Is Effaclar Safe? Ingredient Analysis
La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay's Effaclar is reviewed here as a skincare. Zerotox gives it 60/100 based on the current ingredient profile, so it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The ingredient review below focuses especially on Denatured Alcohol, Perfume.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several active ingredients like glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which are effective for skin treatment. However, the presence of denatured alcohol raises concerns about potential skin irritation.
Main concern
Denatured alcohol may cause dryness and irritation, especially for sensitive skin types.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Glycolic acid is an effective exfoliant that helps improve skin texture and clarity.
- Salicylic acid is known for its ability to penetrate pores and reduce acne.
- Niacinamide can help improve skin tone and reduce inflammation.
- Biosaccharide gum-1 provides moisturizing properties, enhancing skin hydration.
Concerns
- Denatured alcohol may cause dryness and irritation, especially for sensitive skin types.
- PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil is a synthetic emulsifier that may raise concerns for some consumers.
- Perfume can be irritating for sensitive skin and may cause allergic reactions.
- Maltodextrin is a processed ingredient that may not align with clean beauty standards.
Who should avoid this product?
This formula may not suit:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
Below, each ingredient is described in the context of this skincare, not just listed as a raw label.
-
Is Water safe in this skincare?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as the primary solvent in this formulation, providing hydration and facilitating the delivery of other ingredients.
Role in formula: base
Original: WATER
-
Is Denatured Alcohol safe in this skincare?
Bad
Denatured Alcohol is used here as solvent. Denatured alcohol acts as a solvent and helps with product absorption but can lead to skin dryness and irritation.
Role in formula: solvent
Original: DENATURED ALCOHOL
-
Is Propanediol safe in this skincare?
Medium
Propanediol is used here as solvent. Propanediol is a synthetic solvent that enhances the absorption of other ingredients but may raise concerns for some consumers.
Role in formula: solvent
Original: PROPANEDIOL
-
Is Glycolic Acid safe in this skincare?
Good
Glycolic Acid is used here as acidulant. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin, improving texture and promoting cell turnover.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: GLYCOLIC ACID
-
Is Niacinamide safe in this skincare?
Good
Niacinamide is used here as natural_extract. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that helps improve skin tone, reduce inflammation, and enhance barrier function.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: NIACINAMIDE
-
Is Dimethyl Isosorbide safe in this skincare?
Medium
Dimethyl Isosorbide is used here as solvent. Dimethyl isosorbide is a solvent that enhances the penetration of active ingredients but is synthetic in nature.
Role in formula: solvent
Original: DIMETHYL ISOSORBIDE
-
Is Pentylene Glycol safe in this skincare?
Medium
Pentylene Glycol is used here as solvent. Pentylene glycol is a synthetic humectant that helps retain moisture but may not align with clean beauty standards.
Role in formula: solvent
Original: PENTYLENE GLYCOL
-
Is Salicylic Acid safe in this skincare?
Good
Salicylic Acid is used here as acidulant. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid effective in treating acne by exfoliating and unclogging pores.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: SALICYLIC ACID
-
Is Sodium Hydroxide safe in this skincare?
Medium
Sodium Hydroxide is used here as buffer. Sodium hydroxide is used to adjust pH levels in the formulation but can be harsh in high concentrations.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: SODIUM HYDROXIDE
-
Is Peg 60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil safe in this skincare?
Medium
Peg 60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is used here as emulsifier. PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil is a synthetic emulsifier that helps stabilize the formulation but may raise concerns for some consumers.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL
Read the full ingredient profile for Peg 60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
-
Is Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid safe in this skincare?
Medium
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid is used here as buffer. This ingredient acts as a buffering agent to maintain pH balance but is synthetic and may not appeal to all consumers.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: HYDROXYETHYLPIPERAZINE ETHANE SULFONIC ACID
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this skincare?
Good
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is a natural acid that helps adjust pH and acts as a mild exfoliant, promoting skin brightness.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: CITRIC ACID
-
Is Peg 30 Glyceryl Cocoate safe in this skincare?
Medium
Peg 30 Glyceryl Cocoate is used here as emulsifier. PEG-30 glyceryl cocoate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps blend ingredients but may not align with clean beauty standards.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: PEG-30 GLYCERYL COCOATE
-
Is Capryloyl Salicylic Acid safe in this skincare?
Good
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid is used here as acidulant. Capryloyl salicylic acid is a derivative of salicylic acid that provides similar benefits in treating acne and exfoliating.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: CAPRYLOYL SALICYLIC ACID
-
Is Biosaccharide Gum 1 safe in this skincare?
Good
Biosaccharide Gum 1 is used here as natural_extract. Biosaccharide gum-1 is a natural polysaccharide that provides moisturizing properties, enhancing skin hydration.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this skincare?
Medium
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate used as a thickener but may not align with clean beauty standards.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: MALTODEXTRIN
-
Is Phytic Acid safe in this skincare?
Medium
Phytic Acid is used here as chelating_agent. Phytic acid acts as a chelating agent, helping to stabilize the formulation but is synthetic in nature.
Role in formula: chelating_agent
Original: PHYTIC ACID
-
Is Polyquaternium 10 safe in this skincare?
Medium
Polyquaternium 10 is used here as thickener. Polyquaternium-10 is a synthetic polymer used for thickening and conditioning but may raise concerns for some consumers.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: POLYQUATERNIUM-10
-
Is Perfume safe in this skincare?
Bad
Perfume is used here as fragrance. Perfume is added for scent but can be irritating for sensitive skin and may cause allergic reactions.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: PERFUME
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 4272662
More from this brand: La Roche-Posay products in Zerotox
Similar products: skincare in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.