All About Acids: How Eucerin Is Harnessing Their Power To Clear Up Oily, Blemish-Prone Skin

We’ve got a lot to cover today, so I’ll be brief: the Eucerin DermoPURIFYER range for oily skin just had a makeover:

• The formulas are now enriched with exfoliating acids
• Three new products have joined the range: Micellar Water, Skin Renewal Treatment and Mattifying Fluid
• The iconic Cover Stick is back!
• The package is sleeker than ever

This is all very exciting but… does the range deliver? I’ve put it all to the test (on my oily t-zone only cos I knew this stuff wouldn’t work on my dry cheeks). Here’s what happened:

This is all very exciting but… does the range deliver? I’ve put it all to the test (on my oily t-zone only cos I knew this stuff wouldn’t work on my dry cheeks). Here’s what happened:

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Micellar Water

No, heavy foaming cleansers aren’t good for oily skin. I get it you want to degrease your skin but removing too much oil has the opposite effect. It dries out your skin so much, it has no choice but to pump out a lot of sebum to compensate (sebum is skin’s natural moisturizer, remember?).

A gentler way to cleanse skin in the morning is with micellar water. Micellar waters use nonionic surfactants (i.e. gentle detergents) like Poloxamer 124, that remove dirt and excess sebum from your skin without drying it out.

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Micellar Water goes the extra mile because it’s also loaded with humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, that attract water into your skin. It’s another trick to keep your skin soft and moisturised without adding more oil to it.

This is one of my fave products from the range and one of the two (the other is the Skin Renewal Treatment) I used all over my face. It left my skin fresh, clean and soft. 

Related: How Do Micellar Waters Work?

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Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Cleansing Gel

If you don’t like the idea of micellar waters, Eucerin DermoPurifyuer Oil Control Cleansing Gel is another gentle cleanser for oily skin. It’s a lightweight, not that thick gel that barely foams when you mix it water.

This gel cleanser uses gentle surfactants (like sodium cocoamphoacetate) that strips away only excess oil, not all the oil. It leaves enough behind for your skin not to throw a drying tantrum. Plus, it gets rid of dirt and makeup, too.

This leaves my skin clean from grime yet soft to the touch. I don’t get that squeaky clean, tight feeling that tells me the cleanser has compromised my skin’s protective barrier.

The packaging’s just had a makeover, by the way. It now comes in a pump bottle.

Related: Are Foaming Cleansers Bad For Skin?

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Scrub

If you’re a regular here, you know that I’m not a big fan of scrubs. I much prefer chemical exfoliation.

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Scrub has a small amount of lactic acid, but I doubt it’s enough to do the job. It’s the wood pulp that does the heavy lifting and exfoliates skin.

At least it isn’t harsh on the skin. One of the reasons why I don’t like scrubs is that they sometimes use jarred particles that tear skin. This scrub doesn’t do that.

It doesn’t exfoliate the pores from within either. Wood pulp or lactic acid can’t do this. This is a job for salicylic acid. Personally, I’d rather Eucerin had ditched the scrub and brought out only a chemical exfoliant with salicylic acid. That would have benefited skin a lot more. But I know that scrubs have their loyal following….

Still, you’ll get some decent exfoliation from this. That wood pulp gets rid of the dead cells on the surface of your skin so they won’t end up in your pores and clog them up. It also left my skin smoother and brighter. 

Related: Why I Prefer Chemical Exfoliation

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Skin Renewal Treatment

Ok, I’ll give them credit. Eucerin did bring out a good exfoliating treatment. DermoPurifyer Oil Control Skin Renewal Treatment is one of the newest additions to the range.

It uses a blend of glycolic acid, gluconolactone, and salicylic acid to exfoliate skin, treat breakouts and prevent them from coming back. They all remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin so your pores won’t get clogged up again.

Glycolic acid and gluconolactone hydrate your skin, too. Salicylic Acid gets deep inside the pores and unclogs them from within. Bye bye blackheads! Bye bye whiteheads! Bye bye pimples!

The treatment has a lightweight texture that sinks in quickly into the skin. You can apply it straight after cleansing and toning (if you use a toner) at night (exfoliants make skin more prone to sun damage during the day).

I alternate this with retinol at night. It makes my skin softer and smoother and helps me keep blackheads and pimples at bay.

As I’m writing this, it’s that time of the month. My chin should be riddled with pimples. Instead, it’s 100% clear. Not even a tiny one made an appearance this time.

Related: Glycolic Acid Vs Salicylic Acid: Which One Should You Choose?

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Toner

I’ll go out and say it: Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Toner is my least fave product from this range (and not just because I don’t particularly like toners in general…)

The second ingredient here is alcohol. Too much alcohol too often can dry out your skin, making it produce more oil to compensate. If you use this, you must moisturise skin well afterwards to keep your skin happy.

Eucerin also added a small amount of lactic acid to provide a gentle exfoliating action. Again, salicylic acid would have been a better choice for  oily skin. Still, lactic acid can help you prevent blemishes. I just wish the toner had more lactic acid than alcohol. Just saying…

My skin is not too oily on my t-zone so I do find this toner was a little too stripping for my skin type. I did like the lightweight texture and the fresh feeling it gave my skin, though.

Related: Is Toner Necessary?

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Adjunctive Soothing Cream

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Adjunctive Soothing Cream is the last new entry in this range. It’s also another flop for me.

The cream has a big dollop of Isopropyl Palmitate, an ingredient that never fails to break me out. This doesn’t mean it’ll break you out, too. If you’ve used it before without problems, there’s no reason why it should give you pimples now.

If your skin is fine with Isopropyl Palmitate, you can use this cream when your acne medication, or even just the colder winter weather, is drying out your skin too much. It’s also good for sensitive, acne-prone skin that needs gentle, tender loving care.

The cream uses a blend of squalane and ceramides, two ingredients that help repair your skin’s protective barrier. Glycerin infuses skin with moisture, keeping it hydrated.

This combo repairs dry and flaky skin and strengthens it against the elements (or harsh acne meds). Yet, the texture is very lightweight and absorbs instantly into the skin.

Related: How To Strengthen Your Skin’s Protective Barrier (And Why It Matters)

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Mattifying Fluid

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Mattifying Fluid is another gem with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid doesn’t just unclog pores and exfoliates skin. It also helps regulate oil production so you don’t look like a shiny frying pan all day. It also uses tapioca starch, which can absorb perspiration (in case you sweat too much too).

I have to say I like it more for its exfoliating than oil-absorbing properties. It does help with excess oil but if your skin is super oily, this alone won’t be enough.

Again, the texture is lightweight and oily-skin friendly. It layers well under foundation, too.

Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is Key To Spot-Free Skin

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Concealer Stick

I know a lot of you are excited that the Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Concealer Stick is finally back!

I admit I didn’t have the chance to test it too much because all this exfoliation has kept my skin in such good condition, I’ve barely had a pimple lately.

In any case, I don’t think this would work for me because the shade is way too dark and a tad orangey for my skin tone. But if it’s a good match for you, it does a good job at covering pimples. The texture isn’t the creamiest but it blends well.

Plus, it easily fits into your handbag and is so practical to reapply on-the-go!

Price & Availability

Micellar Water, £9.50; Skin Renewal Treatment, £14.00; Mattifying Fluid, £12; Scrub, £9.20; Toner, £9.20; Cleansing Gel, £9.20; Cover Stick, £9.20; Adjunctive Soothing Cream, £9.20 at Escentual and Feel Unique

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.