SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser Versus Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

See how these products line up with your preferences

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

Last updated on April 21, 2024. Published on June 28, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 7 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 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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SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

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

Shop

Buy Gentle Cleanser

Starts at $37.50

Shop

Buy Special Cleansing Gel

Starts at $31.98

Ingredient Info

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser 27 ingredients

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 25 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

ph level

5.5

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser 27 ingredients

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Benefits

Hydrating

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Scar Healing

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

Acne Trigger

Rosacea (2)

Benefits

Hydrating

Brightening

Concerns

Irritating

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser 27 ingredients

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

Water • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Glycerin • Propanediol • Cetyl Alcohol • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate • Peg-100 Stearate • Glyceryl Stearate • Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate • Phenoxyethanol • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil • Limonene • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine • Caprylyl Glycol • Polysorbate 20 • Allantoin • Sodium Hydroxide • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate • Disodium EDTA • Polyquaternium-39 • Sodium Chloride • Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate • Trideceth-6 • Glycolic Acid • Sodium Benzoate

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 12.

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 19.

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 24.

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

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 22.

Sodium Benzoate

What it does: Masking, Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 27.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel contains this as ingredient number 25.

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