Dermalogica ultracalming™ cleanser for dry sensitive skin
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Citric Acid
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your dry skin as glycerin provides humectant action, and the absence of harsh surfactants prevents stripping.
- The presence of Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine offers moderate cleansing to remove impurities, while the formula is safe for your sensitive skin.
- This cleanser is formulated without harsh ingredients, ensuring no irritation for your dry and sensitive skin.
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 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
What makes Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser is a great fit because glycerin helps keep your skin hydrated, and gentle cleansers wash away impurities without stripping dry areas. It is formulated without harsh ingredients, which helps prevent irritation and keeps sensitive skin calm.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin soft by holding onto moisture, and gentle cleansers like Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate wash away dirt without stripping away your natural oils. This formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate do for dry sensitive skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate cleanses dry sensitive skin gently while helping to keep the skin barrier safe from irritation and dryness. This mild cleansing ingredient washes away dirt without stripping away natural moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft and calm.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013
What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for dry sensitive skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a cleansing ingredient that may cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive skin. If you have easily irritated skin, this type of product needs very gentle, well-tolerated cleansers and soothing ingredients to keep skin calm.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, used after a makeup remover at night. It is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin because glycerin draws in moisture while gentle cleansers lift away impurities without stripping your skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine when using retinol, as it washes away impurities gently without stripping your dry and sensitive skin. Use the cleanser first to clean your skin, and then follow with your retinol treatment.
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 helps remove impurities without stripping dry and sensitive skin.
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 it avoids heavy, pore-clogging oils and uses gentle cleansers that rinse clean without stripping natural moisture. The formula helps keep skin calm by leaving out harsh irritants.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation. The glycerin helps keep your skin feeling soft and hydrated while you wash.
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
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.