La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser for oily acne-prone skin
Thermal Water
Niacinamide
Squalane
Panthenol
Vitreoscilla FermentHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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
- This moisturizer is highly suitable for your oily skin, as niacinamide and capryloyl glycine work to regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, addressing your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts. Glycerin and panthenol provide excellent moisturization, supporting barrier resilience and hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
- The vitreoscilla ferment offers additional anti-inflammatory action, further benefiting your acne-prone skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like panthenol and niacinamide.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsThis moisturizer is frequently described as a lifesaver for oily, acne-prone skin, especially when weakened by treatments. Most users find it deeply soothing and non-greasy, though a notable number report issues with pilling or the product rolling off the skin, particularly under makeup.
Highlights
Soothing for compromised barriers Mostly Mentioned
- “Calmed my skin down immediately after barrier damage.”
- “Lifesaver for my post-accutane, dry, sensitive skin.”
- “Soothes irritation and redness within days.”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all.”
- “Only moisturizer that doesn't make my face sting.”
- “Great everyday moisturizer for sensitive skin.”
Non-greasy hydration Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin hydrated without feeling oily or thick.”
- “Absorbs well, no greasy shine.”
- “Light, gel-like texture that feels weightless.”
Pilling and flaking Often Mentioned
- “It pills so much, looks like dead skin cells.”
- “Peels off all day, cannot wear under makeup.”
- “Rolls off the face if you touch it.”
Reduces acne/blemishes Sometimes Noted
- “Acne has completely subsided since using this.”
- “Reduced the appearance of my blemishes.”
- “Doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts.”
Inferior to old formula Sometimes Noted
- “New Iso-Biome formula is not as good as the original.”
- “Old formula was perfect, this one dries me out.”
- “Miss the old version, this one has a fragrance.”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels tight again after a few hours.”
- “Needs a second layer, doesn't last very long.”
- “Not intense enough for very dry winter skin.”
Small size / High price Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive compared to the performance.”
- “Tube is tiny, runs out very quickly.”
- “Price is high for such a small amount.”
Stinging sensation Rarely Noted
- “Burned badly around my nose and sensitive areas.”
- “Stings a little when applied initially.”
- “Caused redness and burning on application.”
Sources: lovi.care, lookfantastic.com, boots.com, laroche-posay.co.uk, sephora.co.uk, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser is a great fit because ingredients like niacinamide and capryloyl glycine help regulate oil and calm redness, while glycerin and panthenol keep your skin hydrated without feeling greasy. It also features vitreoscilla ferment for extra soothing benefits, and its gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and capryloyl glycine make this cream a great fit by helping to regulate oil and calm breakouts on your oily skin. Glycerin, panthenol, and squalane also help by providing lightweight hydration and supporting your skin barrier without feeling heavy or greasy.
What does Thermal Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Thermal water helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing dryness, stinging, and redness while improving overall skin comfort. It is useful as an extra step in your routine because it supports hydration and makes acne treatments more gentle on the skin.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes near the end of your routine, after cleansing, toning, and treatment steps in both the morning and evening. It hydrates and calms your skin without adding extra oil.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it calm. Using a soothing moisturizer alongside active treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in both your morning and evening routines to keep your oily, acne-prone skin hydrated and calm. Daily application is unlikely to cause irritation and helps improve skin comfort and barrier strength.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as it relies on lightweight, soothing ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to hydrate without making skin greasy. It also has a very safe profile with calming components like panthenol, meaning it is unlikely to irritate your skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is a great fit because ingredients like glycerin and panthenol hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier without clogging pores or feeling heavy. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, gentle formulas like this are well-tolerated there, while richer body areas may need heavier hydration.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical 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, 2005Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020A dermocosmetic formulation containing Vichy volcanic mineralizing water, Vitreoscilla filiformis extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E accelerated skin renewal, improved antioxidant defenses, enhanced skin barrier recovery after acute stress, and improved microbiome recovery compared to untreated skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022The combination of Vitreoscilla filiformis extract and Vichy volcanic mineralizing water strengthens the skin barrier by stimulating skin differentiation and tight junctions, enhances biochemical defenses via antimicrobial peptides, and supports cellular immune defenses by increasing the IL-10/IL-12 ratio and protecting Langerhans cells from ultraviolet radiation compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Zea Mays Corn Starch, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Myristyl Myristate, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, 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.
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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