Dermalogica ultracalming™ cleanser for mature skin
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Citric Acid
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for mature skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 normal skin, as Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine provide gentle cleansing, while glycerin offers some humectant action.
- It lacks specialized ingredients like retinoids or peptides to effectively address your wrinkles and fine lines, and could benefit from more emollient ingredients for optimal hydration.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser as part of both your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily since your skin is normal and not sensitive.
- Apply this first in your routine before using your toner, moisturizer, and SPF.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water. Avoid rubbing your skin too hard.
- Apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin for the best fresh feeling. Make sure your face is clean of heavy makeup first.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while washing. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to be safe.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers consistently report that it effectively reduces redness and fortifies the skin barrier, leaving it hydrated. Many note that it is too mild to remove heavy makeup or sunscreen on its own, often requiring a double-cleanse routine.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't sting my raw skin”
- “soothing on contact”
- “best for reactive skin”
Non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “no squeaky clean feeling”
- “leaves skin dewy”
- “doesn't dry me out”
- “feels like a moisturizer”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “doesn't take off mascara”
- “need to use oil first”
- “leaves makeup residue”
- “too gentle for full glam”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like lavender and cucumber”
- “relaxing spa scent”
- “light herbal smell”
Safe for eyes Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't burn my eyes”
- “gentle enough for eye area”
- “use it over eyelids safely”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very pricey for a cleanser”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “expensive but worth it”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump arrived broken”
- “pump stopped working halfway”
- “hard to get product out”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “feels like lotion”
- “doesn't feel like it cleans”
- “leaves a film”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser work for mature skin?
This cleanser works for mature skin, providing gentle washing and basic hydration while remaining safe and unlikely to irritate. However, this skin type needs extra smoothing ingredients and rich softeners for deep hydration, along with anti-aging elements like retinoids or peptides to target fine lines.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine make this cleanser a good fit because they provide gentle cleansing, while glycerin helps keep the skin hydrated. To truly fit mature skin well, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients like retinoids or peptides to address wrinkles and fine lines, alongside more emollient ingredients for optimal hydration.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate do for mature skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate is a gentle cleansing ingredient that washes the skin without stripping away essential moisture or disrupting the natural barrier. This helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth while minimizing dryness and irritation. Cleansers of this type need nourishing ingredients and a skin-friendly pH to support delicate and aging skin.
What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for mature skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a cleansing ingredient used in wash-off products to help remove dirt and oil. While generally safe, it may cause mild skin irritation for some people.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This cleanser goes in both your morning and evening routine, before your toner, moisturizer, and treatment. It offers gentle cleansing for your skin, but to properly care for mature skin it needs anti-aging ingredients like retinoids or peptides to smooth fine lines and extra smoothing ingredients for soft hydration.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first, followed by your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation since it lacks harsh ingredients, but mature skin needs extra softening ingredients and firming components like retinoids or peptides to best care for fine lines and wrinkles.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine, since it offers gentle cleansing that is safe for your skin without risks of irritation. Using a mild cleanser consistently helps maintain skin comfort and supports your daily routine.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin, as it is safe with no harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body because its mild ingredients are gentle and unlikely to irritate. However, a product of this type needs richer, softening ingredients and anti-aging helpers like retinoids or peptides to properly smooth and hydrate mature skin.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, and citral).
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, 2017Sodium 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, 2007The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003The 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, 2012A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Why other cleansers fit mature skin better
Topical 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, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
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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