La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your oily and acne-prone skin, as sodium laureth sulfate and zinc pca work to decongest pores and balance oil production.
- Citric acid provides mild exfoliation, which is beneficial for your skin type, though it does not directly target active breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly recommended for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, effectively reducing excess oil and clearing breakouts without significant irritation. A considerable number of users report clearer skin and fewer blemishes. However, some users find the formula to be too drying, especially with frequent use or in dry conditions.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “significant reduction in pimples”
- “cleared my cystic acne”
- “stops breakouts before they start”
- “skin is finally blemish-free”
Deep clean feeling Often Mentioned
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “removes all traces of makeup”
- “pores look smaller and cleaner”
- “refreshing after a long day”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “cuts through grease immediately”
- “keeps my face matte longer”
- “removes all excess sebum”
- “great for my oily t-zone”
Drying or stripping Often Mentioned
- “left my skin feeling tight”
- “caused dry flaky patches”
- “too harsh for twice daily”
- “stripped my moisture barrier”
High efficiency/value Sometimes Noted
- “a little goes a long way”
- “one bottle lasts for months”
- “tiny drop foams up huge”
- “worth the price for longevity”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like chemicals”
- “strong floral fragrance”
- “scent is too overpowering”
- “smells soapy and cheap”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “cap broke easily”
- “leaks when traveling”
- “hard to squeeze out”
Purging phase Rarely Noted
- “broke me out at first”
- “caused initial purging period”
- “worsened acne before fixing it”
- “got tiny bumps after first use”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, dermstore.com, target.com, amazon.com, laroche-posay.us, and more
Questions and answers
How well does LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar Foaming Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar Foaming Cleanser offers moderate cleansing for your oily and acne-prone skin, as it helps decongest pores and balance oil production safely without irritation. To fit this skin type best, a cleanser of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits your oily and acne-prone skin because sodium laureth sulfate and zinc pca work to decongest pores and balance oil production, while citric acid offers mild exfoliation. To fit this skin type even better, a cleanser needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, salicylic acid, and glycerin to calm the skin and manage oil without causing excess dryness.
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Sodium Laureth Sulfate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium laureth sulfate helps clean away excess oil, but it may dry out the skin and disrupt its natural protective barrier. This type of ingredient tends to cause irritation, so oily and acne-prone skin needs a cleanser formulated with much milder detergents, soothing moisture-boosting ingredients, and a skin-friendly pH that protects the barrier while it cleans.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits in your morning and evening routine as the first step of cleansing, and for oily acne-prone skin it helps clear pores and balance oil. To give this skin type a better fit, a product of this type needs stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and deep oil control.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol. This product helps wash away extra oil and clear out pores using sodium laureth sulfate and zinc pca, but a cleanser for this skin also needs ingredients that protect the skin barrier to keep it from getting dry.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin, though this skin type also benefits from cleansers that deeply clear pores and control oil with ingredients like salicylic acid.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but it may cause dryness or stripping for your oily acne-prone skin. To better care for this skin type, products need ingredients that balance oil and gently clear pores without harshness.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is unlikely to suit the very thin skin around the eyes where skin thickness is lowest. A product for the eye area needs gentle ingredients and rich soothing agents to protect delicate skin without irritation.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 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, 2021Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.
Langmuir, 2014The 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, 2003
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021A 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, 2024A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, 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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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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How does it fit your skin?
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