La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Soothing Cleansing Cream for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
Low
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for acne-prone skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 moderate cleansing for your combination skin due to sodium laureth sulfate and coco-betaine, which effectively remove impurities without stripping the skin, while glycerin and niacinamide provide general hydration and soothing benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The formula provides moderate suitability for combination skin by offering humectant action with glycerin, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★3.9Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsUsers with oily, acne-prone skin undergoing drying treatments find this cleanser hydrating and non-stripping, effectively cleansing without causing tightness. Many appreciate its soothing properties for sensitive and reactive skin. Some long-time users note that a recent reformulation is more drying and has a stronger fragrance than the original version.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves my skin feeling clean but not dry”
- “doesn't make my skin feel tight after washing”
- “instantly hydrated smooth and soft to touch”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “washed off any dirt and makeup”
- “cleanses my skin very well without stripping”
- “takes off makeup easily even waterproof eyeliner”
Soothing for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “soothes skin feeling weakened by acne treatments”
- “great for reactive complexions sensitive to breakouts”
- “literally saved my face from being extremely tight”
Reformulation issues Sometimes Noted
- “reformulated version to be more drying”
- “wish I'd known this one existed [compared to old one]”
- “ruined my skin barrier and got breakouts”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “heavily fragranced compared to the original”
- “scent is too strong for sensitive skin”
- “irritating due to the perfume”
Packaging problems Rarely Noted
- “does not come with a dispenser as depicted”
- “where is the pump dispenser”
- “hard to get product out near the end”
Sources: lovi.care, cocooncenter.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, laroche-posay.co.uk, boots.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Effaclar H Iso-Biome Soothing Cleansing Cream a weak match for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match because it lacks the powerful oil-control ingredients needed to properly manage acne and breakouts on oily areas. A cleanser for this skin needs powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address acne and blemishes while keeping the skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for acne-prone skin because it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on oily areas. A cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients like Niacinamide and Ceramides to effectively address acne and blemishes, along with hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients to maintain moisture balance.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or the second step in the evening after removing makeup. Because it is a weak match for acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs targeted ingredients that help control oil and balance blemishes.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to remove impurities before following with your retinol treatment. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that provide oil control and help keep pores clear without harshness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routine. A product for acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help control oil and balance blemishes.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for acne-prone skin because it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on oily areas. Acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with ingredients that help control excess oil and clear impurities without heavy butters.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as it is very safe and unlikely to irritate delicate areas. This type of skin needs gentle cleansers with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin, along with effective cleansers that remove impurities without stripping moisture.
Is this cleanser 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 combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical 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, 2005The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A 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, 2022Topical bixin application suppresses acute UV-induced photodamage and PUVA-induced hair graying in Nrf2+/+ mice compared to Nrf2-/- mice via NRF2 activation.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2018
Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Coco-Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Niacinamide, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Shea Butter, Cocamide Mea, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Mannose, Disodium Edta, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Maltodextrin, Polyquaternium-11, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, 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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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