Versus

APLB AHA BHA PHA Centella Ampoule Serum Versus La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum

Serum
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
French Brand France

Updated on July 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and BHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
AHA BHA PHA Centella Ampoule Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Centella Asiatica Extract 32.3%

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Diethoxyethyl Succinate

Solvent

Gluconolactone

Skin Conditioning
PHA IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Betaine Salicylate

Antimicrobial
BHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance IconGood for Oily Skin Icon

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Beta-Glucan

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Nelumbo Nucifera Extract

Skin Conditioning

Artemisia Annua Extract

Masking

Oryza Sativa Extract

Absorbent
Helps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Saccharomyces Ferment

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dipropylene Glycol

Masking

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Madecassic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Asiaticoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Asiatic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Cellulose Gum

Emulsion Stabilising
0 / 0

Disodium EDTA

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Humectant

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Inulin

Skin Conditioning

Cellulose

Absorbent

Glucose

Humectant

Fructose

Humectant

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Humectant
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Emulsion Stabilising

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Trideceth-10

Cleansing

Dextrin

Absorbent

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Caramel

Cosmetic Colorant

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. 

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

When to use

16 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
63% use every day
560 Routines
18% use in am
82% use in pm
72% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

APLB AHA BHA PHA Centella Ampoule Serum 49 ingredients

AHA BHA PHA Centella Ampoule Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum 19 ingredients

4.1 /5
from 12 ratings
Expensive (4) Absorbs Well (4) Works Well (3)
frejalarsen's avatar

Freja Larsen

3 months ago
Review

This product was horrible for me! First I got it recommended by a pharmacist for my face, but back then it was too tingly and I stopped using it. Now because I’ve gotten a bit bacne I would use it there. Apparently I might be allergic, and now I have to throw it out for good! I don’t know who’s face can tolerate this concentrated serum :/

#expensive
#irritating
#strong scent
GabriellaTsoukalas's avatar

GabriellaTsoukalas

1 year ago
Review

Worth the try for ACNE skin
I used it for about 2 years and I was more than satisfied. Upon returning on my Erasmus trip, it broke me out and made my skin dry. I don't know if anything happened during the trip but right now I don't use it. It's really good if you have taken acne treatment pills and you need smt to keep the acne away (from my experience at least).