Skin type: Normal to oily, sensitive and acne-prone
Greetings everyone,
Today’s review is on a clay cleanser from the well-known skin care brand Dermalogica. Currently, I am having full-size variants of a gel and a mousse cleanser but, I had to buy one for the travelling purpose. And, the search landed me upon the Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser. When I read the claims and ingredients of the products, without any second thoughts, I ordered this cleanser. This is the first time I am using a clay-based cleanser and, I’m going to buy the full-size bottle soon. So, let’s read it further to know how it fared me.
Price: INR 610 for 30 ml
Product Description:
Deep-cleansing clay formula purifies oily skin. Water-soluble Kaolin and Green clays combine with purifying extracts of Sambucus, Ivy and Lemon to remove excess oils and refine the skin’s texture. Calming Cucumber and Sage soothe, while refreshing Menthol revitalizes even the most tired skin. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.
• Provides deep-cleansing for oily, congested skin.
• Unique clay formula removes debris and absorbs excess oils.
• Soothing Menthol has a cooling sensation on skin.
How to use:
Following the application of PreCleanse, apply to dampened face and throat, massaging with damp fingers in light, upward strokes. Concentrate on any areas of congestion and impurities. Rinse with warm water. Follow with Multi-Active Toner and prescribed Dermalogica Moisturizer.
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Kaolin, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Illite, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf/Root Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/ Root Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Trioleate, Menthol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
My Experience with Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser:
Packaging: Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser comes housed in a small opaque white coloured bottle with a press top cap. All the detailing over the bottle is in grey colour. Coming to the product-related information, only the ingredients list is mentioned in detail, and the packaging bears no additional information. Maybe, because of the small size, no other information could be adjusted over the bottle. It comes in three size variants, and the 30ml size is the smallest one. The 30ml variant is quite compact and can be kept in a handbag, thus it makes the cleanser perfect for travelling with. Overall, the packaging is quite simple and sturdy.
Texture and fragrance: Being a clay-based cleanser, I assumed it to be on the thicker side with butter-like feel. However, on the contrary to my belief, the Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser has a thin but not runny consistency and a super smooth texture. It spreads easily over the damp as well as dry skin. Coming to the fragrance, it smells pleasant as well as unpleasant but, one can feel it only while using the cleanser. On application, one can feel an extremely unpleasant smell but, the moment you start working with the cleanser, the fragrance is mild and pleasant with the hints of methanol and citrus fragrances. It lingers for a few more minutes, even after washing the face and neck.
Usage/results: I take a tiny amount of the clay cleanser and spread it over my damp skin. Later, I work with a lighter hand in upward strokes. Well, it is a bit difficult to work with a cleanser in upward strokes, especially when you are used to working in circular motions. Nevertheless, it is not so difficult when you keep using it regularly. Dermalogica dermal clay cleanser is meant for extremely oily skin, and I don’t have an extremely oily skin. Thus, I tend to use this cleanser only once a day, not letting it over dry my skin, that too preferably at night. Before incorporating this cleanser in my cleansing routine, I was using Vichy Normaderm Purifying Gel and Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Mousse Cleanser alternatively.
Both of them are great cleansers but, when it comes to controlling the excess oil, they don’t seem to have their effect for more than an hour or so. Earlier, in the starting, I used to cleanse my face in the morning with a clay-based cleanser. It effectively controls the oil secretion for an appreciable amount of time. After using it in the morning, I don’t have to use a facial wipe or blotting paper in between, till the evening. Seeing such positive effects, I started to use it as my night time cleanser. Due to medical conditions, I’m not able to sleep or stay in a cooler room for a longer time. It makes my skin super oily in the summer nights and, I wake up with tiny zits in the morning. However, when I use this cleanser in the night time, it keeps the excessive oil secretion in control, till the next morning and, I don’t wake up with tiny zits anymore. Only my nose feels a little oily, but the whole face remains oil-free. Even if I wake up with tiny zits all over my face, I use this cleanser as it treats them in a single usage itself.
Coming to the application, as soon as I apply the cleanser over my damp skin, an unpleasant fragrance welcomes my nose. The fragrance is quite unbearable, but thanks to Dermalogica, it doesn’t last longer. I don’t know why I’m getting products with such unbearable fragrances, nowadays. Working with upward strokes doesn’t irritate or disrupt my skin. Rather, it provides a super cooling sensation to the skin. Since it is a soap-free cleanser, it does not create foam, but lathers very easily.
Rinsing off the cleanser is very easy and, it becomes super easy with the use of warm water. It does not leave any residue behind. After rinsing, it feels like as if I kept ice cubes all over the face for that 20 seconds or I had put my face in the freezer. This continues to feel for around 15-20 minutes, and I kind of like it. It deeply cleanses the skin and makes it super radiant. The best part is that the radiance stays for a much longer time. When I was using this cleanser in the morning, it kept my skin radiant all day long. The cleanser does not feel drying on the skin; rather it keeps the skin moisturised, soft and bouncy, that too, without following up with a moisturiser. My skin usually has at least one under the skin bump that is quite difficult to treat and takes at least a week to vanish. Before using this cleanser, there were two under the skin bumps, which were treated within 3 days. It cleanses the pores very efficiently and keeps them unclogged while preventing the breakouts. Not only this, it also starts clearing up the already congested skin from the very first day.
Overall, this clay cleanser from the Dermalogica has improved and refined my skin. This is specially designed for extremely oily skin, but it can do wonders for combination skin if the usage is kept limited. However, the initial fragrance is unbearable but, if you want a skin care product free from artificial fragrance then, you cannot complain about this. It cleanses the skin and makes it radiant. This cleanser wonderfully refines the skin texture and cleanses the congested pores. Whenever you buy a skin care product, nothing can make you happier than a product living up to its claims. Additionally, all the Dermalogica cleansers are soap-free and balance your skin’s pH.
A quick tip from Dermalogica: This cleanser can double up as a refreshing face masque as well if you are in a hurry. However, I couldn’t keep it on my skin for more than 30 seconds to 1 minute because of the overpowering fragrance. As I stated earlier, the unpleasant fragrance does not disappear until I start working in upward motions so, it’s difficult for my nose to bear it.
Pros of Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser:
- Available in three sizes.
- Only a tiny amount is needed.
- Spreads easily over the skin.
- Does not dry/irritate the skin.
- Soap-free cleanser.
- Balances skin’s pH.
- Imparts a radiance to skin.
- Clears the skin and pores.
- Refines the pores.
- Smoothens out the skin.
- Reduces the breakouts.
- Treats tiny zits in a single usage.
- Controls oil for good 6 hours and more.
- Provides a cooling sensation.
- Perfect blend of menthol and citrus fragrances.
- Results are quite long lasting.
Cons of Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser:
- Initially smells strong and unpleasant.
IMBB Rating: 5/5
Will I Recommend/Repurchase Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser?
Yes, I will definitely recommend this. If you have combination or oily skin suffering from the issues of oil secretion, zits and pores, then this is a good product to try. It has made my skin look so good and almost perfect in just 20 days. I am going to buy its full-size variant sooner.
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