are safe for thin areas and larger skin surfaces. It cleans pores without causing irritation, keeping your skin comfortable and well-hydrated.
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, 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, 2012Sodium 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
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