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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator versus Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on December 04, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 12 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 need an update? Let us know.

Exfoliator American Brand United States
Exfoliator American Brand United States

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Price

Shop

Buy Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator

Starts at $54.99
Shop

Buy Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator

Starts at $19.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (7)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateMicrocrystalline CelluloseSodium BicarbonateSorbitolZea Mays StarchSodium Cocoyl GlutamateSaccharomyces FermentOryza Sativa StarchMagnesium OxideCitric AcidTapioca StarchAvena Sativa Kernel ProteinCamellia Oleifera Seed ExtractSilicaCocos Nucifera Fruit ExtractInulinCassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideSilybum Marianum Seed OilKaolinLauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer PapainHyaluronic AcidAvena Sativa Kernel ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed OilAvena Sativa Bran ExtractGlycine Soja OilCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel ExtractVitis Vinifera Fruit ExtractCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilAniba Rosodora Wood OilSalvia Sclarea OilEucalyptus Globulus Leaf OilChamomilla Recutita Flower OilCucurbita Pepo Fruit ExtractCucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractPerilla Ocymoides Leaf ExtractDaucus Carota Sativa Root ExtractSea SaltJuniperus Virginiana OilAlpha-Glucan OligosaccharideTocopherolCastoryl MaleateCaprylyl GlycolAllantoinDiglycerinMaltodextrinLauroyl LysineArginineSaccharide IsomerateSodium Lauroyl GlutamateBeta-CaroteneXanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin1,2-HexanediolHydroxypropyl MethylcelluloseDextrinSodium PalmitateSodium ChlorideAcacia Senegal GumSodium CitrateWaterO-Cymen-5-OlLimoneneLinalool

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Stabilising
Community Rating: Loved

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.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 1.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Absorbent, Buffering

We don't have a description for Magnesium Oxide.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 2.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 9.

3
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from the fatty acids of coconut oil. It is a surfactant and helps with cleansing the skin.

By binding to water and oil, it helps gently clean skin. It also helps the spreadability of the product.

Sodium cocoyl isethionate is also added to help create foam without drying the skin. However, this is depending on the amount of Sodium cocoyl isethionate.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 3.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 1.

4
What it does: Abrasive, Antioxidant, Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract is is derived from colloidal oatmeal. It is formed from grounded oatmeal and a liquid base.

Besides being a healthy breakfast, oats have many benefits in skincare too.

This ingredient helps sooth, hydrate, and protect the skin. The starches in colloidal oatmeal are able to bind water, keeping the skin hydrated.

The cellulose and fiber in colloidal oatmeal help reduce inflammation. This can also help the skin feel softer.

Colloidal Oatmeal is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage skin cells.

Avenacins found in colloidal oatmeal have anti-fungal properties. The saponins have a cleaning affect.

Overall, colloidal oatmeal is great at providing the skin with moisture and help sooth irritation. It also protects the skin in various ways.

Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 4.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 23.

5
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 6.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 50.

6
What it does: Absorbent
Community Rating: Liked

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

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 8.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 8.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Community Rating: Loved

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

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 10.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 44.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 11.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 21.

9
What it does: Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 21.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 46.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 27.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 61.

11
What it does: Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 28.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 63.

12
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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

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.

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 look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 29.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator contains this as ingredient number 10.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

48% are loved or liked
3% have mixed ratings
24% are disliked or very disliked
24% have no rating yet
38% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
31% are disliked or very disliked
19% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator 29 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 6 ratings
Drying (1) Works Well (1)
MeaganClare's avatar

MeaganClare

1 year ago · Combination Skin
Review

A great gentle exfoliant
This always removes any physical texture or dead skin build up that I have. I use it about two or three times a week,...

A great gentle exfoliant
This always removes any physical texture or dead skin build up that I have. I use it about two or three times a week, depending on my texture. I have very congested skin, and while this keeps my texture from worsening, it doesn't do much for existing congestion or any acne issues that I have. I do love the product, and I really trust the brand, but it's a worthwhile detail when considering different exfoliators.

emmat's avatar

emmat

11 months ago · Combination Skin
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,...

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

5.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

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