Product summary
We believe that "La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Retinoid Skin Care Routine for Acne" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Its formula is also hydrating, so you might not need an additional moistruizer during the day. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product helps prevent early signs of aging.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: avobenzone 3.00% (declared), octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 5.00% (declared) and octocrylene 7.00% (declared).
Irritation risk
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 80.99$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Benefits
Promise: Sun protection
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane | HIGH |  |  |
| octocrylene | HIGH | | |
| homosalate | MEDIUM | | |
Promise: Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Effaclar Retinoid Skin Care Routine for Acne
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: adapalene. 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: zinc pca
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| adapalene | HIGH | | |
| zinc pca | MEDIUM | | |
| niacinamide | HIGH |  | |
Other benefit: Anti-aging
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains adapalene.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
This product can also help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| adapalene | HIGH | | |
| zinc pca | LOW | | |
| niacinamide | HIGH | | |
Other benefit: Evens skin tone
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| adapalene | HIGH | | |
| niacinamide | HIGH | | |
Other benefit: Moisturizing
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, zinc pca.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, cetyl alcohol.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide np
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| glycerin | HIGH | | |
| zinc pca | HIGH | | |
| ceramide np | HIGH | | |
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Anti-blemish |
Buy now
We receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost for you. Thank you for your support! Learn more
Potential irritants
| Ingredient | Irritancy | Skin Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| sodium laureth sulfate | | |
| coco-betaine | | |
| parfum | | |
User reviews (0)
Similar products & dupes
 La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Retinoid Skin Care Routine for Acne | Vichy - Aqualia Thermal UV Defense Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 30 | CeraVe - Hydrating Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide | ISNTREE - Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++ | Garnier - Green Labs Canna-B Pore Perfecting Serum Cream, Fragrance Free, with SPF 30 and Niacinamide Vitamin B3 + Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil | Barr - Centella Soothing Sun Essence | Altruist - Sunscreen Fluid SPF50 | SkinMedica - Total Defense and Repair SPF 50 | face republic - Purity Sun Essence | Rilatsil - AK REPAIR SPF 100 | SkinCode - Brightening protective shield spf 50/PA +++ | |
| Price | |||||||||||
| WIMJ similarity score | 61% | 60% | 59% | 58% | 57% | 54% | 53% | 52% | 52% | 52% | |
| SPF | SPF 30 | SPF 30 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 30 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 100 | SPF 50 |
| Key ingredients |
| Common:
Other: | Common:
Other:
| Common:
Other:
| Common:
Other:
| Common:
Other: | Common:
Other:
| Common:
Other:
| Common:
Other:
| Common:
Other: | Common:
Other:
|
| Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
|  IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
|
| Potential Irritants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| All ingredients |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ingredients & concentrations
- niacinamide
- adapalene
- ceramide np
- glycerin
- allantoin
- octocrylene
- zinc pca
- homosalate
- Avobenzone
- dimethicone
- +6 more
| Ingredient | Estimated concentration |
|---|---|
| 45% - 55% | |
| Plain old water | |
| 9.6% - 11.7% | |
| Works as a foaming cleansing agent | |
| 4.1% - 5% | |
| Used to create a nice product consistency | |
| 4.2% - 5.2% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenic | |
| 2.1% - 2.5% | |
| Helps create a more spreadable product texture | |
| 1.8% - 2.3% | |
| Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures | |
| 1.6% - 1.9% | |
| 1.4% - 1.7% | |
| A compound that combines zinc with a hydrating ingredient PCA. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Can help calm down inflammation in skin. Could be helpful in reducing the formation of free radicals in skin. Might help to reduce fine lines in wrinkles, but solid evidence is missing | |
| 1.1% - 1.4% | |
| Used to adjust the product's pH | |
| 0.95% - 1.15% | |
| Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH | |
| 0.25% - 0.5% | |
| A preservative | |
| 0.55% - 0.85% | |
| A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products | |
| 0.55% - 0.85% | |
| Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture | |
| 0.5% - 0.7% | |
| An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients | |
| 0.5% - 0.75% | |
| A retinoid that is effective against acne and keratosis pilaris. It can also help reduce signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity) and can improve skin tone | |
0.1%
Declared
| |
| 0.45% - 0.7% | |
| Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations | |
| 0.45% - 0.65% | |
| Stabilizes the product formulation | |
| 0.15% - 0.3% | |
| A preservative | |
| 0.4% - 0.6% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together | |
| 0.3% - 0.55% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating | |
| 0.3% - 0.55% | |
| Plain old water | |
| 0.3% - 0.55% | |
| Used to adjust the product's pH | |
3%
Declared
| |
| Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable. | |
5%
Declared
| |
| A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation | |
5%
Declared
| |
| Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen | |
7%
Declared
| |
| A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen | |
| 0.3% - 0.5% | |
| Plain old water | |
| 0.3% - 0.5% | |
| Plain old water | |
| 0.3% - 0.6% | |
| One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant | |
| 0.45% - 0.65% | |
| Used to absorb oil and can temporarily mattify skin | |
| 0.35% - 0.6% | |
| A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish | |
| 0.3% - 0.5% | |
| Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production | |
| 0.4% - 0.6% | |
| Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture | |
| 0.3% - 0.6% | |
| An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together | |
| 0.45% - 0.65% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient | |
| 0.3% - 0.6% | |
| An emollient that helps soften the skin | |
| 0.25% - 0.45% | |
| Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated | |
| 0.3% - 0.55% | |
| A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
| 0.25% - 0.5% | |
| Used to stabilize product formulations and create a nice product texture | |
| 0.25% - 0.45% | |
| Used to adjust the product's pH | |
| 0.3% - 0.55% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic | |
| 0.25% - 0.5% | |
| Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating | |
| 0.25% - 0.5% | |
| An emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it | |
| 0.2% - 0.35% | |
| Used to create a thicker product consistency | |
| 0.2% - 0.35% | |
| Stabilizes the product formulation | |
| 0.25% - 0.45% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together, preserve cosmetic products, and attract water to the upper layer of the skin | |
| 0.15% - 0.3% | |
| Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture | |
| 0.1% - 0.2% | |
| Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH | |
| 0.15% - 0.25% | |
| Used to create a thicker product consistency | |
| 0.1% - 0.2% | |
| Used to dissolve other ingredients and to improve smell of products. It could be irritating | |
| 0.1% - 0.2% | |
| A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together | |
| 0.05% - 0.1% | |
| Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself | |
Show more | |
Sources
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Zinc L-pyrrolidone carboxylate inhibits the UVA-induced production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 by in vitro cultured skin fibroblasts, whereas it enhances their collagen synthesis
- Zinc Therapy in Dermatology: A Review
- Propylene Glycol
- Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycol
- Opinion on Homosalate - Scientific Committee on Consumer Products
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
- Gehring, W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- Skin hydration is significantly increased by a cream formulated to mimic the skin’s own natural moisturizing systems
- Topically Applied Ceramides Interact with the Stratum Corneum Lipid Matrix in Compromised Ex Vivo Skin
- The fatty acid profile of the skin surface lipid layer in papulopustular rosacea
- Cosmetic allergy from myristyl alcohol
- Contact Sensitization to Emulsifying Agents: An Underrated Issue?
- Patch testing with myristyl alcohol
- Safety Assessment of Acryloyldimethyltaurate Polymers as Used in Cosmetics
- Amended final report of the safety assessment of t-Butyl Alcohol as used in cosmetics
- Vitamin E in dermatology