Dermalogica ultracalming™ cleanser for acne-prone skin
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Citric Acid
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine effectively remove impurities without causing irritation. Glycerin provides humectant action, offering basic hydration, but the formula lacks specialized ingredients to target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The absence of harsh ingredients ensures a safe experience for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation.
- This cleanser provides general cleansing benefits but does not offer sufficient ingredients for optimal results on all areas of your combination skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
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 acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for acne-prone skin, gently removing impurities without irritation, though it lacks specialized ingredients to target breakouts. An acne-prone cleanser needs powerful blemish-fighting ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, along with hydrating and soothing agents, to effectively balance the skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser gently washes away impurities with mild ingredients like sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl betaine while providing basic hydration with glycerin, though it lacks specialized components for breakouts. An acne-prone skin type needs cleansers with powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to address blemishes while effectively maintaining skin balance.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate do for acne-prone skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate is a gentle cleansing ingredient that helps wash away excess oil and dirt from acne-prone skin without stripping away essential moisture. Because it has a mild interaction with skin proteins, this ingredient is unlikely to cause the dryness and irritation often linked to stronger cleansers.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2004Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for acne-prone skin?
Cocamidopropyl Betaine helps gently clean acne-prone skin by removing dirt and oil without leaving it feeling stripped or dry. When formulated thoughtfully in a cleanser, it helps maintain skin comfort while supporting your daily routine.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first or second cleansing step. Acne-prone skin works best with cleansers that wash away impurities gently while pairing with specialized ingredients to target breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it first, then following with your retinol treatment. The gentle formula cleanses without stripping, though this skin type also needs targeted breakout-fighting ingredients for optimal results.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently washes away dirt and oil without irritating your skin, though acne-prone skin needs extra ingredients that target breakouts for the best results.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it lacks harsh ingredients, but it also lacks specialized ingredients to target your acne. Acne-prone skin needs cleansers with blemish-fighting acids or specialized active ingredients for optimal results.
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 gentle ingredients avoid irritation. A cleanser for acne-prone skin needs soothing ingredients and breakout-targeting actives like salicylic acid to properly clear blemishes.
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, 2007Daily 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, 2021The 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, 2013Topical 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 acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 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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