Review: Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50
Written By Jenny Wu on
As a working gal, it’s important to me to be able to get ready quickly in the mornings, so I appreciate products that multitask and can save me time.
Unfortunately most day moisturizers on the market now have laughably low SPF, so when I saw that the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recover contained SPF 50, I was immediately impressed.
Quick look
What is it
Broad Spectrum moisturizer helps combat the appearance of skin aging. Help minimize the appearance of skin aging with this medium-weight, emollient daily moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 50
How I use it
In the mornings after my serum. This product doubles both as a moisturizer and sunscreen, saving time in the process! Great for those who like an efficient routine
Best suited for
Normal/dry skin types as this is quite rich. Oily/combo skin types (mine when I originally reviewed this) will find it too thick and heavy.
Things to note
Is scented with floral essential oils.
Packaging
An airless pump dispenser keeps the ingredients fresh and is easy to use. Aesthetics are subjective, but you can never go wrong with airless pumps.
Scent
A strong floral scent. I’m not a fan personally, and strong fragrances can be sensitizing for some people, so keep this in mind if you’re one of those people.
Texture
A medium-heavy weight cream that’s quite rich. However it blends easily on the skin and absorbs fairly quickly.
Finish
My combo skin at the time saw noticeable shine that only got worse as the day went on.
Available For
$75/1.7oz on Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon
Ingredient Analysis
Other ingredients: Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Capramide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf/Flower Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Oil, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lecithin, Glucosamine HCL, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysilicone-11, Glycine Soja Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Urea, Galactoarabinan, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 60, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Eugenol, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, CI 77891
full ingredients analysis
As a moisturizer, this has a good mix of ingredients:
- Peptides for anti-aging.
- Green tea extract and vitamin e for antioxidants, important as antioxidants can further protect your skin against UV damage!
- Squalane, safflower oleosomes, sunflower oil, hyaluronic acid, urea, glycerin, and algae extract to moisturize.
- Licorice root extract to soothe.
As a sunscreen, it uses Avobenzone for UVA protection and Octinoxate for UVB protection. The issue with both is that they’re both unstable and can break down when exposed to sunlight…which kinda defeat their purpose.
Want to learn more about sunscreens? This post is your ultimate guide.
Typically they’ll be paired with other filters to stabilize them, which sadly is not the case here. Instead the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 features Dimethyl Capramide and Galactoarabinan which can both improve sunscreen performance. However no mentions of stability, and the studies were done by the manufacturers.
So from looking at the ingredients, this looks like a promising moisturizer but questionable sunscreen.
Usage experience
Per the original review date, I tried this years ago when I had combination skin, and here are my thoughts from back then:
Unlike my usual moisturizer + sunscreen combo, my skin felt a bit weighed down with this one, and I could feel that the product was too rich for my skin. This was confirmed when my face got shiny just after a few hours – usually I can last until after lunch!
I’ve tried using less product, but the oiliness persisted. If I used any less, I would be concerned that my skin isn’t getting the SPF it needs. Oh the conundrum! :(
I really wanted to like this product, but sadly my combination skin just does NOT agree with it. Not to mention, the use of limited UV filters with no stabilizers make me question the efficacy of its sun protection abilities. This is why I much prefer using a separate moisturizer and sunscreen.
Final Verdict
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Packaging
8.5
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Ingredients
8
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Texture/Application
7
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Performance
6
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Price
7
This was a utter fail during the summer time, and even in the drier winter months it was still too oily for my combination skin. This can be a good fit for those with dry skin, though I can only imagine how heavy this must be when you apply the correct amount to get the labeled SPF protection.
For $75, you can find much better moisturizer and sunscreen combos that will properly moisturize and protect you against UVA + UVB rays. Yes the texture was unpleasant, but the true deal breaker for me is the questionable UV protection here.
Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.
Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨
Comments & Questions
Foodie Force
Dermalogica is a wonderful brand I really enjoy using many of their products. As someone with sensitive skin I have to be careful what I use. The fact that this has Spf built in this is definitely on the list to try Lucy x
Arnabh Chatterjee
Can u please help me with an alternative to Dermalogica Age Smart Dynamic Skin Repair Spf50
Jenny Wu
I've reviewed a lot of other sunscreens on this blog.