The 30 Best Dermalogica Products for Acne

Double cleansing has made its rounds in the skincare world, and it’s not going anywhere. It allows other skincare products to work their magic by removing all traces of makeup, SPF, excess oil, daily grime, environmental pollution, and other things while restoring much-needed moisture to acne-prone skin. Dermalogica’s Precleanse Cleansing Oil is a blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients to help remove potential pore-clogging dirt and grime from the most sensitive skin. Kukui nut oil, borage seed oil, and apricot kernel oil supply essential vitamins A, C, and E and omega-3 fatty acids that support a dry, damaged, and irritated skin barrier. It’s gentle enough for sensitive eyes, so you can even remove eyelash glue.

If you’re struggling with acne, using a gentle cleanser with naturally derived ingredients that won’t disrupt your skin’s pH balance or dry it out is a great first step. Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel is infused with Quillaja saponaria bark extract, a soap-free natural foaming agent that prevents moisture loss from your skin while washing away impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Key calming ingredients include soothing lavender, refreshing balm mint, and hydrating aloe vera to help your acne heal and your skin bounce back. For a one-two punch, use the Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil to create a gentle yet effective double-cleanse routine and it’s lightweight enough to use daily to help regulate sensitive skin breakouts.

If your acne is more reactive to strong cleansers or you prefer a non-foaming cleanser, Dermalogica’s Ultracalming Cleanser may be the one for you. The oatmeal extract is often used as the ideal cleanser for super-sensitive skin. Its infusion, cucumber fruit extract, and lavender extract soothe and calm reactive and sensitized skin. This pH-balanced gel cleanser strengthens your skin barrier, a common concern for acne sufferers, and rinses clean so your acne treatments can penetrate more effectively. 

If your acne is due to slower cell turnover, you can usually tell because your skin is probably more flaky and bumpy than it should be. Dermalogica formulated their Daily Glycolic Cleanser with a blend of potent AHAs to exfoliate and brighten the top layer of skin. If you’re worried about it being too harsh, this daily cleanser has calendula extract for a boost of soothing antioxidants and jojoba seed oil to naturally soften skin and replenish your lipid moisture barrier. Whether you want a more even skin tone and texture or looking to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, glycolic acid can multi-task as you heal your acne-prone skin. 

Dermalogica’s Acne Clearing Skin Wash Cleanser uses a powerful encapsulated solution of 0.5% salicylic acid and phytic acid to gently exfoliate your skin, clear clogged pores, and brighten your complexion – all at the same time. Plant-derived glycerin helps balance your skin’s microbiome as a prebiotic to maintain healthy skin. Adding essential herbs and oils like tea tree oil, cooling menthol, soothing camphor, and calming chamomile flower extract reduces inflammation in breakout-irritated skin. It gives you that sought-after refreshing feeling after every cleanse. 

This Dermalogica acne skincare wash is part of their Clear Start line that focuses on treating acne on the face and body. The Acne Clearing Skin Wash Cleanser is a foaming wash with salicylic acid designed to clear away dead skin cells that trap oil and dirt in your pores, which is often a cause of acne. You can use this against “Back-ne” to help you have smoother and more even skin texture all over. In addition to the anti-inflammatory meadowsweet extract that helps balance excess oil, this acne wash has anti-bacterial tea tree, irritation-calming lavender, redness-clearing Camellia extract, skin-refreshing balm mint, and brightening orange peel extract that works together to eliminate acne and improve skin with large pores, excessive oiliness, and frequent acne breakouts. 

As one of their newest launches, Dermaogica’s Milkfoliant is designed for sensitive skin that needs a good exfoliation session. It’s gentle enough to use every day, even on acne-prone skin, because of the super hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, oats, and coconut milk that support your skin barrier after the AHAs and BHAs remove dead skin cells and clean out your pores. It’s an oat-based powder exfoliant that activates into a gentle creamy lather when mixed with water, releasing papain enzymes and botanical extracts that polish and smooth your skin.  

Dermalogica’s Multi-Vitamin Thermafoliant is a powerful exfoliating solution designed to pull double duty for acne-prone and aging skin. This thermal infusion combines physical and chemical exfoliation to fight signs of aging and polish dull skin. The resurfacing microgranules immediately reveal a fresher complexion with smoother skin underneath. The proprietary Thermal Technology has a delicate balance of salicylic acid and retinol that activates upon contact with water to stimulate a heated exfoliation. Prickly pear extract accelerates your skin’s natural exfoliation process and licorice root brightens any dark spots that may be left behind while vitamins C and E give an antioxidant-rich boost to enhance skin’s firmness over time. 

Everyone needs a bit of fizzy fun in their skincare from time to time. It is a gentle way to clear out your pores and a great sensory experience to add some variety to your routine. Dermalogica’s Clear Start line includes this Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask made with sulfur for its anti-microbial cleansing properties, kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and purify the skin, and apple fruit extract for antioxidant-rich vitamins A and C to protect from free radicals. Anti-inflammatory superstars ginger, turmeric, rosemary, and tea tree oil reduce redness and clear impurities once you rinse the mask off.

If a multivitamin is good for your body, why not for your skin? Dermalogica’s MultiVitamin Power Recovery Mask is a nutrient-rich mask that rinses off clean and helps sensitive acne-prone skin recover fast. The skin-loving blend of vitamins A, B5, C, E, and F deeply nourishes your skin as retinol gently exfoliates to help cell turnover for smoother and brighter skin. If you have more sensitive skin, the oat kernel extract gives a nice buffer that soothes irritated areas, while the superfood algae extract hydrates and soften for a more youthful look. This mask is also great for treating hyperpigmentation left behind by acne breakouts.

If your acne is caused by excess oily skin, this Sebum Clearing Mask is gentle enough to use up to three times a week to help reduce the look of large pores, post-acne blemishes, and uneven skin tone. The salicylic acid clears congested pores while a detoxifying blend of kaolin and bentonite clays absorb extra oil, dirt, and other impurities. For sensitive skin, the botanical oat blend calms breakouts as niacinamide and licorice root extract brightens your complexion. You can use it to help calm hormonal acne, too!

Dermalogica’s Clear Start product line for acne-prone skin has different masks that suit your skin concerns like the Breakout Clearing Liquid Peel. This chemical exfoliating peel works hard to remove dead skin that clogs your pores and minimizes active breakouts with a powerful blend of 10% AHAs (lactic and mandelic acid) and 2% BHAs (salicylic and azelaic acid) to prevent future ones. Depending on your skin sensitivity and concerns, you can use this liquid peel once or twice a week. Just remember to rinse with cool water within 10 minutes or less to reduce irritation, and wear sunscreen to protect your renewed skin from the sun. 

When you have acne, a good toner is worth its weight in gold. Dermalogica’s Multi-Active Toner is a great lightweight facial spray toner with humectants and calming ingredients that hydrate dry patches and calm irritated skin. Natural lavender soothes as arnica fights inflammation, and balm mint cools your skin with every spritz. It’s great to refresh throughout the day with an aloe vera and cucumber extract blend. 

Everyone knows that calm skin is glowing skin and the right toning mist can make it happen. Dermalogica created this lightweight lavender mist to help destress and depuff your acne-prone skin with a proprietary UltraCalming Complex made of organic botanicals and oat extract to protect your skin’s moisture barrier against damage. Aloe vera adds that pH-balanced hydration you need to quickly reduce inflammation and prevent dryness. Bonus tip: Use this after a waxing, shaving, or exfoliating session to heal your sensitive or irritated skin faster.

Most of Dermalogica’s acne skincare lines use some form of exfoliation like glycolic (AHA) or salicylic (BHA) acids, but this Clear Start Micro Pore Mist doesn’t contain any, so you can use it to enhance any existing prescribed acne medications that may irritate when paired with them. It’s a refreshing tone with niacinamide to smooth rough skin textures and cucumber extract for an excellent pick-me-up. The antioxidant-rich blend of witch hazel, green tea, and chamomile flower extracts gives a pore-tightening effect that visibly minimizes shine and brightens skin tone. 

If you’ve never used retinol before, it can feel a bit daunting. The good news is that brands like Dermalogica create retinol serums that can work on all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin. With a potent 3.5% Retinoid Complex, this high-dose retinoid serum can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while renewing your skin’s overall texture. To counter the multi-retinoid serum, concentrated squalane fortifies your skin with a rich dose of moisture for plumpness and elasticity. Additionally, oat-derived Beta-Glucan works to help acne-prone skin recover faster and restore a more natural radiance. 

Dermalogica is known for innovative formulas that address specific skin concerns. That’s why their Smart Response Serum has broken barriers on what skincare can do with its formulation designed to adjust to anyone’s skin concerns. The SmartResponse technology recognizes micro changes in your skin and addresses them “before they’re visible to the naked eye”. Plant-based M6P Glycan increases skin firmness, while hydrolyzed Beta-Glucan supports hyaluronic acid production to prevent dehydration. Arabinoxylo-Oligosaccharides, a fermented prebiotic, can help even your skin tone by slowing down melanin production to prevent hyperpigmentation.

Dealing with dark spots can be such a pain, especially if you have active breakouts. Dermalogica’s PowerBright Dark Spot Serum was created to help you handle hyperpigmentation with an advanced formula that blends powerful ingredients like vitamin-rich niacinamide to smooth texture, antioxidant-rich hexylresorcinol to brighten, and nutrient-dense shiitake mushroom for more even and clear skin. The serum’s light-diffusing technology balances uneven pigmentation and starts fading dark spots within a week. If you struggle with acne, sun damage, or aging skin, you can rely on this serum to give you a beautiful glow without needing heavy concealers or a full-coverage foundation.

By now, you see how Dermalogica’s Clear Start line helps you get control of your acne. Make sure not to leave out their powerful spot treatment, The Breakout Clearing Booster. It can target and kill breakout-causing bacteria in just 15 minutes without irritation. Salicylic acid is an added skincare powerhouse for clearing existing breakouts and preventing future ones. The fast-absorbing and invisible formula can be used in your morning and nighttime routine to minimize the appearance of large pores, prevent dark spots and blemishes and reduce excess oil. Dermalogica’s patented Thymol and Terpineol (TT) Complex protects your skin’s natural microbiome and phytoplankton extract to help calm irritated skin and reduce acne flare-ups.

Post-breakout dark spots and rough texture can be just as frustrating as acne. That’s why Dermalogica created the Post-Breakout Fix with ingredients like salicylic acid to clear breakouts and hexylresorcinol to fade the marks left behind. Carob fruit extract and squalane work together to restore and nourish your skin with antioxidants and moisture for softer, glowing skin. This can work to heal stubborn older marks and newer shallow ones. Bonus points: the tube is made from 25% recycled plastic, so it’s an eco-friendly choice for your skincare routine. 

If you have dull and uneven skin, you may need a two-in-one serum to tackle both issues at once. That’s where the Dermalogica AGE Bright Clearing Serum comes in. The potent formula has the well-known skin exfoliant salicylic acid formulated to stimulate natural exfoliation and unclog follicles that cause acne. Deramlogica’s AGE Bright™ Complex promotes a more even skin tone with phytoactives from the Resurrection Plant to moisturize dehydrated skin and support your skin’s natural cell turnover to reduce visible signs of aging. It’s a highly concentrated serum with niacinamide and white shiitake mushroom to promote a brighter, clearer, and more even skin tone.

One essential ingredient you need in any skincare routine for brighter skin is vitamin C. Finding an effective formula that includes a stable and bioavailable form of vitamin C that delivers results can be difficult. This BioLumin-C Serum has two of them to protect your skin from free radical damage and prevent early signs of aging. The added chia seed oil gives essential fatty acids to protect your skin as lactic acid exfoliates dead skin to reveal that glow you’ve been missing. It comes in a glass bottle with a double outer coating to protect the formula from light exposure, which minimizes vitamin C degradation. 

Gel moisturizers are truly having a moment right now and this one by Dermalogica is an excellent solution for oily, acne-prone skin. The Calm Water Gel Moisturizer is enriched with beneficial ingredients like apple fruit extract to soften skin, glycerin to moisturize, and cactus pear extract to soothe even the most sensitive skin. The refreshing gel formula transforms into a skin-quenching fluid on contact, creating a weightless barrier against environmental pollution. The dual hyaluronic acid technology works into different skin surface layers to increase moisture levels for softer, smoother, supple skin.

Like the Dermalogica BioLumin-C serum, this revitalizing gel moisturizer has its Vitamin C Complex to protect against free radicals and visibly brighten, firm, and fade dark spots. There are also five different types of hyaluronic acid paired with squalane to optimize your moisture levels deep in the skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Pumpkin enzyme renews your skin to get rid of dullness and phytic acid gently exfoliates for brighter-looking, softer skin.

Having smooth skin can feel like a faraway dream if you struggle with acne. It can take a long time for your skin to heal to a more even texture, but having the right moisturizer to seal in your acne-fighting products can help immensely. Dermalogica’s Skin Smoothing Cream Moisturizer has proprietary Active HydraMesh Technology™ provides up to 48 hours of hydration with aloe vera to soothe and prevent dehydrated skin that can cause breakouts. Additionally, this face-and-neck moisturizer contains vitamins C and E, both powerful antioxidants that protect skin against free-radical damage. The dynamic hyaluronic acid complex reduces water loss and distributes hydration into your skin throughout the day so dry skin acne sufferers can balance their skin again.

An oil-free moisturizer with SPF 30 could do wonders for your acne when layered on top of your acne-fighting skincare regimen. Sunscreen is a vital piece of unlocking your best skin yet. This Dermalogica Matter Broad Spectrum sunscreen moisturizer has a light consistency, so you won’t feel like it sits heavy on your skin as it protects you from skin-aging UVA/UVB light. It’s also ultra-sheer with an advanced blend of zinc gluconate, caffeine, niacinamide, and biotin to regulate oil production, soothe inflammation, and leave an all-day matte finish without that annoying white cast or powdery residue. 

No matter how oily or irritated your skin may be, every skin type needs a moisture boost. Deramlogica’s Clear Start Soothing Hydrating Lotion is a sheer formula with dual hydrators, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to relieve irritation and dryness that may be causing your breakout. Orange peel extract provides a nice dose of vitamin C and energizes your skin for a brighter and more refreshing tone and texture. There are no synthetic fragrances or parabens to further exacerbate acne and you can use this gentle formula with other acne treatments to calm excess oil, dryness, and blemishes down.

Some acne responds better to extremely lightweight moisturizers and this Clear Start Jelly Moisturizer may be your new go-to moisturizer if that’s you! Though it is a weightless formula, it also contains a retinol-like bioflavonoid complex to help reduce excess oil and smooth skin. The water-like texture comes from the blue algae extract made popular in high-end skincare that feels like a burst of water on your skin. The blue tansy oil and blueberry extract are high in antioxidants to protect your skin while hyaluronic acid keeps moisture in and dryness out. This is an excellent option if you have oily/combination skin, struggle with blemishes and breakouts, or deal with redness or sensitivity.

If you like a creamy moisturizer/sunscreen combo, Dermalogica’s Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 Moisturizer is a good one. From antioxidant-rich white tea extract that protects skin from free radicals to a proprietary polypeptide blend that smooths fine lines and wrinkles, this daily moisturizer visibly minimizes signs of aging and supports the elastin in your skin. Collagen-supporting peptides visibly firm your skin and squalane adds that deep hydration that your skin loses due to sun damage. It may be an SPF 50 sunscreen to guard against UVA and UVB rays, but it also makes a great primer to smoothly layer your makeup. 

When you think of acne, you don’t immediately think of putting oil on your face. However, this Dermalogica Retinol Acne Clearing Oil may be changing that taboo for the better. This overnight oil treatment is formulated with skin-friendly levels of time-released retinol, 2% salicylic acid, and a blend of non-comedogenic oils (argan, jojoba, and rosehip) to reveal smoother and less acne-prone skin. The oils have phytoactive lipids and high antioxidant levels to repair your skin’s moisture barrier and balance excess oil. The effective lipid-based delivery system reduces irritation from the blend of retinol and salicylic acid, which is a win-win for combination/acne skin.