Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel — Efficacy 3.0/5.0, Safety 3.3/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

CleanserCleansing
Efficacy
Basic
3.0 / 5.0
Safety
Caution
3.3 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a foamy, nostalgic cleanser with a harsh backbone and perfume-level essential oils that make it a risky daily wash for sensitive or barrier-compromised skin. Efficacy-wise it cleans very effectively thanks to S Tier surfactant power (Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate + multiple co-surfactants), but that same high-foaming, high-degreasing system pushes it down to a mid-range efficacy score because a modern ‘good’ cleanser should clean without increasing barrier stress or tightness. The formula relies on fragrant essential oils (lavender, lemon, bergamot, citronella) and botanicals in a rinse-off context, which offer negligible lasting benefit but increase irritation risk, so despite reasonable pH and some humectants, it cannot be graded as a gentle, barrier-respectful cleanser.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
Water/Aqua/EauGlycerin
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateButylene GlycolHydroxyethylcelluloseCocamidopropyl BetaineSodium CocoamphoacetateHydroxyacetophenoneCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine1,2-HexanediolCaprylyl GlycolPropanediolCitric AcidO-Cymen-5-OlDisodium EDTAPPG-5-Ceteth-20Sodium HydroxideSodium Benzoate
C Tier: Marketing IdolsHype | Limited or Weak Data
Quillaja Saponaria Bark ExtractMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateLavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) OilCitrus Limon (Lemon) Peel OilCitrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit OilCymbopogon Nardus (Citronella) Oil
Analyze on DemythSkin

DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.