Versus

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator Versus Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator

Exfoliator
Exfoliator
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on August 13, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator
Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Cleansing

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Absorbent

Sodium Bicarbonate

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Sorbitol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Zea Mays Starch

Absorbent

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

Cleansing

Saccharomyces Ferment

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Oryza Sativa Starch

Absorbent

Magnesium Oxide

Absorbent

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Tapioca Starch

Avena Sativa Kernel Protein

Skin Conditioning

Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract

Astringent

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Emollient

Inulin

Skin Conditioning

Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Silybum Marianum Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Kaolin

Abrasive
0 / 0 Exfoliant IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps fight Acne Icon

Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer

Papain

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Emollient
0 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Avena Sativa Bran Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Glycine Soja Oil

Emollient
3 / 0 Oil IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract

Emulsion Stabilising
Fragrance Icon

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil

Astringent
Oil Icon

Salvia Sclarea Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Perfuming
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil

Masking
Oil IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Emollient

Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract

Tonic

Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sea Salt

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Juniperus Virginiana Oil

Masking
Oil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide

Cleansing

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Castoryl Maleate

Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Diglycerin

Humectant

Maltodextrin

Absorbent

Lauroyl Lysine

Skin Conditioning

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Saccharide Isomerate

Humectant

Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate

Beta-Carotene

Skin Conditioning

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Emulsion Stabilising

Dextrin

Absorbent

Sodium Palmitate

Cleansing

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Acacia Senegal Gum

Masking

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Water

Skin Conditioning

O-Cymen-5-Ol

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Stabilising

Microcrystalline Cellulose is another name for refined wood pulp. It is used as an emulsifier and mattifying ingredient. As an emulsifier, it helps keep ingredients together.

Absorbent, Buffering

We don't have a description for Magnesium Oxide yet.

Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.

The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.

This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.

Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate is the sodium salt from the lauric acid of glutamic acid.

It is a surfactant and helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants from your skin so they may be washed away easily.

Oryza Sativa Starch is an absorbent and used to mattify the skin. It is a natural carbohydrate and the main component of rice. A more common name for this ingredient is 'rice starch'.

Rice starch is created by steeping broken grains in a caustic soda.

Rice extract has many skin benefits. Read more about rice extract here.

Learn more about Oryza Sativa Starch
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin
Skin Conditioning

Papain is an enzyme found naturally in the papaya plant's leaves, fruit, and roots. It has antimicrobial, soothing, and wound healing properties.

Glycine and Vitamin A are naturally found in papain.

While papain is often touted as skin-lightening, further studies are needed to prove this. However, papain has been shown to help soothe acne-inflammation.

Papain belongs to a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes break down peptides and amino acids.

Some studies found papain to be a potential skin sensitizer and allergen. Those with latex allergies might also be allergic to papaya.

Learn more about Papain
Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning

Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.

In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.

As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.

Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.

Learn more about Maltodextrin
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Perfuming, Solvent

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

Learn more about Limonene
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

When to use

647 Routines
36% use in am
64% use in pm
60% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
132 Routines
35% use in am
65% use in pm
58% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator 28 ingredients

4.6 /5
from 11 ratings
Works Well (5) Expensive (3) No Scent (2)
mikey420x's avatar

mikey

10 months ago
Review

this has been my first time using it as i got a free sample mini bottle. just wow the only time i have never felt my skin so smooth is from over exfoliating with gritty abrasive sugar scrubs but not anymore. i left it on as a mask for 10 minutes and with wet hands gently brought it to a foam again before rinsing. honestly thinking about stealing a crate of this because of the price but that’s the Show more

#expensive
#no scent
#works well
emmat's avatar

emmat

2 years ago
Review

scrumptious
love this, best thing ive ever used, makes my face bright and clear and uncongested. I dont use it every night since it irritates me, if you have sensitive skin i wouldnt use this every night test a patch on your neck every night to see if your skin can take it

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator 64 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Expensive (1) Irritating (1) No Scent (1)
jordiebearclaire's avatar

Jordan

4 months ago
Review

I have used this product on and off for ~5 months, most frequently when I felt extremely dry from stripping my skin barrier. I had a lot of flaking and wanted it gone ASAP. I chose this product at that time because of Dermalogica's claims that this product "supports moisture barrier" & "soothes/relieves skin" while getting rid of the texture I hated so much. It sounded like it would address a lot Show more

#expensive
#irritating
#no scent