La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser for dry skin
Thermal Water
Niacinamide
Squalane
Panthenol
Vitreoscilla FermentHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Highly suitable for your dry skin as Glycerin and Squalane provide excellent moisturization and support barrier resilience, addressing dryness and flakiness effectively.
- Panthenol and Niacinamide further enhance skin hydration and soothing, complementing the primary hydrating ingredients for comprehensive comfort.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring a blend of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a 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 La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser a great fit for dry skin?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser is a great fit for dry skin because ingredients like glycerin and squalane provide deep moisturization and support the skin barrier to address dryness and flakiness. Panthenol and niacinamide further help enhance hydration and keep the skin feeling calm and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and squalane make this cream a great fit for dry skin by providing deep moisturization and supporting barrier resilience to address dryness and flakiness. Panthenol and niacinamide further enhance hydration and soothing for comprehensive comfort.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Thermal Water do for dry skin?
Thermal water helps boost skin hydration and reduces dryness and stinging while calming the skin. It may also improve overall skin comfort and support your usual routine by keeping the skin calm.
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cream goes toward the end of your routine, used as a moisturizer in the morning after your hydrating toner and before your SPF, and as the final step in the evening after your treatment. Using a moisturizer helps lock in hydration and supports your skin barrier, which effectively addresses dryness and flakiness.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the moisturizer first to help reduce irritation and dryness while supporting your skin barrier. This combination is generally safe and helps maintain skin comfort.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily to help keep dry skin feeling soft and comfortable. Applying it regularly supports your skin barrier and may significantly improve hydration and reduce roughness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin because it features a safe, gentle formula without harsh ingredients. It helps keep your skin comfortable and smooth without causing unwanted congestion.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body to help keep skin soft and comfortable. Its soothing and moisturizing ingredients are very gentle and safe for these areas.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
A 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 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, 2017Balneotherapy 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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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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