La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum: a Guru Score of 75%

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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✓Approved

"If you're a super advanced salicylic acid user, I would recommend [...] this. It's the most advanced option in this lineup, and I'd save it for skin that's already tolerated a basic salicylic acid product with no issues whatsoever. It has one and a half percent salicylic acid with glycolic acid, their proprietary lipohydroxy acid, and niacinamide. That combination does more than prevent clogs, it helps increase cell turnover and the niacinamide addresses post-acne marks and dark spots that can linger after a pimple heals. If you're dealing with both active breakouts and hyperpigmentation, I would definitely reach for this product."

All 2 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown

Drugstore Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone Skin | Dermatologist Recommended + Affordable

"The key ingredient here is the 2% salicylic acid which clears pores, helps prevent breakouts, but also minimizes oil and when you're minimizing oil you can cause dryness. The serum also contains a little bit of niacinamide which will help reduce some of the inflammation and support the skin barrier as well as panthenol and sodium PCA which hydrate and calm the skin."

Salicylic Acid vs Benzoyl Peroxide: Which One Do You Actually Need?

"If you're a super advanced salicylic acid user, I would recommend [...] this. It's the most advanced option in this lineup, and I'd save it for skin that's already tolerated a basic salicylic acid product with no issues whatsoever. It has one and a half percent salicylic acid with glycolic acid, their proprietary lipohydroxy acid, and niacinamide. That combination does more than prevent clogs, it helps increase cell turnover and the niacinamide addresses post-acne marks and dark spots that can linger after a pimple heals. If you're dealing with both active breakouts and hyperpigmentation, I would definitely reach for this product."

Dr. Jenny Liu

320k subs

✓Approved

"If you're looking for a serum, I also really like La Roche-Posay, the Effaclar Serum that's in that kind of turquoise bottle. You can put it all over or spot treat where you have the most concerns."

Dr Dray

2.68M subs

✓Mixed

"I'm really bummed that La Roche Posay has added fragrance to the Effaclar Serum, because this used to not have fragrance and was really good. Fragrance doesn't negate the benefits of the ingredients in this, but the fragrance in these serums is so strong and it lingers so much, that's really unfortunate. It's got salicylic acid, but it also has LHA, which is a modified form of salicylic acid that's a little more precise in how it exfoliates. This has some good ingredients: for oily acne prone skin it has niacinamide and glycolic acid, and it has phytic acid, which is a very gentle alpha hydroxy acid. I really wish they had not scented this."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum?

A serum formulated with 2% salicylic acid to clear pores, prevent breakouts, and control oil production for acne-prone skin.

Is La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum worth it?

Mostly yes. 2 of the 3 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 75%.

What is La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum's Guru Score?

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum holds a Guru Score of 75%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.