Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

Dermalogica

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

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About this product

The Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 28 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Moisturizers
Ingredients
28
Low-risk
23
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
Status
Discontinued
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 5/9
Good for dry skin
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Cetearyl Alcohol Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Butylene Glycol Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract Xanthan Gum Salicylic Acid Sodium Hydroxide Steareth-2 Steareth-21 Polysorbate 80 Diatomaceous Earth
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 3/1
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Sulfur Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract Salicylic Acid
Caution for oily/acne-prone skin
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Sensitive Skin 3/7
Good for sensitive skin
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Caution for sensitive skin
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Butylene Glycol Salicylic Acid Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol Linalool

Ingredients list

28 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (5)
All28 Skin Conditioning22 Fragrance7 Viscosity Controlling5 Emulsion Stabilising4 Emulsifying4 Opacifying4 Denaturant3 Viscosity Increasing Agent3
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
2
Diatomaceous Earth
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antimicrobial)
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil
1
A
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling)
1
3
Papain
(Hair Conditioning, Lytic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent)
1
3
Bromelain
(Lytic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic)
3
B
Steareth-21
(Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
B
Steareth-2
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
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
A
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
B
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
(Astringent, Skin Conditioning)
2
B
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Perfuming)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Sulfur
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antiseborrhoeic, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
3
B
Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
5
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
1
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
3
Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying)

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

Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

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

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–2 AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticaking agentBulking agentOpacifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningEmollientAntimicrobial
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil
Other
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion stabilising, Opacifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingOpacifyingFoam boostingViscosity increasingagent - aqueousViscosity increasing agentEmollientEmulsifyingViscosity controlling
Papain
Hair conditioning, Lytic agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–3 Hair conditioningLytic agentSkin conditioningAntistatic agent
Bromelain
Lytic agent, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–3 Lytic agentSkin conditioningKeratolytic
Steareth-21
Sufactant, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B SufactantEmulsifyingSurfactant
Steareth-2
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent, Anticaking agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AbsorbentAnticaking agentOpacifyingSlip modifierViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AstringentSkin conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
Denaturant, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B DenaturantPh adjusterBuffering agent
Xanthan Gum
Binding agent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Binding agentEmulsion stabilisingSkin conditioningSurfactant -emulsifying agentViscosity increasing agentBindingGel formingViscosity controlling
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Chelating agentViscosity controlling
+ 2 more — see the full ingredients list above
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A CIR B Skin conditioning Good for Sensitive Skin
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract
Other
Excessively acidic, potentially irritatingRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR B Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B FragranceSkin conditioningSkin-conditioning agent -occlusivePerfuming Good for Sensitive SkinGood for Dry Skin
Sulfur
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentHair conditioningSkin-conditioning agent -miscellaneousAntiseborrhoeicAntistatic agentSkin conditioning Good for Oily Skin
Polysorbate 80
Denaturant, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B DenaturantEmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Linalool
Fragrance, Deodorant
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 FragranceDeodorantMasking Allergens
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Strong essential oil which can irritate skinRead moreShow less
EWG 1 FragranceSkin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin

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.

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

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Lactic 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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