Dermalogica flashfoliant - TEST

Dermalogica flashfoliant - TEST

Efficacy83/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Anti-blemish
Salicylic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“Salicylic Acid, a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), helps wipe out existing and future breakouts to clear skin.”
Source: Dermalogica

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

Salicylic acidHeroEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)0.5%
Exfoliation
Salicylic acid, Vitis vinifera juice extract
Works well
What the product description says
“This leave-on, flash-foaming exfoliant helps clear and prevent breakouts.”
Source: Dermalogica

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)0.5%
Vitis vinifera juice extractEffect: LowContains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content~3.6–4.5%
Evens skin tone
Vitis vinifera juice extract, Salicylic acid
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Tangerine Peel Extract brightens dull skin while Grape Extract – a potent source of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) – exfoliates dead skin cells to help even skin tone.”
Source: Dermalogica

This product might help improve the skin tone through exfoliation. In other words, it helps to speed up the shedding of cells from the upper layer of the skin, and this might help reduce hyperpigmentation.

Vitis vinifera juice extractEffect: LowContains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content~3.6–4.5%
Salicylic acidEffect: LowUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)0.5%
Moisturizing
Not advertised by the brand · Helianthus annuus seed oil, Butylene glycol + 1 more
Works

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: helianthus annuus seed oil.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

Helianthus annuus seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function~0.6–0.9%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~9.4–11.5%
Vitis vinifera juice extractEffect: LowContains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content~3.6–4.5%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
10 strong irritants: Gaultheria procumbens leaf extract, Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil + 8 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 15 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Salicylic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)High0.5%
Citrus aurantium dulcis oilUsed as a fragrance. It can be irritating and cause photosensitivityHigh~0.6–0.9%est.
Citrus reticulata peel extractA likely irritant. Might have some anti-oxidant activity, but is mostly used as a fragrance in cosmetic productsHigh~0.55–0.8%est.
Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oilAn essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.5–0.75%est.
Citrus limon peel oilA highly irritating fragranceHigh~0.35–0.6%est.
Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oilA plant oil with a high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin and lead to allergic reactions. Can lead to photosensitivityHigh~0.25–0.45%est.
Citrus paradisi peel oilUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.25%est.
Santalum album oilUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.
Citrus aurantifolia peel oil—High~0.15–0.25%est.
Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oilHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~4.5–5.5%est.
Vitis vinifera juice extractContains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar contentMedium~3.6–4.5%est.
Juniperus virginiana oilCedarwood oil. Used as a fragrance. Can be irritatingMedium~0.25–0.45%est.
HydroxyacetophenoneUsed to increase effectiveness of preservativesMedium~0.1–0.2%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Salicylic acid0.5%
Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishExfoliationAnti-inflammatoryAntibacterialEvens skin tone

Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)

More about Salicylic acid
Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Butylene glycol~9.4–11.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil~4.5–5.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil
Vitis vinifera juice extract~3.6–4.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingExfoliationEvens skin tone

Contains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content

More about Vitis vinifera juice extract
Gaultheria procumbens leaf extract~2.5–3%
Irritant · high
Thuja occidentalis leaf oil~1.8–2.2%
Formula
Cupressus sempervirens oil~1.9–2.3%
Formula
Juniperus communis fruit oil~1.6–1.9%
Formula
Jasminum sambac flower extract~1.4–1.7%
Formula
Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil~1.2–1.4%
Irritant · high
Ferula galbaniflua resin oil~0.8–1.2%
Formula
Mimosa tenuiflora bark extract~0.65–0.95%
Formula
Vanilla planifolia fruit~0.65–0.95%
Formula
Citrus aurantium dulcis oil~0.6–0.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance. It can be irritating and cause photosensitivity

More about Citrus aurantium dulcis oil
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.6–0.9%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Citrus reticulata peel extract~0.55–0.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A likely irritant. Might have some anti-oxidant activity, but is mostly used as a fragrance in cosmetic products

More about Citrus reticulata peel extract
Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil~0.5–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritating

More about Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
Citrus limon peel oil~0.35–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A highly irritating fragrance

More about Citrus limon peel oil
Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil~0.25–0.45%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A plant oil with a high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin and lead to allergic reactions. Can lead to photosensitivity

More about Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil
Juniperus virginiana oil~0.25–0.45%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Cedarwood oil. Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Juniperus virginiana oil
Citrus paradisi peel oil~0.15–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citrus paradisi peel oil
Santalum album oil~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Santalum album oil
Citrus aurantifolia peel oil~0.15–0.25%
Irritant · high
Hydroxyacetophenone~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to increase effectiveness of preservatives

More about Hydroxyacetophenone
Perfluorononylethyl carboxydecyl peg-10 dimethicone~0.1–0.2%
Formula
Sodium hydroxide~0.05–0.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Ingredient list view

Salicylic acid, Water, Butylene glycol, Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Vitis vinifera juice extract, Gaultheria procumbens leaf extract, Thuja occidentalis leaf oil, Cupressus sempervirens oil, Juniperus communis fruit oil, Jasminum sambac flower extract, Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil, Ferula galbaniflua resin oil, Mimosa tenuiflora bark extract, Vanilla planifolia fruit, Citrus aurantium dulcis oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Citrus reticulata peel extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil, Citrus limon peel oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil, Juniperus virginiana oil, Citrus paradisi peel oil, Santalum album oil, Citrus aurantifolia peel oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Perfluorononylethyl carboxydecyl peg-10 dimethicone, Sodium hydroxide

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Dermalogicaflashfoliant - TESTYOUR PRODUCTArtNaturals LUXESalicylic Acid Liquid ExfoliatorNorevaAcnomega 200MuradExclusive Vitamin C Triple Exfoliating Facial Peel
Match—90%89%88%
Price——$24.95$105.88
Shared key ingredients—2 of 22 of 22 of 2
Key difference——Glycolic AcidVitamin C
Irritancy High Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 14 studies and safety reviews.

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Dermalogica flashfoliant - TEST
Dermalogicaflashfoliant - TEST

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