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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel versus Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash .

Last updated on April 21, 2024. Published on May 25, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens, 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.

Face Cleanser American Brand United States
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Special Cleansing Gel

Starts at $31.98
Shop

Buy Acne Clearing Skin Wash

Starts at $42.00

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
ph level
5.5
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

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Irritating
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA
Vitamin C
Exfoliators (2)
Peptides

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (6)
Eczema (4)
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Ingredients Compared

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

Salicylic Acid 0.5%WaterGlycerinSodium Laurylglucosides HydroxypropylsulfonateSodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateCocamidopropyl BetaineHydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium ChloridePeg-120 Methyl Glucose DioleateButylene GlycolSodium PCAPhytic AcidButyrospermum Parkii ButterFucus Vesiculosus ExtractCurcuma Longa Root ExtractAloe Barbadensis Flower ExtractAllium Sativum Bulb ExtractLaminaria Ochroleuca ExtractPassiflora Incarnata ExtractSalvia Officinalis Leaf ExtractCamphor MentholEucalyptus Globulus Leaf ExtractHamamelis Virginiana Leaf ExtractSolanum Melongena Fruit ExtractCocamidopropyl DimethylamineSodium Methyl Oleoyl TaurateDipotassium GlycyrrhizateTetrasodium Glutamate DiacetatePolysorbate 80Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilMelia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractMelia Azadirachta Flower ExtractCorallina Officinalis ExtractMelissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem ExtractCoccinia Indica Fruit ExtractAngelica Archangelica ExtractChamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractCitrus Limon Fruit ExtractEchinacea Angustifolia Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerinOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf ExtractOcimum Sanctum Leaf ExtractAnthemis Nobilis Flower ExtractAscorbic AcidCamellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractMaltodextrinSilicaPalmitic AcidZinc PCAKaolinPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5Aminomethyl PropanolSodium ChlorideSodium HydroxideBenzyl PCAPhenoxyethanol

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: 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 Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.

Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 4.

Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash contains this as ingredient number 9.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 12.

Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Disliked

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. Dimethylaminopropylamine is a diamine, an amine with two amino groups.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.

Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.

While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.

Learn more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 13.

Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 24.

Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash contains this as ingredient number 54.

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

20% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
48% are disliked or very disliked
16% have no rating yet
41% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
27% are disliked or very disliked
21% 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 Special Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Manchita99's avatar

Manchita99

9 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Gentle cleanser

Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash 56 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating
BiaB's avatar

BiaB

6 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Love it!
It keeps my outbreaks under control.
Even though I have dehydrated skin, it does not strip my skin from its moisture.
This product is...

Love it!
It keeps my outbreaks under control.
Even though I have dehydrated skin, it does not strip my skin from its moisture.
This product is amazing!

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Our Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash.

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