I originally learned about Dermaculture skin care from our Panelist Kiki. She uses the facial shampoo and granular scrub and likes them, so I thought I'd give the line a try.

Created back in 1937, Dermaculture's main selling point is its history, and its celebrity following - they figure since the line has been around for so long and is (supposedly) used by people like Madonna, Jodi Foster, and Bette Midler, it must be good. Selling points aside, I found these products to be completely average and over-priced for what you get. This is not to say that the line is all bad, because it's not - I did enjoy using a couple of the products, but they are very similar to other (less expensive) products I've tried, so I have a hard time recommending them.

Liquid Cleansing Milk ($32.95 for 8 ounces)
This is a basic mineral oil based cleanser that does a great job of removing makeup but can leave an oily feeling on your skin. Even though I tend to like lotion or milky cleansers, this one was too oily for me. If you have really dry skin, you might like it, but I can think of a few other cleansers that are much better for dry skin (Remede Milky Wash, Beauty Without Cruelty Herbal Cream Facial Cleanser, RoC 2 en 1 Demaquillant (Cleanser + Toner In One), and Benefit All Types Wash, to name a few).

Facial Shampoo ($19.95 for 5.8 ounces)
I can't believe how much they are charging for a really ordinary foaming cleanser! This product is made of water, sodium lauryl sulfate (a very commonly used detergent cleansing agent found in the majority of mass market facial cleansers), preservatives, colors and fragrance (and what a perfume-y fragrance it is). It cleaned my face just fine, and removed makeup (just don't get it near your eyes), but it is drying, leaving my skin feeling tight and fairly uncomfortable.

Astringent ($14.95 for 8 ounces)
There are toners at the drugstore and supermarket that will work just as well as this alcohol-based one, for a lot less money. Don't get me wrong - I'm really not *that* hung up on price, except when these cosmetic companies expect us to pay so much for something so ordinary. With two types of alcohol, salicylic acid, and an antiseptic ingredient, this toner is way too strong for my taste.

Granular Scrub ($22.95 for 4 ounce tube)
I'm not sure which ingredient(s) in this scrub was the culprit, but something in here smelled just awful to me! Otherwise, this is a decent scrub made of water, honey, almond meal, white corn meal, barley flour, and talc - surprisingly free of the chemical ingredients in most of Dermaculture's other products. This is yet another of Dermaculture's products that just didn't "wow" me. If you are looking for a good scrub, I can think of several (Youngblood Papaya Enzyme Scrub, Epicuren Discovery Facial Scrub, Kiss My Face Organic Jojoba & Mint Facial Scrub, Remede Sweep) that, in my opinion, do a better job.

Active Exfoliator Lactic Acid Cream ($29.95 for 4 ounces)
As AHAs go, this one is like many others I've tried (Alpha Hydrox, Aqua Glycolic, BeneFit, Avon). If you are looking for a basic AHA cream for pretty much any skin type (sensitive types should take care with any AHA), this one is an okay choice.

Collagen Moisturizer ($22.95 for 2 ounces)
Of all the Dermaculture products I tried, I liked this cream the best. It's lightweight, oil free, absorbs quickly, and works well for normal, combination, or slightly dry skin. If you use it during the day, however, you'll need to layer a sunscreen over the top.

Enriched Moisturizer ($23.95 for 2 ounces)
For seriously dry skin, this cream is very rich with mineral oil, beeswax, and trace amounts of vitamin E and A. For really dry skin, it may be fine, but it was just too oily for me.

All in all, I was not impressed by Dermaculture and didn't find their products to be special or unique :( . For more information on this line, you can call the company in California at (949) 673-5151; Dermaculture is currently redesigning their website (www.dermaculture.com). The products are available in select locations in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.