La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum for combination skin
Glycolic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Niacinamide
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent exfoliation for your acne-prone combination skin, as glycolic acid and salicylic acid effectively decongest pores and regulate oil production, while niacinamide further supports sebum control.
- The keratolytic action of these acids is well-suited for managing oily shine, and the absence of harsh ingredients ensures a safe experience.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine starting once a week, then increase frequency carefully if your skin feels fine.
- Apply this exfoliant step after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and wait a minute before layering.
- Apply the exfoliant to clean, dry skin to help control your oily shine comfortably.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly rated by users with oily, acne-prone, and textured skin for its ability to rapidly reduce breakouts and smooth skin surface. While effective for many in clearing congestion and tightening pores, a notable minority of users experience purging, stickiness, or irritation due to its potent acid blend.
Highlights
Reduces acne Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared my skin for good”
- “targets breakouts effectively”
- “reduces appearance of blemishes”
- “helped with hormonal acne”
Minimizes pores Often Mentioned
- “pores are visibly tightened”
- “deeply unclogs pores”
- “blackheads reduced”
- “pores appear less visible”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer overnight”
- “smooths the skin surface”
- “uneven texture is gone”
- “bumps on chin disappeared”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “regulates sebum secretion”
- “mattified finish”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “balances oil production”
Drying and irritation Sometimes Noted
- “made my skin dry”
- “stinging badly”
- “caused flaking”
- “burns upon application”
Initial breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused my skin to purge”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “made my skin worse before better”
- “more spots appeared”
Sticky texture Sometimes Noted
- “sticky residue feeling”
- “feels tacky on skin”
- “takes time to absorb”
- “leaves a film”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “strong alcohol smell”
- “perfume is too strong”
- “smells like chemicals”
- “scent is overpowering”
Sources: lovi.care, laroche-posay.us, laroche-posay.co.uk, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum a great fit for combination skin?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum is a great fit for combination skin because glycolic acid and salicylic acid effectively clear out pores and manage oily shine, while niacinamide helps control skin oil. This blend is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on your skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and capryloyl salicylic acid make this serum a great fit because they effectively decongest pores and control oily shine on combination skin, while niacinamide helps balance oil production. These acids smooth the skin safely without harsh ingredients, making it a comfortable choice for daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Glycolic Acid do for combination skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and brighten combination skin by gently loosening dead surface cells to speed up skin renewal. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, but it needs a reliable sunscreen during the day since it makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995Archives of Dermatological Research, 1997
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating treatments once a week, and you may use them more often if your skin tolerates them well.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to use this exfoliating serum and retinol on different nights to avoid irritation. If you do use them together, apply this serum first, let it absorb completely, and follow with your retinol product.
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this serum once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gradual approach helps manage oily shine and decongest pores safely while keeping the risk of irritation low.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
Yes, this serum may cause initial breakouts or purging on combination skin as the acids clear out congested pores and regulate oil production. Reviewers sometimes report moderate initial breakouts, and multi-acid treatments help manage oily shine while safely renewing the skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Alcohol Denat, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, Peg-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Maltodextrin, Phytic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.