Dermalogica
Dermalogica is the professional skin-care brand that came out of the treatment room, built around skin health rather than quick cosmetic fixes. We carry 30+ Dermalogica products. That includes the cult Daily Microfoliant and Daily Superfoliant exfoliants, the Special Cleansing Gel and PreCleanse oil, the Multi-Active Toner, the Active Moist and Skin Smoothing Cream moisturisers, and focused treatments like MultiVitamin Power Firm and Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex. Each one is formulated without artificial colour or fragrance and made to slot into a routine the way a skin therapist would map one out.
By Skinsli editorial Updated
Buying guide
How to choose Dermalogica skin care
Dermalogica started in 1986 as a brand for professional skin therapists, and that origin still shapes the range. Instead of marketing a single hero cream, it builds a sequence of cleansers, exfoliants, toners, moisturisers and concentrated treatments meant to be matched to your skin and layered in order. This guide walks through what we stock, how the lineup fits together, and how to pick the right pieces for your own routine.
What Dermalogica is and who it suits
Dermalogica is a US professional skin-care brand that grew out of the International Dermal Institute, a training school for skin therapists. Products are sold in spas and salons as much as in shops, and the formulas reflect that clinical, treatment-room background. The brand avoids artificial fragrance and colour across the line, which makes it a sensible starting point if your skin reacts to scented products. It suits people who want a considered regimen rather than a one-step fix, and who are happy to use a few products together for a result.
Start with the double cleanse
The brand is known for its two-step cleanse, and both halves are in our grid. PreCleanse is an oil-based first step that lifts makeup, sunscreen and the day's grime so the second cleanser can actually reach the skin. You follow it with a water-based wash such as the Special Cleansing Gel for normal-to-combination skin, or the Ultra-Calming Cleanser when your skin is irritated or sensitised. Getting this base step right is what lets the rest of the routine work, so it is the part worth dialling in first.
The Microfoliant and Superfoliant exfoliants
Daily Microfoliant is the product most people know Dermalogica for. It is a rice-based powder that activates with water into a creamy paste, using a gentle enzyme and acid blend to smooth and brighten without the scratch of a physical scrub, so it is mild enough for near-daily use. Daily Superfoliant is the stronger, charcoal-based version aimed at congested or pollution-exposed skin and ageing concerns. Both come in full sizes and smaller travel formats in our range, which makes them an easy first Dermalogica purchase to trial.
Toner and moisturiser pairings
After cleansing and exfoliating, a hydrating mist preps the skin for whatever follows. The Multi-Active Toner is a spritz-on step that adds a thin layer of moisture and helps the next product absorb. For the moisturiser itself, match the texture to your skin: Active Moist is a light, oil-free lotion for normal-to-oily skin, while the richer Skin Smoothing Cream is the everyday hydrator for normal-to-dry skin. Pairing the right toner-and-cream combination is usually the difference between a routine that feels balanced and one that feels tight or greasy.
Targeted treatments and concentrates
Beyond the core steps, Dermalogica makes focused treatments for specific concerns. MultiVitamin Power Firm is an eye-area treatment built around antioxidant vitamins for firmness and fine lines, and the Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex does similar work for the lip area, which is easy to neglect. These slot in after toner and before or alongside your moisturiser. Treat them as the optional, problem-solving layer of the routine rather than the foundation, and add them once your cleanse-tone-moisturise base is settled.
Building your routine in order
The reason Dermalogica is sold as a system is that the steps stack in a deliberate sequence. A typical order runs PreCleanse, then a water-based cleanser, then exfoliant a few times a week, then toner, then any targeted treatment, and finally moisturiser. You do not need every product at once. Most people start with a cleanser and a moisturiser matched to their skin type, add the Daily Microfoliant for texture, and only then layer in toner and concentrates as they learn what their skin wants.
Matching products to your skin type
Because the lineup is broad, the same routine looks different for oily versus dry skin. Oily and combination skin tends to do well with the Special Cleansing Gel, the Daily Microfoliant or Superfoliant, and the light Active Moist lotion. Dry or mature skin leans toward gentler cleansing, the Skin Smoothing Cream, and richer treatments. Sensitive or reactive skin should favour the Ultra-Calming Cleanser and ease into exfoliation slowly. If you are unsure, choose by how your skin behaves at midday rather than by what you wish it were.
Sizes, value and where to start
Several Dermalogica products in our grid come in more than one size, which changes how you should buy. The professional and salon sizes, like the 473ml Multi-Active Toner or the 500ml Ultra-Calming Cleanser, are the best value per millilitre once you know a product works for you. The smaller travel sizes of the Microfoliant and others are the low-risk way to test a formula before committing. A reasonable approach is to trial in a small size, then re-buy the full or pro size of the products that earn a permanent spot in your routine.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Dermalogica a Korean brand?
No. Dermalogica is a US professional skin-care brand, founded in California in 1986 out of the International Dermal Institute. It is sold worldwide through spas, salons and shops, and is best known for treatment-room products like the Daily Microfoliant rather than for K-beauty.
What does the Daily Microfoliant actually do?
It is a rice-based exfoliating powder that turns into a creamy paste when you add water. A gentle enzyme and acid blend smooths and brightens the skin without the abrasion of a physical scrub, so it is mild enough to use most days. It is the product most people try first when they come to Dermalogica.
Should I choose Daily Microfoliant or Daily Superfoliant?
Daily Microfoliant is the milder, everyday rice-powder exfoliant suited to most skin types. Daily Superfoliant is the stronger, charcoal-based version aimed at congested, pollution-exposed or ageing skin. If your skin is sensitive or you are new to exfoliating, start with the Microfoliant; reach for the Superfoliant when you want a deeper, more active treatment.
How do I use PreCleanse with the rest of the cleansers?
PreCleanse is the first step of the brand's double cleanse. Massage the oil over dry skin to break down makeup and sunscreen, then add water to rinse it away. Follow with a water-based wash such as the Special Cleansing Gel or, for sensitive skin, the Ultra-Calming Cleanser. The oil step first means the second cleanser can actually clean the skin underneath.
Active Moist or Skin Smoothing Cream for my moisturiser?
Pick by skin type. Active Moist is a light, oil-free lotion that suits normal-to-oily skin and warmer weather. Skin Smoothing Cream is a richer everyday hydrator for normal-to-dry skin. If your skin feels tight by midday, lean toward Skin Smoothing Cream; if it gets shiny, Active Moist is the better match.
Are Dermalogica products fragrance-free?
Dermalogica formulates without artificial fragrance and artificial colour across its range, which is one reason it is a common choice for reactive or sensitive skin. If you are sensitised, the Ultra-Calming Cleanser and a gentle introduction to exfoliation are the easiest places to start.
What order do I apply Dermalogica products in?
A typical sequence is PreCleanse, then a water-based cleanser, then exfoliant a few times a week, then the Multi-Active Toner, then any targeted treatment such as MultiVitamin Power Firm, and finally a moisturiser. You do not need the whole line at once. Most people start with a cleanser and a moisturiser, then add the Microfoliant and build from there.
Should I buy the travel size or the large professional size?
Several products here come in more than one size. The salon and professional sizes, like the 473ml Multi-Active Toner or the 500ml Ultra-Calming Cleanser, give the best value per millilitre once you know a product suits you. The smaller travel sizes are the low-risk way to trial a formula first, then re-buy the full size of the ones you keep.
Where does MultiVitamin Power Firm fit in my routine?
MultiVitamin Power Firm is an eye-area treatment built around antioxidant vitamins to support firmness and soften fine lines. Apply it after toner and before or with your moisturiser. Treat it as an optional targeted layer rather than a core step, and add it once your cleanse, tone and moisturise base is settled.