La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser for combination skin
Salicylic Acid
Micro-Exfoliating Lha
Zinc Pca
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers 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 cleansing for your combination skin, as sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate and salicylic acid effectively decongest and exfoliate pores to control oil and reduce shine.
- Zinc PCA further aids in seboregulation, making it highly suitable for managing oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its ability to significantly reduce breakouts and control excess sebum without being overly harsh. While most find it effective for smoothing texture and deep cleaning, a subset of users experiences dryness, purging, or irritation, particularly those with sensitive skin barriers.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “clears acne blemishes”
- “reduces cystic acne”
- “prevents future breakouts”
- “cleared my skin”
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “removes excess oil”
- “less oily all day”
- “controls shine”
- “great for oily skin”
Deep clean Sometimes Noted
- “squeaky clean feel”
- “deeply cleanses pores”
- “feels fresh”
- “removes all dirt”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “fragrance-free”
- “non-irritating”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “smooths skin texture”
- “refines pores”
- “skin feels softer”
- “reduces bumps”
Drying and stripping Sometimes Noted
- “excessive dryness”
- “skin felt tight”
- “caused flaking”
- “dried out face”
Irritation and redness Rarely Noted
- “burning sensation”
- “caused redness”
- “rash around mouth”
- “chemical burn feel”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump arrived broken”
- “leaks in transit”
- “hard to open”
- “pump stops working”
Purging phase Rarely Noted
- “caused bad purging”
- “broke out initially”
- “worsened acne first”
- “small bumps appeared”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, dermstore.com, target.com, lovelyskin.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser is a great fit for combination skin because salicylic acid and sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate clear out pores to control oil and reduce shine. Zinc PCA helps manage oily shine, and the formula is safe with no harsh ingredients to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate make this cleanser a great fit because they effectively decongest pores to control oil and reduce shine on combination skin. Zinc PCA also helps manage oily shine, while the formula remains safe and gentle without harsh ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
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
What does Lipohydroxy Acid do for combination skin?
Lipohydroxy acid helps clear clogged pores and smooth skin texture by gently exfoliating the surface. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used regularly, making it a helpful ingredient for balancing oily and dry areas.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine. It helps clean your skin and control oil.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first to clean your skin, and then following with your retinol treatment once your skin is dry. This helps clear away oil and dirt while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It helps clear pores and control oil while keeping irritation unlikely.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser helps clear pores rather than clog them, though a mild purging phase may occasionally happen when you first start using salicylic acid. Its ingredients work together to control oil and reduce shine while maintaining a safe profile for combination skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is generally safe to use on the body, but it is unlikely to be a good fit for the thin skin around the eyes because that area is very delicate and prone to irritation. When treating areas like the body, a cleanser with strong oil-controlling ingredients works well, whereas the eye area requires much gentler care.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2020Combining 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, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010Capryloyl 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, 2008Parity 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, 2012Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003A 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, 2017The 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Zinc Pca, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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