
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash
Benefits
Promise: Cleansing
What does the product description say?
Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash
This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (coco-betaine, decyl glucoside, hexylene glycol, peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate, peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, sodium laureth sulfate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.
Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: coco-betaine, decyl glucoside, sodium laureth sulfate
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
coco-betaine | HIGH | ||
decyl glucoside | HIGH | ||
hexylene glycol | HIGH |
Promise: Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: capryloyl salicylic acid
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
salicylic acid | HIGH | ||
capryloyl salicylic acid | MEDIUM | ||
zinc gluconate | LOW |
Promise: Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Performing a micro-exfoliation to gently, yet effectively, purge skin of daily pollutants and acne-inducing bacteria, the purifying wash refreshes skin from top to toe with its gentle, alcohol-free formula.
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: capryloyl salicylic acid, salicylic acid.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
capryloyl salicylic acid | HIGH | ||
salicylic acid | HIGH | ||
zinc gluconate | LOW |
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Cleansing | |
Exfoliation | |
Anti-blemish |
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Potential irritants

Ingredient | Irritancy | Skin Benefit |
---|---|---|
sodium laureth sulfate | ||
decyl glucoside | ||
coco-betaine |
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score | 100% | 99% | 86% | 83% | 83% | 78% | 77% | 75% | 75% | 75% | |
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Ingredients & concentrations
- salicylic acid
- capryloyl salicylic acid
- zinc gluconate
- glycerin
- hexylene glycol
- peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate
- peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides
- decyl glucoside
- sodium laureth sulfate
- coco-betaine
- +6 more
Ingredient | Estimated concentration |
---|---|
45% - 55% | |
Plain old water | |
12% - 15% | |
Works as a foaming cleansing agent | |
5.5% - 6.7% | |
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating | |
3.1% - 3.8% | |
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant | |
2.3% - 2.8% | |
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures | |
2.3% - 2.8% | |
Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenic | |
0.95% - 1.15% | |
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) | |
1.2% - 1.5% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
1% - 1.2% | |
Helps dissolve other ingredients | |
0.65% - 1% | |
Typically used to stabilize the product formulations. It is a salt of a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and in larger concentrations, can help shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. It can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals, but solid research is missing. Due to the zinc content, might help calm down inflammation in skin | |
0.55% - 0.85% | |
Used to adjust the product's pH | |
0.4% - 0.6% | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
Helps to stabilize the product formulation | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH | |
0.1% - 0.15% | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
0.05% - 0.1% | |
Helps create a more spreadable product texture | |
Show more |
Sources
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Ecofriendly surfactant is allergen of the year
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- Zinc salts in dermatology
- An overview of zinc and its importance in dermatology-Part II: The association of zinc with some dermatologic disorders
- Zinc, copper and manganese enhanced keratinocyte migration through a functional modulation of keratinocyte integrins
- Evaluation of the effects of topical zinc gluconate in wound healing
- A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provides antiaging effects comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen