🇳🇱Netherlands

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant for dry sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other products fit it better.

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

  • Offers moderate exfoliation due to malic acid and papain, which help smooth texture but may be drying for your dry and sensitive skin due to the presence of sodium bicarbonate and a lack of deeply hydrating ingredients.
  • While the formula provides general cleansing and mild exfoliation supportive of your skin's needs, ingredients like citrus aurantium amara peel oil and essential oils may still trigger irritation for your sensitive skin.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this enzyme powder exfoliant once a week during your evening routine after cleansing. Always follow with a good sunscreen the next day.
  • Apply the enzyme powder exfoliant after cleansing and before your toner, serum, and moisturizer. It fits right into your weekly routine step.
  • Mix a small amount of the enzyme powder exfoliant with water in your hands to create a foam, then gently massage it onto your face without harsh rubbing .
  • Apply the enzyme powder exfoliant on slightly damp skin for better comfort and gentle results. Since your skin is dry and sensitive, this helps protect your natural barrier.
  • Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before first use. Do not combine this enzyme powder exfoliant with strong acids or retinoids in the same routine.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 1.7k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with aging, oily, or city-dwelling skin consistently praise this product for delivering exceptionally smooth results and deep pore cleansing, often citing it as a superior resurfacer. Some users with highly sensitive skin occasionally report redness or irritation, suggesting it may be too active for delicate complexions.

Highlights

  • Incredibly smooth skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “baby smooth”
    • “polished look”
    • “soft texture”
    • “instant difference”
  • Gentle but effective Often Mentioned
    • “non-abrasive”
    • “fine powder”
    • “no micro-beads”
    • “gentle scrub”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “very pricey”
    • “expensive splurge”
    • “price shock”
    • “investment product”
  • Anti-aging glow Sometimes Noted
    • “resurfacing effect”
    • “radiant skin”
    • “fades dark spots”
    • “brightening”
  • Deep pore cleanse Sometimes Noted
    • “cleans out toxins”
    • “pores look smaller”
    • “removes build-up”
    • “detoxifies”
  • Messy packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “powder goes everywhere”
    • “spout too big”
    • “hard to control”
    • “wasteful dispensing”
  • Irritation for sensitive skin Rarely Noted
    • “caused redness”
    • “chemical burn”
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “too harsh”
  • Scent preference Rarely Noted
    • “smells like dirt”
    • “strong herbal scent”
    • “unpleasant odor”
    • “weird smell”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, influenster.com, lovelyskin.com, sephora.sg, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant work for dry sensitive skin?

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant is an average fit for your dry sensitive skin because while it smooths texture, it may be drying and trigger irritation. An enzyme powder exfoliant for this skin needs deeply hydrating and soothing ingredients to protect the skin barrier.

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

This exfoliant is a moderate fit because it has niacinamide to help soothe, but a product of this type needs deeply hydrating ingredients and gentle calming components without drying agents or essential oils to truly suit dry sensitive skin.

What does Charcoal Powder do for dry sensitive skin?

Charcoal powder is unlikely to help dry sensitive skin because these products lack clinical evidence to support claims that they can treat skin conditions. Dry sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients and gentle moisturizers that strengthen the skin barrier without causing irritation.

Clinics in Dermatology, 2020

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This exfoliant goes in your routine once a week after cleansing, while your skin type needs a gentler formula with plenty of hydrating ingredients and soothing extracts to prevent dryness and irritation.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this exfoliant in your routine, but because it may be drying for your dry and sensitive skin, it is best to avoid using it on the same nights as your retinol to prevent irritation. Instead, alternate them on different days or use the exfoliant in the morning and retinol at night, always following up with a good moisturizer.

How often should I use it?

Start using this enzyme powder once a week, and if your dry sensitive skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you can carefully use it more often. Because this skin type needs gentle care, a product of this type works best when it offers mild exfoliation paired with deeply hydrating ingredients and calming agents to keep the skin soft and smooth without drying it out.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as it contains cleansing and exfoliating ingredients that help keep pores clear. However, because it lacks deeply hydrating ingredients and includes essential oils and exfoliating enzymes, a product of this type needs added gentle moisturizers and barrier-soothing ingredients to keep dry and sensitive skin calm and comfortable.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).

What the research says

  • Topical application of papain induces skin barrier disruption, inflammation, and a TH2-biased antibody response in C57BL/6 mice, acting as a strong epicutaneous allergen independently of TLR4 and its enzymatic activity.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015

  • A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.

    Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

  • Bacterial cellulose membranes with and without glycerin showed good skin compatibility and no barrier disruption in human subjects compared to a negative control, with glycerin-containing membranes additionally providing a statistically significant skin moisturizing effect (p=0.044).

    European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014

  • Menstrual pads containing sodium bicarbonate caused no clinical signs or subclinical vulvar skin irritant reactions in 50 healthy women after 24 hours of patch testing.

    The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 1991

  • Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.

    Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989

  • 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, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Nanofibrillar cellulose dressing provides efficient wound healing comparable to polylactide-based copolymer dressings at skin graft donor sites in 24 patients, with significant improvements in observer scar thickness and vascularity and skin elasticity.

    Advances in Wound Care, 2020

  • AgNP-BC exhibited over 99% reduction in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with no cytotoxicity, allowing epidermal cell attachment and growth compared to unmodified bacterial cellulose.

    Carbohydrate Polymers, 2014

  • Cellulose acetate and soy protein hydrolysate nanofibrous dressings promote fibroblast proliferation in vitro and accelerate wound healing with reduced scar formation in vivo.

    Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2018

  • A 1-year clinical study on human facial skin demonstrated that Zingiber officinale (L.) Rose extract inhibits the UV-induced decrease in skin elasticity and prevents or improves wrinkle formation around the eye.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008

  • Ginger extract transethosomal hydrogel improved skin permeability, sustained drug release, and exhibited significant inhibition of edema swelling along with reduced reactive oxygen species and prostaglandin E2 compared to free ginger extract hydrogel and ketoprofen gel in a rat-paw edema model.

    International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2023

  • Topical delivery of ginger extract-loaded nanoemulsions significantly reduced arthritic symptoms, paw edema inhibition by 27.7%, and inflammatory cytokines in RA-induced rats compared to the negative control.

    Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023

Ingredients

Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Malic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Charcoal Powder, Vinyl Dimethicone Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Silica, Magnesium Oxide, Rice Bran Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Pod Extract Fruit, Lemon Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Subtilisin, Lipase, Papain, Lactic Acid, Rice Starch, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Xanthan Gum, Water, Coconut Acid, Calcium Lactate, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Linalool

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play