Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser — Efficacy 3.9/5.0, Safety 3.5/5.0 | DemythSkin
++++
[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser
Dermalogica

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser

CleanserCleansing
Efficacy
Solid
3.9 / 5.0
Safety
Caution
3.5 / 5.0
System Verdict
A beautifully structured, barrier-friendly surfactant system ruined by an overstuffed essential-oil fragrance cocktail in what should be a gentle cleanser. Efficacy-wise this cleanser scores solidly because it uses mild surfactants (amino-acid and glucoside-based) alongside glycerin, ceramide NP, phytosterols and multiple fatty acids to cleanse while supporting the barrier in brief contact, but the heavy load of citrus, floral, and spice essential oils makes it far less universally usable than the base formulation deserves.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
GlycerinCeramide NPTocopherolButyrospermum Parkii (Shea) ButterCarthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed OilPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Sodium Astrocaryum MurumuruatePhytosterolsHydrogenated Coconut AcidHydrolyzed Cottonseed ProteinC12-13 Pareth-3Tetrasodium Glutamate DiacetateTrideceth-12Linoleic AcidCanarium Luzonicum Gum NonvolatilesHexylene GlycolLinolenic AcidSodium ChlorideSodium IsethionatePolysilicone-11
C Tier: Marketing IdolsHype | Limited or Weak Data
Equisetum Arvense ExtractHumulus Lupulus (Hops) ExtractPinus Sylvestris Cone ExtractRosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel OilCitrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel OilCitrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf OilJasminum Officinale (Jasmine) OilAmyris Balsamifera Bark OilCananga Odorata Flower OilCitrus Limon (Lemon) Peel OilCymbopogon Martini OilEugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf OilPelargonium Graveolens Flower OilSalvia Sclarea (Clary) OilCitrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit ExtractCitrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower OilGuaiacum Officinale Wood OilRosa Damascena Flower OilZingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root OilLimonene
What Each Ingredient Does
Water/Aqua/Eau
Solvent base
Glycerin
Humectant for hydration
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient and texture enhancer
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Primary gentle surfactant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Gentle amino-acid surfactant
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Texture and slip agent
Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate
Murumuru-derived surfactant/emulsifier
Ceramide NP
Skin barrier lipid
Phytosterols
Barrier-supporting emollients
Palmitic Acid
Fatty acid emollient
Stearic Acid
Fatty acid, emulsifier
Hydrogenated Coconut Acid
Emollient and surfactant
Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein
Conditioning protein derivative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil
Fragrant essential oil
Tocopherol
Antioxidant, formula protection
Xanthan Gum
Thickener and stabilizer
Dimethicone
Silicone emollient and slip
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Rich emollient and occlusive
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil
Emollient plant oil
C12-13 Pareth-3
Nonionic surfactant/emulsifier
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil
Emollient plant oil
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Chelator for stability
Caprylyl Glycol
Humectant and preservative booster
Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Fragrant essential oil
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, 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 (Orange) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, C12-13 Pareth-3, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil, Myristic Acid, Trideceth-12, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Linoleic Acid, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Guaiacum Officinale Wood Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Disodium EDTA, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Linolenic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Isethionate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol.

Frequently Asked

Is Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser worth it?

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser scores 3.9 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Solid) and 3.5 out of 5.0 for safety (Caution) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. A beautifully structured, barrier-friendly surfactant system ruined by an overstuffed essential-oil fragrance cocktail in what should be a gentle cleanser. Efficacy-wise this cleanser scores solidly because it uses mild

What are the key active ingredients in Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser?

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser as potential irritants: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Guaiacum Officinale Wood Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Limonene.

How is Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Buy on Amazon →Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-09-16. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score. DemythSkin earns commission from affiliate links (Amazon Associates and others). Scores are computed before any commercial relationship — the link follows the verdict, never the other way around.