Acne Biotic Moisturizer

Dermalogica

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Dermalogica Acne Biotic Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 39 ingredients (27 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Moisturizers
Ingredients
39
Low-risk
27
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe Cruelty-Free

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 13/9
Good for dry skin
Glutamic Acid Lavandula Hybrida Oil Squalane Erythritol Octyldodecanol Inulin Xylitol Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Glycerin Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Lecithin
Caution for dry skin
Sorbitan Olivate Caprylic Acid Glycerin Salicylic Acid Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Polyquaternium-80 Sodium Hydroxide Lecithin Didecyldimonium Chloride
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 1/1
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Caution for oily/acne-prone skin
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Sensitive Skin 2/9
Good for sensitive skin
Glycerin Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
Caution for sensitive skin
Glutamic Acid Octyldodecanol Caprylic Acid Butylene Glycol Glycerin Salicylic Acid Citric Acid Linalool Limonene

Ingredients list

39 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All39 Skin Conditioning20 Fragrance13 Humectant11 Hair Conditioning10 Solvent7 Emulsifying6 Perfuming5 Emollient5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
A
Octyldodecanol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming, Solvent)
1
B
Ethylhexyl Olivate
(Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Erythritol
(Humectant, Moisturising)
1
A
Inulin
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Cetearyl Olivate
(Hair Conditioning)
lavandula angustifolia oil
(Fragrance, Tonic)
1
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
(Emollient)
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
Salvia Sclarea Oil
(Fragrance, Tonic)
1
A
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Skin Conditioning)
1
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
(Tonic)
1
Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
(Humectant, Soothing)
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
(Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning)
Piper Nigrum Seed Extract
(Refreshing, Tonic)
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
Xylitol
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
1
A
Glutamic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent)
1
Polyquaternium-80
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Hair Conditioning)
Didecyldimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Emulsifying, Hair Conditioning, Surfactant)
1
Methylpropanediol
(Solvent)
1
A
Sorbitan Olivate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
(Chelating Agent)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Caprylic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Caprylic Acid., Emulsifying, Masking, Perfuming)
5
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

BHA
Unclogs pores and reduces excess oil.
Vitamin E
Protects skin and soothes irritation.
Niacinamide
Strengthens, smooths, and brightens skin.
Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Acne FightingFights acne and helps prevent breakouts.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.

Concerns

Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Octyldodecanol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningEmollientPerfumingSolvent
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant, Moisturising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 HumectantMoisturising
Inulin
Humectant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A HumectantSkin conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Hair conditioning
lavandula angustifolia oil
Fragrance, Tonic
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceTonic
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfumingSkin conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Fragrance, Tonic
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceTonic
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Emulsion stabilising, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingFilm formingHair conditioningSkin-conditioning agent -occlusiveEmulsifyingSurfactantSkin conditioning
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Tonic
+ 17 more — see the full ingredients list above
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Linalool
Fragrance, Deodorant
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 FragranceDeodorantMasking Allergens
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply near the end of your routine, after thinner serums.
  • 2 Evening, start slow: Best in the PM a few times a week to begin with; avoid layering with other strong actives the same night.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Salicylic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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