Does Dermalogica’s Iconic Face Exfoliating Powder *Actually* Give Smoother Skin?
Main Image – Dermalogica
During a painful bout of acne around a year ago, I was kindly sent the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (£65/$66) to try and combat it. It’s a facial exfoliant but probably not one you’re necessarily used to – it’s a powder that you simply mix with water.
Would it brighten up my skin and clear up breakouts as promised? And could I actually use it every day, despite having areas of skin sensitivity and uncomfortable breakouts?
Keep scrolling to read my honest verdict.
The product details
This rice-based powder contains acne-fighting AHAs, salicylic acid, white tea, liquorice, oatmeal and rice bran and it activates upon contact with water. The idea is that you mix the powder and water together and tada! You’ve got yourself a homemade facial scrub that is gentle enough to use every day and that specifically helps acne-prone skin.
It comes in a few different sizes (two in the UK, three in the US) – 13g, 40g, and 74g – and there are refills also available.
Image – Courtesy of writer
First impressions
My 74g bottle may seem on the small side for something that’s meant to be used daily, and I did initially exclaim to myself, “well this won’t last long”. But then you realise as you sprinkle out the product that it is literally just full of powder. Imagine having a 74g bottle of salt. It would last for ages.
I measured out half a teaspoon of powder into my wet hands, as instructed, and watched as it became a white-ish paste when I rubbed my hands together.
While applying it to my face, I must admit, I was a little disappointed in the smell. Disclaimer: it really doesn’t smell good. Not bad enough to put me off using it, but all I’m saying is – just don’t expect a party for your senses when you first smell it.
As I applied it in circular motions around my face, I could feel the abrasion of the powder but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just enough to know it was working.
To me, there’s nothing more frustrating in skincare than using a facial exfoliator that doesn’t feel like it’s actually scrubbing. That’s what standard cleansers are for and, damn it, I came here for the pore-digging grit! Having said that, I would say this was a mild exfoliator.
On my skin, it simply looked like a white paste as I massaged it around my face, but it was easy enough to remove with water too – you may need to give it a helping hand as you splash, though, as the paste becomes quite thick. So, massage as you splash and it’ll come off.
Afterwards, my skin felt clean and smooth and it definitely looked brighter. My breakouts were obviously still there but they had clearly been buffed and looked less angry. Bonus.
Image – Courtesy of writer
My ongoing results
I have come to enjoy the element of sprinkling powder into my hands which magically reacts with water to form a skin scrub. I feel a little bit like a lab scientist.
I no longer measure out half a teaspoon like I religiously did the first few times. You soon come to know what half a teaspoon looks like in your hand (and – psst – it doesn’t really matter if you use too little or too much).
My biggest surprise is that, personally, this stuff really is gentle enough to use every day. Usually, I would only use a chemical exfoliator daily as it is gentler. And the physical side of scrubbing can irritate my skin if I do it too much.
But because of the ‘micro’ sized exfoliants in this powder, it isn’t too abrasive on my skin and, whilst I do use it every day, I can use as little or as much as I want depending on the status of my skin.
What I would stress is that you should always start slowly with a product like this. Just because it says you can use it every day might not work for you – everyone’s skin is different. So work your way up to it gradually, to test out its compatibility with your skin.
The other thing I’ve discovered is that I can add some to my daily cleanser too. This dilutes its effectiveness a little but also saves time and means that if I don’t feel like doing a scrub that day, at least I can add a little to my cleanser and know that I’ve given my skin a subtle buff. The sprinkle element is genius.
As for my breakouts, they have massively reduced. But (and I’m sorry for this but), I was using the Microfoliant in conjunction with some other acne treatments so, unhelpfully, I’m not actually sure if this particular product made a difference in the long run.
However, you’ll remember that I noticed my spots looking less angry and more smooth right after my first-ever application. This spoke volumes. If it could do that after one use, imagine what it could do after a week, a month, or a year.
Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
Diane on Dermalogica.com agrees with me about the smell. “Why does this smell so awful? I want to like it but smells terrible!” Yeah, the smell isn’t great. But I’ve seen other reviews that say it smells of ‘baby spit up’ which I wholeheartedly disagree with! The smell is quite ‘earthy’ which is probably as a result of its natural ingredients. Don’t buy it for the smell, buy it for the smooth, brighter skin!
Steinberg says, “game changer. I have combination skin and I am prone to hormonal acne and have clogged pores. This is a godsend! Use daily!” And Jessica W says, “Great product. I’ve seen a difference in my enlarged pores within a week. I use it 2x a day on most days. Very satisfied!”
Overall value for money
At £65/$66 yes, this is a lot to spend on a facial exfoliator. But I haven’t needed to buy a top-up yet and I find it a really useful product to have in my bathroom.
While the instructions tell you to mix half a teaspoon with water every day and apply directly from there, you can really use it however you like to save money. For example, sprinkle a little in with your cleanser for a subtle scrub, or figure out if you even need to use it every day. Every other day might be enough for your skin, so make it work for you.
And remember, there are smaller sizes available if you want to be cautious.
The takeaway
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant has become a staple in my skincare regime. My skin looks great on it, it doesn’t react negatively to it and it’s easy to use. Plus, I haven’t needed to replace it yet….
I’m not sure if it has helped my acne overall because I was using it with other acne-related products, however, I do know that every time I use it my skin looks brighter and my spots look more chilled.
The price of the full-sized bottle reflects the ingredients and its longevity. It’s an investment for sure. But not many products enable you to physically exfoliate – gently – every single day.
Add some to your cleanser if you want to use less and/or have an even gentler scrubbing experience. Or, go for it in the palm of your hand and mix it with water. Either way, I can almost guarantee you’ll experience frequently buffed, smoothed skin.
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