Dermalogica is a US brand founded in 1986 by Jane Wurwand, a professional skin therapist. It’s one of the most well-known companies in the world, available in over 80 countries, with over 300 beauty awards and recommended by over 100.000 therapists.

NOTE: Dermalogica clear start kit is the updated version of Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Kit. Both kits contain the same 5 products, it’s merely a change of packaging.

The kit is comprised of 5 following bottles:

1. Clear Start Foaming Wash – Active Ingredient – salicylic acid 0.5%. The Foaming Wash acts as a cleanser and removes dust, excess oil, debris and dead skin cells, while unclogging pores and preventing future breakouts. Other ingredients like Tea Tree, Lavender and Camellia Sinensis soothe and calm irritation, while the Orange Peel Extract revitalizes and refreshes the skin.

2. Clear Start All Over Toner – Active Ingredient – salicylic acid 1.0%. Formulated with similar natural ingredients as the Foaming Wash, All Over Toner further exfoliates the skin from excess oil and reduces breakouts, while Argan and Lavender soothe redness, and Lemongrass refreshes the skin.

3. Clear Start Daytime Treatment – Active Ingredient – benzoyl peroxide 2.5%. The Daytime Treatment spray eliminates acne causing bacteria with the help of benzoyl peroxide. Other ingredients like Lavender and Cucumber Extracts soothe and calm the skin.

4. Clear Start Matte Moisturizer – Active Ingredient – Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octisalate. The Matte Moisturizer acts as sunscreen and protects from UV rays during daytime, while also minimizing oil production, reducing oily shine and keeping the skin hydrated thanks to botanical ingredients like Licorice, Birch and Willow.

5. Clear Start Overnight Treatment – Active Ingredient – salicylic acid 2%. As you sleep, salicylic acid further unclogs pores and reduces breakouts, while Cucumber and Licorice combat redness and protect the skin.

The apparent downside of the kit is it’s size and tiny bottles, which make the whole thing rather pricey. The bigger versions of the bottles are sold separately, and are in the range of $15-30 each for 60 -120ml bottles.

The Dermalogica clear start kit is designed primarily for teenagers and combats mild to moderate acne breakouts. It’s been clinically tested and approved for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

It’s important to follow the usage directions correctly to avoid any unwanted side effects and achieve maximum effect, particularly when it comes to skincare products. Here is how you should use Dermalogica clear start kit:

1. The correct order is the following: Foaming Wash, All Over Toner, Daytime Treatment, Matte Moisturizer, Overnight Treatment.
2. Apply a small amount of the Foaming Wash over the face, neck and back as needed. Rub the substance with your fingers using gentle, circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. Pat dry and leave the face a bit damp. Avoid eye areas. Can be performed morning and night.
3. Spray All Over Tone on the face, neck and back as needed to combat breakouts. Avoid eye areas. Let it absorb for 5-8 minutes. Can be used morning and night.
4. Apply a small amount of Daytime Treatment to affected areas. Let sit for 5-8 minutes.
5. Apply a small amount of Matte Moisturizer to all areas that you treated previously.
6. Perform the cleansing (2) and toning (3) procedures before bedtime. Apply a thin layer of Overnight Treatment and let it absorb for 8-10 minutes to avoid discoloration and bleaching of bed sheets.

Here is a great video of a young woman explaining the proper routine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHYLq4Cr2w4

While there are no concrete notes as to how fast the product starts producing results, all benzoyl peroxide containing products are generally quick to show improvements. The time can greatly depend on each individual who uses the product, but generally, it takes from 5 days to 6-8 weeks to completely clear the skin. Some customers have reported the kit to make wonders after a week of consistent use (see customer reviews).

The Customer reviews of Dermalogica Clear Start Kit are generally positive, and while there aren’t that many on Amazon or their official website to objectively assess the effectiveness, customers are pleased with the results, even when dealing with hormonal acne. That being said, some mild allergic reactions have been noted, as cases when the kit produced little to no effect.

In case you aren’t able to get your hands on Dermalogica Clear Start Kit for some reason, here are two great alternatives that you can consider:

1. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Acne Kit ($46 on official website, 20% discount)

The kit is designed to combat mild to moderate acne breakouts. The active ingredient is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide which eliminates acne causing bacteria, paired with 2% salicylic acid, which unclogs pores and exfoliates the skin.

A more affordable option compared to Dermalogica clear start kit (for almost the same price you get a Cleanser (177ml), Exfoliator (118ml) and Spot Treatment (67ml)) coming from a reputable brand, Paula’s Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Acne Kit enjoys a solid 4.5 star user rating on Amazon with around 70 reviewers.

Be careful not to confuse this with Paula’s Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Acne Kit designed for severe acne. These are two different products and won’t work the same! The latter contains 5% benzoyl peroxide, which can be too harsh for sensitive skin, and mild acne breakouts.

Here is a great, detailed customer review on how Paula’s Choice helped a young woman deal with severe, hormonal, cystic acne:

2. Neutrogena Complete Acne Therapy System ($17.85, 5% discount on Amazon)

Neutrogena Complete Acne Therapy System kit contains three products – Cleanser (where the active ingredient is salicylic acid), moisturizer and Acne Control Lotion (where the active ingredient is benzoyl peroxide).

The kit is designed to reduce inflammation, cure and prevent future breakouts, as well as eliminate acne causing bacteria. The product suits all skin types and combats mild to moderate acne.

The customer reviews are reassuring (the product enjoy a solid 4 star user rating on Amazon with over 700 reviewers), and although mild allergic reactions have been reported by some users, it’s a complaint that can be found on the reviews page of any skincare product.