Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel Versus Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel versus Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser .

Last updated on April 21, 2024. Published on November 09, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 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 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.

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Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser

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

Price

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Buy Special Cleansing Gel

Starts at $31.98

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Buy Intensive Moisture Cleanser

Starts at $42.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser 63 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

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser 63 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating

Brightening

Concerns

Irritating

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (5)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Anti-Aging (2)

Scar Healing

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin (4)

Acne Trigger (3)

Irritating (2)

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

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

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser 63 ingredients

Water • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Butylene Glycol • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract • Citrus Limon Peel Oil • Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract • Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil • Citronellal • Glycerin • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Sodium Cocoamphoacetate • Hydroxyacetophenone • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Propanediol • Citric Acid • O-Cymen-5-Ol • Disodium EDTA • Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Benzoate

Water • Glycerin • Caprylic Acid • Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate • Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer • Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate • Ceramide NP • Phytosterols • Palmitic Acid • Stearic Acid • Hydrogenated Coconut Acid • Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Tocopherol • Xanthan Gum • Dimethicone • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil • C12-13 Pareth-3 • Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • Caprylyl Glycol • Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil • Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil • Myristic Acid • Trideceth-12 • Jasminum Officinale Oil • Linoleic Acid • Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil • Cananga Odorata Flower Oil • Citrus Limon Peel Oil • Cymbopogon Martini Oil • Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil • Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil • Salvia Sclarea Oil • Citrus Limon Fruit Extract • Decyl Glucoside • Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil • Guaiacum Officinale Wood Oil • Rosa Damascena Flower Oil • Zingiber Officinale Root Oil • Disodium EDTA • Equisetum Arvense Extract • Humulus Lupulus Extract • Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Hexylene Glycol • Linolenic Acid • Pentylene Glycol • Aminomethyl Propanol • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Iodide • Sodium Isethionate • Propanediol • Butylene Glycol • Polysilicone-11 • Sodium Hydroxide • Ethylhexylglycerin • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Peg-12 Dimethicone • Limonene • Phenoxyethanol

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.

Water

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 Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Butylene Glycol

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 Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 56.

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

What it does: Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Citrus Limon Peel Oil is created from the peels of the lemon. It is used to add a lemon-scent to products. Lemon peel oil also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, it may also cause phototoxicity and sensitize skin.

Lemon peel oil contains limonene, a skin sensitizing ingredient. Another component is furanocoumarin, which induces phototoxicity in skin.

Furanocoumarins bind and destabilize your DNA to increase the rate of sunburn.

Most reputable companies will remove furanocoumarins from their formulations.

Learn more about Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 8.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 31.

Glycerin

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 Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Caprylyl Glycol

What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.

Propanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 19.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 55.

Disodium EDTA

What it does:

Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 22.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 43.

Sodium Hydroxide

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 Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 58.

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