Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Review

Results you may expect from using Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel:

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is a type of skincare product designed to be rinsed off, peeled off, or otherwise removed from the skin. Research confirming the moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, and soothing effects of such products is very limited. Therefore, we do not provide efficacy ratings for these types of skincare products.

However, you can explore the roles of specific ingredients in the Ingredients Explained section below.

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
75
Water
6
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
4
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
3
Butylene Glycol
2
Hydroxyethylcellulose
1.5
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
1.3
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
1
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
0.3
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
0.3
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil
0.3
Citronellal
0.3
Glycerin
0.3
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
0.3
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
0.3
Hydroxyacetophenone
0.3
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
0.3
1,2-Hexanediol
0.3
Caprylyl Glycol
0.3
Propanediol
0.3
Citric Acid
0.3
o-Cymen-5-ol
0.3
Disodium EDTA
0.3
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
0.3
Sodium Hydroxide
0.3
Sodium Benzoate
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Function:
Origin:
Butylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Function:
Origin:
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
Function:
Origin:
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Function:
Origin:
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
Function:
Origin:
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Function:
Origin:
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil
Function:
Origin:
Citronellal
Function:
Origin:
Glycerin
Function:
Origin:
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
Function:
Origin:
Hydroxyacetophenone
Function:
Origin:
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Function:
Origin:
1,2-Hexanediol
Function:
Origin:
Caprylyl Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Propanediol
Function:
Origin:
Citric Acid
Function:
Origin:
o-Cymen-5-ol
Function:
Origin:
Disodium EDTA
Function:
Origin:
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Hydroxide
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Benzoate
Function:
Origin:

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %75
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Est. %6
Function
Origin
Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateAn anionic surfactant alternative to sulfates with an excellent foaming profile.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateAn amino acid-derived surfactant with mild cleansing and strong foaming capabilities.
Butylene Glycol
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Butylene GlycolA clear, colorless liquid humectant that draws moisture to the skin. The humectancy of butylene glycol, owed to its two hydroxyl groups, is quite considerable, although not as powerful as glycerin, which contains three hydroxyl groups.
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Est. %2
Function
Origin
HydroxyethylcelluloseA naturally-derived thickener that can form clear gel textures without the slimy feeling, unlike some other natural gel-formers.
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) OilAn essential oil derived from common, or true, lavender. It is used in skincare for its lovely, calming scent. Like all essential oils, however, it may cause a contact skin allergy in more sensitive individuals.
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Est. %1.3
Function
Origin
Quillaja Saponaria Bark ExtractDescription is coming soon
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel OilA fragrant essential oil extracted from the rind or peel of a lemon. It is mainly comprised of limonene (up to 70%) and has a fresh, citrusy scent. Lemon peel oil may cause a sun-induced skin rash in people with a sensitivity towards citrus fruits.
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Melissa Officinalis Leaf ExtractA fragrant extract derived from lemon balm leaves with antioxidant and antiviral flavonoids and terpenes. It has a lovely, fresh, lemon-like scent.
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit OilAn essential oil expressed from the peels of the bergamot orange. The scent of bergamot oil is woodier than those of other citrus essential oils. This essential oil is still not recommended if you are sensitive to citrus fruits.
Citronellal
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
CitronellalDescription is coming soon
Glycerin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Glycerin

The most popular moisturizing ingredient in the world. It is a powerful humectant – cheap yet very effective.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Cocamidopropyl BetaineA mildly cleansing ingredient derived from coconut. It also produces the foam that tells us our soap is actually working to remove dirt and oils.
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium CocoamphoacetateA naturally-derived plant-based gentle cleanser that also creates high levels of foam.
Hydroxyacetophenone
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
HydroxyacetophenoneAn antioxidant compound that can be found in many plants, although it is manufactured synthetically for skincare purposes. It can boost the preservative action of other conservants.
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultaineA mild surfactant with excellent foaming properties and thickening capabilities.
1,2-Hexanediol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
1,2-HexanediolA multi-functional formula helper. It is a well-studied preservtive against bacteria and can help pigments and fragrances disperse evenly in a formula.
Caprylyl Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Caprylyl GlycolAn emollient that improves product spreadability and offers a silky feel on the skin. It also acts as a preservative booster that improves the efficacy of other preservatives. According to the manufacturer, it is also a humectant moisturizer.
Propanediol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
PropanediolAn excellent solvent capable of mixing water with normally water-insoluble ingredients. It also functions as a humectant due to its water-loving alcohol groups. Propanediol can control the viscosity of a product by reducing its thickness.
Citric Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Citric AcidA gently exfoliating AHA that helps to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. In comparison to other AHAs, citric acid has been shown to be one of the least effective. It is also very commonly used as a stabilizing and pH-controlling agent.
o-Cymen-5-ol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
o-Cymen-5-olA preservative related to chemicals found in the herb thyme. It has its own unique smell but is very effective even at small amounts.
Disodium EDTA
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Disodium EDTAA synthetic chelator that helps to maintain the look and smell of a product by 'locking up' troublesome metal ions.
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
PPG-5-Ceteth-20A synthetic emulsifier that can also contribute to the smooth feel of a product.
Sodium Hydroxide
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium Hydroxide

An ingredient that is able to bring the pH of a product up, thereby making it less harsh on the skin.

Sodium Benzoate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium BenzoateA preservative that usually works in combination with other preservatives. It has to be at low pH (<5.5) to be effective.