Formulated for oily and combination skin types, the Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser (£35) does a bang up job at absorbing all the gunk in your pores and excess oil on the surface of your skin thanks to kaolin clay and activated charcoal. But just because it's ultra-cleansing doesn't mean it's ultra-harsh. Quite the opposite, in fact.
The charcoal-grey cream contains botanical lipids and murumuru seed to keep the skin soft. It also contains prebiotics, which are basically like fertiliser for the good bacteria that lives in your skin's microbiome — the invisible layer in and on our skin that contains over 1 trillion types of bacteria that help fight infections, combat environmental damage, regulate pH levels, and keep our skin nice and glowy. When the good bacteria is balanced and thriving on your skin, it keeps the bad bacteria in check, meaning less inflammation and fewer spots. Use the Active Clay Cleanser as a face wash, or like a purifying mask, letting it sit on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.