From sheer daily hydration to a rich cream, four Dermalogica moisturizers offer different textures and formula priorities. Compare skin-type guidance, ingredients and feel before choosing.
4 of 4 moisturizers
Sheer daily moisturizer / 1.7 oz
A sheer daily moisturizer for normal, combination and oily skin. Dermalogica describes it as oil-free and non-greasy, with a Prebiotic Moisture Complex and botanical extracts for surface dehydration and texture. Choose it when you want moisture without the feel of a richer cream.
Daily cream / 1.7 oz
A creamier daily moisturizer for normal, dry and combination skin. Its hyaluronic acid complex helps hold moisture, while grape seed extract supports the formula’s antioxidant focus. It suits someone shopping for a more cushioning cream to address dryness or dehydration.
Rich cream / 1.7 oz
A rich cream for normal to dry skin, especially when it feels depleted or dehydrated. Hyaluronic acid forms draw and hold moisture, while ceramide NP and other lipids support a barrier-focused formula.
Water-burst cream / 1.7 oz
A water-burst cream for dehydration and visible signs of skin aging. It pairs moisture-binding ingredients with peptides and collagen amino acids, giving it a different formula focus from the three daily moisturizers. Its water-burst texture offers an alternative to a conventional rich cream.
Try another skin concern, texture or formula focus.
Skin-type guidance comes from the published product information. Check the current formula if you have known sensitivities.
Compare skin fit, texture and formula details before you choose.
Sheer daily moisturizer / 1.7 oz
A sheer daily moisturizer for normal, combination and oily skin. Dermalogica describes it as oil-free and non-greasy, with a Prebiotic Moisture Complex and botanical extracts for surface dehydration and texture. Choose it when you want moisture without the feel of a richer cream.
Check current priceat DermstoreDaily cream / 1.7 oz
A creamier daily moisturizer for normal, dry and combination skin. Its hyaluronic acid complex helps hold moisture, while grape seed extract supports the formula’s antioxidant focus. It suits someone shopping for a more cushioning cream to address dryness or dehydration.
Check current priceat DermstoreActive Moist: sheer, oil-free moisture for normal to oily skin. Skin Smoothing: a cushioning daily cream for normal to dry skin.
9 of 9 details shown
No differences in this category.
Highlighted ingredients are not complete formulas. Check the current label for anything you avoid.
Both include combination skin in Dermalogica’s guidance. Active Moist is sheer and oil-free; Skin Smoothing Cream is more cushioning for dryness. See the detailed comparison below.
Skin Smoothing Cream is a daily cream; Intensive Moisture Balance takes a richer, barrier-lipid-focused approach for dry skin.
Pro-Collagen Banking Water Cream has a water-burst feel and a peptide focus. Compare that texture with the richer creams if dehydration is your main concern.
These comparisons use published product information, not hands-on testing. Prices and formulas can change.
Lightweight moisture or a richer cream? Dermalogica recommends Active Moist for normal to oily skin and Skin Smoothing Cream for normal to dry skin. Both suit combination skin in the brand's guidance; texture and ingredients help separate them.
1.7 oz / 50 ml
This sheer moisturizer adds daily hydration without a heavy cream feel. Dermalogica recommends it for normal, combination and oily skin and describes it as oil-free and non-greasy. Saccharide isomerate helps hold moisture, while hydrolyzed jojoba esters help condition the skin.
Check current priceat Dermstore1.7 oz / 50 ml
This creamier moisturizer is made for dryness and dehydration, with a hyaluronic acid complex to help hold moisture. Dermalogica recommends it for normal, dry and combination skin. Choose it when a more cushioning cream appeals more than Active Moist's sheer finish.
Check current priceat Dermstore16 of 16 details shown
No details match these filters.
Both creams combine moisture-binding and skin-softening ingredients. See what they share, what changes, and what each ingredient does.
12 of 12 ingredients shown
Skin-softening emollient
Softens skin and helps give a cream a smooth spread.
Both moisturizers use this lightweight fat component. It helps explain why even an oil-free moisturizer can have a soft, creamy feel.
Humectant and solvent
Helps hold moisture and dissolve other ingredients.
This shared supporting ingredient contributes to hydration in both creams. It does not, by itself, indicate which cream will feel richer.
Source: COSMILE Europe: Butylene Glycol
Skin-softening silicone
Adds slip and leaves skin feeling smooth.
Both formulas use dimethicone. It can make a cream glide across skin without requiring a heavy oily finish.
Source: COSMILE Europe: Dimethicone
Fatty alcohol and texture helper
Softens skin and helps give creams their body.
This fatty alcohol supports a stable, spreadable cream. It is a different kind of ingredient from denatured alcohol.
Source: COSMILE Europe: Cetearyl Alcohol
Sugar-derived humectant
Helps bind water for skin hydration.
This ingredient is in both creams, even though Dermalogica emphasizes Active Moist's prebiotic moisture complex and Skin Smoothing Cream's hyaluronic acid complex differently.
Skin-conditioning jojoba derivative
Helps condition skin and form a light surface film.
This is one of Active Moist's distinguishing skin-conditioning ingredients. COSMILE describes both conditioning and film-forming functions for it.
Hyaluronic acid humectant
Binds water to help keep skin hydrated.
This is one of the two hyaluronic acid forms that distinguish Skin Smoothing Cream's moisture approach.
Hyaluronic acid skin conditioner
Helps skin hold moisture and feel smooth.
Skin Smoothing Cream pairs this form with sodium hyaluronate. Together they explain its hyaluronic acid focus.
Botanical antioxidant
Provides antioxidant support in Skin Smoothing Cream.
Dermalogica groups grape seed with vitamin C and E derivatives for antioxidant care. It is one part of the formula's antioxidant focus.
Source: Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream
Botanical skin conditioner
Helps support a hydrated, comfortable skin feel.
Both products contain cucumber extract. Dermalogica highlights it with other botanicals, so it does not set one cream apart from the other.
Source: Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream
Botanical skin conditioner
Contributes to Skin Smoothing Cream's botanical conditioning blend.
Dermalogica groups arnica with mallow and cucumber to describe its soothing botanical blend. Check the full formula if you have known botanical sensitivities.
Source: Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream
Fragrance-related constituent
Contributes scent and may matter to fragrance-sensitive shoppers.
Linalool can occur in fragrant botanicals. Its presence in both creams is useful to check if it is a known personal trigger.
Source: COSMILE Europe: Linalool
No ingredients match.
These are selected ingredients, not complete formulas. Formulas can change; check the current package if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
Dermalogica lists combination skin for both. Start with the feel you want: Active Moist is the sheer, oil-free choice, while Skin Smoothing Cream is creamier and more focused on dryness. Texture may be the deciding factor.
Its online formula names two hyaluronic acid forms that Active Moist's list does not name. That is a useful formula difference when comparing the two.
Both formulas contain linalool and fragrant botanicals. If you avoid a known fragrance ingredient, compare the current package with your own trigger list before choosing either cream.
Use the retailer links for the same 1.7 oz / 50 ml size, then confirm the selected variant, current price, availability and delivery cost. Use the current retailer listing for the final comparison.
Compare the 1.7 oz / 50 ml size at Dermstore.
Product details checked 20 October 2026. Ingredient explanations link to their sources. Check the current pack and retailer listing for formula, size and price.
Explore guides to older product versions.