Formula · 7.0

Brand · 8.0

La Roche-Posay · niacinamide + zinc PCA · France

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M
7.0

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.9Actives with strong evidence: 2 of 4
  • Active concentration1.0After the 1 % line: salicylic acid (bha), piroctone olamine — the concentration is likely token
  • Completeness for the purpose0.6For “acne and blackheads” — 60 %; without a retinoid — the main tool against new plugs; without benzoyl peroxide — the best-proven agent against acne bacteria; could be added without conflict: retinoid, benzoyl peroxide; below threshold: salicylic acid (bha), niacinamide (vitamin b3); a broad formula across 3 purposes
  • Tolerance0.5Debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): glyceryl stearate SE, isocetyl stearate, sorbitan oleate
  • adults
  • oily skin
  • children
  • for dandruff
  • oily scalp
  • colour-treated hair
  • pregnancysalicylates — ask a doctor
  • acne-pronemay clog pores in leave-on face products
  • sensitive skinat 10 % flushing is possible
  • rosaceaask a dermatologist
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Acne products work on four fronts: dissolve plugs (acids), calm inflammation (azelaic acid, niacinamide, zinc), kill bacteria (benzoyl peroxide, tea tree) and prevent new plugs (a retinoid). One active per front is enough; two or three different fronts work noticeably better.
When:
  • leave-on
  • morning
  • evening
morning and evening, on clean skin
When to expect an effect: tone, pores — 4–8 weeks; sebum — 2–4; sebum, shine — 2–4 weeks; pores, blackheads — 4–8 weeks; dandruff — 2–4 weeks of regular use
What is normal: mild flushing in the first days at high concentration; mild dryness; mild dryness and flaking in the first weeks

Ingredients — 37 components · 4 work

What works: 4 of 37 ingredients: niacinamide, zinc pca, salicylic acid and 1 more. Acne products work on four fronts: dissolve plugs (acids), calm inflammation (azelaic acid, niacinamide, zinc), kill bacteria (benzoyl peroxide, tea tree) and prevent new plugs (a retinoid). One active per front is enough; two or three different fronts work noticeably better.

Strengths: actives and evidence, active concentration

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “acne and blackheads” — 60 %; tolerance: debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: fragrance — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

  • Niacinamide (vitamin B3) + Salicylic acid (BHA) — reinforce each otherniacinamide cuts sebum and redness, the BHA clears pores — an acne classic
  • Niacinamide (vitamin B3) + Zinc PCA — reinforce each otherboth reduce sebum and inflammation — a classic pair for oily skin
  • AQUA/WATER/EAU base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • GLYCERIN base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • DIMETHICONE base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • ISOCETYL STEARATE base: coating, fillers · a rich emollient; may clog pores in leave-on face products; a finished product with it is not always comedogenic
  • NIACINAMIDE works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: niacinamide
  • ISOPROPYL LAUROYL SARCOSINATE base: coating, fillers · a light amino-acid (sarcosine) based ester emollient: gives slip without greasiness and helps dissolve oil-soluble actives; not a cleansing surfactant
  • SILICA base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • ORYZA SATIVA STARCH/RICE STARCH base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • PUNICA GRANATUM PERICARP EXTRACT base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE base: coating, fillers · an anionic emulsifier: keeps oil and water together in light creams and sunscreens; a few percent of the product, no action on the skin
  • SORBITAN OLEATE base: coating, fillers · a water-in-oil emulsifier; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • ZINC PCA works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: zinc PCA
  • GLYCERYL STEARATE SE base: coating, fillers · self-emulsifying glyceryl stearate with added sodium or potassium stearate — the additive is what makes it more comedogenic than the neutral form; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • ISOHEXADECANE base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • SODIUM HYDROXIDE base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • MYRISTYL MYRISTATE base: coating, fillers · emollient/base; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • 2-OLEAMIDO-1,3-OCTADECANEDIOL base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • MANNOSE base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • POLOXAMER 338 base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • PROPANEDIOL base: coating, fillers · a humectant and solvent from corn sugar: it holds water and helps actives dissolve. A gentler replacement for propylene glycol.
  • HYDROXYETHOXYPHENYL BUTANONE base: coating, fillers · protect the product from bacteria and mould; used within the EU-permitted concentrations
  • CAPRYLOYL SALICYLIC ACID works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: salicylic acid
  • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL base: coating, fillers · a humectant that also holds bacteria back, which is why it often replaces part of the preservative.
  • VITREOSCILLA FERMENT base: coating, fillers · skin-microbiome ferments, prebiotics and formula antioxidants
  • CITRIC ACID base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • MALTODEXTRIN base: coating, fillers · carbohydrate filler
  • XANTHAN GUM base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • PENTYLENE GLYCOL base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • POLYSORBATE 80 base: coating, fillers · emulsifier in the coating; in cosmetics — a solubiliser; does not clog pores
  • ACRYLAMIDE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE COPOLYMER base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • SALICYLIC ACID works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: salicylic acid
  • PIROCTONE OLAMINE works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: piroctone olamine
  • PARFUM/FRAGRANCE questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M is a product whose active ingredient is niacinamide (vitamin b3) + zinc pca + salicylic acid (bha) + piroctone olamine. The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. The effect is supported by studies: niacinamide (vitamin b3), piroctone olamine. The effect is moderately supported: zinc pca, salicylic acid (bha). The formula has 37 ingredients, 4 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Parfum/Fragrance (the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works). Well-matched pairs in the formula: niacinamide (vitamin b3) + salicylic acid (bha); niacinamide (vitamin b3) + zinc pca. Acne products work on four fronts: dissolve plugs (acids), calm inflammation (azelaic acid, niacinamide, zinc), kill bacteria (benzoyl peroxide, tea tree) and prevent new plugs (a retinoid). One active per front is enough; two or three different fronts work noticeably better. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, oily skin, children, for dandruff, oily scalp, colour-treated hair. pregnancy, acne-prone, sensitive skin, rosacea, atopic skin — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening, on clean skin. When to expect an effect: tone, pores — 4–8 weeks; sebum — 2–4. Label score — 7.0 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 2 of 4; after the 1 % line: salicylic acid (bha), piroctone olamine — the concentration is likely token; for “acne and blackheads” — 60 %; without a retinoid — the main tool against new plugs; without benzoyl peroxide — the best-proven agent against acne bacteria; could be added without conflict: retinoid, benzoyl peroxide; below threshold: salicylic acid (bha), niacinamide (vitamin b3); a broad formula across 3 purposes; debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): glyceryl stearate se, isocetyl stearate, sorbitan oleate).

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: persistent burning — stop; tightness, flaking — use less often or stop; burning, persistent redness — stop; itching, rash — stop

Is this product right for your skin?

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Cosmetic ingredient checkDecode my tests

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