dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
dermalogica Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel lists 25 ingredients on its label, 24 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
- Water/Aqua/Eau
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Butylene Glycol
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
- Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
- Citrus Limon Peel Oil
- Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
- Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
- Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
- Glycerin
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
- Hydroxyacetophenone
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Propanediol
- Citric Acid
- O-Cymen-5-Ol
- Disodium EDTA
- PPG-5-Ceteth-20
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Benzoate
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains sulfatesContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oilsContains fragrance
Formulation view Gel cleanser using sodium C14-16 olefin sulfate for strong degreasing, thickened by hydroxyethylcellulose. Features quillaia extract and citrus essential oils for cleansing power and scent. Preserved with 1,2-hexanediol and sodium benzoate. Ideal for oily skin. Formulator note: high essential oil load poses sensitization risks for sensitive skin.
Key ingredients
- 溶剂
- Water/Aqua/Eau
- CLEANSING
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- ANTISTATIC
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- HUMECTANT
- Butylene Glycol
- BINDING
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- FRAGRANCE
- Lavandula Angustifolia OilCitrus Limon Peel Oil
- ANTI-SEBORRHEIC
- Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Other ingredients
Melissa Officinalis Leaf ExtractCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilCymbopogon Nardus OilGlycerinCocamidopropyl BetaineSodium CocoamphoacetateHydroxyacetophenoneCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine1,2-HexanediolCaprylyl GlycolPropanediolCitric AcidO-Cymen-5-OlDisodium EDTAPPG-5-Ceteth-20Sodium HydroxideSodium Benzoate
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water/Aqua/Eau | 溶剂 | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate | CLEANSING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 3 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · – | Green |
| Butylene Glycol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyethylcellulose | BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lavandula Angustifolia Oil | FRAGRANCE, TONIC · 限制 III/360 | 0 · – | Green |
| Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract | ANTI-SEBORRHEIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, FRAGRANCE, MOISTURISING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · – | Green |
| Citrus Limon Peel Oil | FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING · 限制 III/353 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING | 1 · – | Green |
| Cymbopogon Nardus Oil | FRAGRANCE, TONIC | 3 · – | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Cocoamphoacetate | CLEANSING, FOAMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyacetophenone | ANTIOXIDANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| 1,2-Hexanediol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Caprylyl Glycol | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Propanediol | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| O-Cymen-5-Ol | ANTIMICROBIAL, DEODORANT, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/38 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| PPG-5-Ceteth-20 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Sodium Benzoate | ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/1 | 0 · – | Yellow |
Ingredients explained
- Water/Aqua/Eau
- Primary aqueous solvent and carrier; no specific incompatibilities, focus on microbial stability.
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Sulfate surfactant at 1–5%; strong cleansing, may cause dryness/irritation
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Mild anionic surfactant for cleansing and emulsification; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin
- Butylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.
- Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
- Fragrance essential oil, 0.1–1%; contains allergens, patch test required.
- Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
- Quillaia saponaria bark extract, cleansing foaming agent; contains natural saponins, potentially allergenic, strong foaming but moderate mildness.
- Citrus Limon Peel Oil
- Lemon peel oil for fragrance/skin conditioning; contains allergens, mind phototoxicity and compliance
- Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
- Lemon balm extract for soothing; volatile oils, low allergy risk, light sensitive.
- Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
- Bergamot essential oil, natural fragrance and photosensitizer; limit daytime use or use FCF grade
- Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
- Essential oil for fragrance; high allergen risk, must be labeled, risk of dermatitis
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Cocamidopropyl betaine; zwitterionic co-surfactant reducing irritation and boosting foam, common in mild cleansers.
- Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
- Mild amphoteric surfactant at 0.5–5%; low irritation, suitable for sensitive skin, often paired with anionics.
- Hydroxyacetophenone
- Hydroxyacetophenone as antioxidant; often boosts Vitamin C, works in acidic pH.
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- Mild amino acid amphoteric surfactant for cleansing and foam boosting; low irritation, biodegradable
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol
- Propanediol
- Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- O-Cymen-5-Ol
- Antioxidant and antimicrobial; low levels for preservation; irritating at high concentrations, restricted use.
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- PPG-5-Ceteth-20
- Not decoded yet
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-20. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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